WASHINGTON, D.C. –
The Association of the United States Army marked its 2022 annual meeting by hosting multiple panels discussing topics surrounding this year’s focus of “Building the Army of 2030,” held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., from Oct. 10-12.
U.S. Army North, with U.S. Northern Command, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the National Guard Bureau, hosted the Homeland Defense Panel, discussing the Army’s future in its ability to deter against threats with homeland defense measures and successful performance of Defense Support of Civil Authorities.
During the panel, the evolution of adversary threats and setting the stage for theater operations within the homeland took precedence.
Today’s growing expansion of enemy abilities requires adaptation of homeland defense capabilities. Two oceans and two friendly neighbors bordering the U.S. are no longer sufficient obstacles for adversaries and heighten the need for increased interagency cooperation at national and regional levels to maintain resiliency in projecting forces.
"Strategic stability is really important today. Being able to understand what potential adversaries are doing enables us to provide continuity of operations, continuity of government, and to posture our nuclear forces," said Gen. Glen VanHerck, U.S. Northern Command’s commanding general. "Those are being challenged each and every day."
DSCA is a core component in homeland defense, as the Department of Defense relies upon the civilian infrastructure to facilitate response capabilities from ports along the coast to theaters overseas. Efforts help aid to build trust with the American people for agencies at the federal, state, and local levels.
"The level of hope comes from the partnerships that we forge during times like this to talk about what the needs are going to be and the threats that are evolving," said Deanne Criswell, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s administrator. “How we're going to be able to continue to support each other as these threats continue to change?"
Part of that process encompasses efficiency to conduct multi-domain operations within the homeland. Establishing a theater requires large efforts of coordination with multiple entities at the federal, state, and local levels to mobilize and project power against threats.
“I am always thinking about how to better set the theater for the combatant commander. We can do that with assurance and project forces overseas,” said Lt. Gen. John R. Evans Jr., U.S. Army North’s commanding general. “We’ll do that in partnership with our local, state, and federal partners.”
The panel also included Heather King, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense Integration and DSCA. The panel was moderated by Maj. Gen. Robert Whittle, U.S. Army North’s deputy commanding general, and Lt. Gen. Marc Sasseville, the National Guard Bureau’s vice chief.
AUSA is a nonprofit educational and professional development association serving America’s Army and supporters of a strong national defense. AUSA provides a voice for the Army, supports the Soldier, and honors those who have served to advance the security of the nation.