Homeland Security Business Conference & Expo
Senator Jack Reed
Congressman Patrick Kennedy
June 7, 2004
Newport, RI

Speaker Biographies

Andy Mitchell
Deputy Director
Office for Domestic Preparedness
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/

Andy Mitchell currently serves as the Deputy Director of the Office for Domestic Preparedness, US Department of Homeland Security. The office, which was transferred to DHS in March 2003, was established in April 1998 and designated by the Attorney General to develop and administer a major national initiative to enhance the capabilities of the nation's public safety community to respond to terrorist incidents.  The Office has grown dramatically since its creation, with a budget of $5 million in 1997 to a budget of $4 billion in 2004.  ODP is the primary federal agency responsible preparing the Nation to prevent and respond to threats or incidents of terrorism through a complex and coordinated effort to develop and implement training programs for state and local first responders; administer a state formula grant program to develop statewide domestic preparedness strategies and provide specialized equipment, training, exercises, and strategic planning to enhance the capacity of state and local agencies to respond to WMD terrorism; oversee the Urban Area Security Program which develops and funds integrated regional homeland security strategic plans; plan and execute national-scope exercises and support state and local exercises; and provide specialized technical assistance to state and local governments.  Prior to his role in establishing ODP, he held senior positions in DOJ's Bureau of Justice Assistance, were he served as the Chief of the National Initiatives Branch where he was ­responsi­ble for the management of BJA's First Responder to Terrorist Incidents National Training Program for fire and emergency medical personnel, and also served as the Director of the Emergency Federal Law Enforcement Assistance Program.  Mr. Mitchell has over 27 years experience in public safety and criminal justice program development, program management, program planning and policy development in both the public and private sectors having previously served as a Business Unit Manager for Public Safety and Technology in the Government Services Division of Aspen Systems Corporation; Director of Special Projects for the National Criminal Justice Association; and Director of Financial and Grants Administration for the Georgia State Crime Commission.  Mr. Mitchell received a Bachelors of Business Administration, with a major in Finance, from Georgia Southern College.

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Overview

Agenda

Attendees

Exhibitors

Initiative Info 

Speaker Resources

2003 Conference Info

Other Events

Final Report