Department is off and running; good relationship with Ridge State's perspective: Ability to plug in one place to track federal funds and intelligence information.
FR: What about stepping on individual rights and liberties?
JH: We know about that line and are concerned about it. Only those skirting the law should be nervous. We must keep control of our security and safety by following the law.
FR: Sniper shootings?
JH: Never defined as terrorism but was concern and speculation, then everyone got involved because they are the same people who handle such events. There was cross-jurisdictional cooperation: federal, state and local -- great test of system.
We did many things right and we worked together better than we would have before 911. Learned a lot and will be better prepared for future events like tracking. Mohammed and Malvo were stopped in all 3 jurisdictions in Virginia where there was a killing and slipped through.
FR: How can FRs learn about the office?
JH: The office has gotten bigger every day in past year. Advice to help: Stay alert, involved, study, communicate. It's a challenge to plug in each individual who want to go to the defense of their country.
[This is so cool! It looks like a militia, a good one] Virginia Defense Force backs up the National Guard. Huge percentage of NG is called up, Virginia Defense Force is a valuable help for natural disasters, health and medical teams community level... especially around hospitals to help with widespread dissemination of smallpox vaccine. People with skills are needed! Commonwealth Preparedness
FR: It's been a pleasure, thank you for coming to CPAC.
JH: My pleasure. Thank you for being concerned about homeland security.
This is all paraphrase and should not be considered a transcript! Please feel free to add/correct anything I misrepresented.