Strategic reviews emphasize risk management

The Pentagon's Quadrennial Defense Review and the Homeland Security Department's Quadrennial Homeland Security Review focus on different aspects of national security, but both are explicit in recognizing that risk management must be a central factor in setting priorities and balancing competing pressures, and both reports highlight the need for better coordination among agencies at all levels of government, international partners and the private sector.

"Homeland security will only be optimized when we fully leverage the distributed and decentralized nature of the entire enterprise in pursuit of our common goals," DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano wrote in a letter accompanying the department's first quadrennial review, submitted to Congress on Feb. 1.

The report noted that homeland security missions and responsibilities are not limited to the department: "Hundreds of thousands of people from across the federal government, state, local, tribal and territorial governments, the private sector, and other nongovernmental organizations are responsible for executing these missions. These homeland security professionals must have a clear sense of what it takes to achieve the overarching vision."

Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, D-Miss., chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said, "I am pleased that [the report] recognizes homeland security as an 'enterprise' that is the shared responsibility of federal, state, local and tribal governments as well as the private sector. That is certainly the approach that I have advocated on this committee."

Homeland security "is about effectively managing risks to the nation's security," the DHS report said, echoing a similar argument in the Pentagon review, which devoted an entire chapter to the issue.

Some of those risks emanate from the departments themselves. A specific risk inherent in operations at both agencies is the way they buy goods and services, in particular how they invest in new technologies.

The Defense review said, "Shortcomings in the acquisition process put the department at risk of being unable to deliver the capabilities it needs, when it needs them and at acceptable costs, and these potential failures in turn threaten the successful execution of military operations."

This is especially true when it comes to keeping pace with innovations in information technology, and "results in an enduring missed opportunity to benefit more fully from DoD, interagency and international IT capabilities."

As directed by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, officials were charged with balancing resources and risk among four major objectives: prevail in today's wars; prevent and deter conflict; prepare for a wide range of contingencies; and preserve and enhance the all-volunteer force, something he described as "America's single greatest strategic asset."

"Achieving our key objectives will … require close collaboration with key partners at home and abroad," said Michele Flournoy, undersecretary of Defense for policy, in a briefing Monday for reporters about the QDR.

"At home, we require a strong and fully resourced cadre of civilian national security professionals for homeland security and overseas contingencies. And this department fully supports initiatives to strengthen the capabilities of State, USAID [U.S. Agency for International Development] Department of Homeland Security and others," she said.