Staff Report

MONTEREY, Calif.- Rockford Fire Chief Derek Bergsten, on Aug. 16 completed the Executive Leaders Program at Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security.

The goal of the NPS-CHDS Executive Leaders Program is to enhance the capacity of senior leaders from the public and private sector to develop policies and strategies 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 comprising homeland security.

Participants met for four intensive one-week sessions at the NPS Center for Homeland Defense and Security in Monterey, California. The 30 participants represent a snapshot of homeland security across the country and include professionals from the Department of Homeland Security, and agencies within it, as well as academia, emergency management, law enforcement, fire safety, state and municipal governments and public health.

The NPS Center for Homeland Defense and Security Executive Leaders Program was established in August 2006.

Established in 2002 and located at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), CHDS is the nation’s homeland security educator. The Center has developed a cadre of education programs complementing the master’s degree curriculum. 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.

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. R.