Staff Report
MONTEREY, Calif. – Spencer Collier, director of the Alabama Department of Homeland Security and Senior Law Enforcement Advisor to Governor Robert Bentley, completed the Executive Leaders Program at Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security on Feb. 28. The goal of the Executive Leaders Program is to enhance senior leaders’ capacity to develop policies and strategies and while strengthening working relationships across the jurisdictional boundaries of regions, agencies, local-state-tribal-federal governments and the private sector.
Students study the interdisciplinary concepts that comprise homeland security. Collier was chosen because of his extensive experience and recognized leadership in the disciplines that comprise homeland security. Collier resides in Irvington, Alabama. Participants met for four one-week intensive sessions over a nine-month period at the NPS Center for Homeland Defense and Security in Monterey, Calif. The 28 participants represent a snapshot of homeland security across the country and include professionals from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and agencies within it, as well as emergency management, law enforcement, fire safety, state and municipal governments as well as the private sector. The Executive Leaders Program was launched in August 2006. It is part of a series of graduate and executive level education programs sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), National Preparedness Directorate, FEMA, and developed and conducted by the NPS Center for Homeland Defense and Security. ABOUT CHDS: CHDS, established in 2002 and located at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), is the nation’s homeland security educator. Master’s degree students develop critical thinking, leadership and policy skills during a rigorous 18-month program. Each graduate completes a thesis on a current issue facing his/her jurisdiction. These theses often translate into policy and practice. The Center has developed a cadre of education programs and resources which are shared with other academic institutions around the country as part of its University and Agency Partnership Initiative (UAPI). The CHDS is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), National Preparedness Directorate, within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). For information, visit www.chds.us<http://www.chds.us.
ABOUT NPS: The mission of the Naval Postgraduate School is to provide unique advanced education and research programs in order to increase the combat effectiveness of the U.S. and Allied armed forces as well as enhance the security of the United States. For information, visit www.nps.edu.
