Chertoff News

(Reuters) - Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have subpoenaed the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for records regarding the business dealings of the agency's chairman, David Samson, according to media reports on Monday. U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara is interested in particular in any potential conflicts of interest between Samson's role as chairman and his private law firm, Wolff & Samson, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing anonymous sources. Pressure has been building on Samson, an appointee of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, since his name surfaced in documents related to September lane closures at the George Washington Bridge, which caused gridlock over four days as an alleged act of political retribution against a New Jersey mayor.

Decision Sciences International Corporation (DSIC), an advanced technology provider of security and detection systems, today announced that The Honorable Jayson P. Ahern, former Acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs & Border Protection, was appointed to the company's Advisory Board, effective immediately. Ahern, is a Principal with The Chertoff Group, providing strategic consulting services on homeland and border security management and global commerce and supply chain matters. In 2010, Ahern retired after 33 years of federal service to both the U.S. Customs Service and U.S.

Jerry DeMuro, formerly executive vice-president and corporate vice president of the Information Systems and Technology group at General Dynamics,  has been appointed as president and CEO of BAE Systems, Inc., effective February 1, 2014 to succeed Linda P. Hudson, who had announced last year her intention to retire from the company in 2014. DeMuro will be appointed as an executive director of BAE Systems plc and will serve on BAE Systems’ Executive Committee, as well as on the board of BAE Systems, Inc.

Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) announced  that Chad N. Boudreaux has been named to the newly created position of chief compliance officer. Chad will report to Bruce N. Hawthorne, corporate vice president, general counsel and secretary, and to the Audit Committee of the HII Board of Directors. "HII has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to the highest ethical standards and compliance across its entire operation," said Mike Petters, HII's president and CEO. "Chad's new role as chief compliance officer is a valuable enhancement of our existing compliance program…

Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (NYSE: HII) announced that Chad N. Boudreaux has joined the company as corporate vice president for litigation, investigations and compliance. He will report to Bruce N. Hawthorne, corporate vice president, general counsel and secretary, and to George M. Simmerman Jr., corporate vice president and deputy general counsel. Boudreaux comes to HII from Baker Botts LLP, where he established the law firm's Global Security and Corporate Risk Counseling practice group. Before joining Baker Botts, Boudreaux held various high-ranking positions in the U.S. government.

Paul C. Jensen, CEO of Halo Maritime Defense Systems (HMDS),announced the addition of the Honorable Jay M. Cohen, Rear Admiral USN (ret), as Chairman of the Board. Admiral Cohen is a native of New York. He was commissioned in 1968 upon graduation from the United States Naval Academy. He holds a joint Ocean Engineering degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Master of Science in Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture from MIT. His early Navy assignments included service on conventional and nuclear submarines.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released remarks by Secretary Michael Chertoff regarding maritime security and related matters in light of the recent terrorist attack in Mumbai.  He noted that a small boat security initiative was started about 18 months ago and emphasized the importance of intelligence capability and information in deterring future attacks.  He stated that the nation needs a robust and prepared Coast Guard and that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) should remain in DHS to coordinate disaster recovery. (12/3/08). (Source: Holland & Knight)

Hawai‘i Governor Linda Lingle and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff urging him to reject proposed federal rule changes that would adversely impact the Hawai‘i and California cruise industries and harm the economies of the two states, reports said. The two Governors also state in the letter that the Office of Management and Budget should require an economic impact statement be completed before any rule changes are implemented. The Governors cite proposed criteria on international cruise ships that would disrupt an industry that brings billions of dollars and more than 50…

President George W. Bush announced his intention to nominate Michael Chertoff, of New Jersey, to be Secretary of Homeland Security. He currently serves as a United States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Judge Chertoff previously served as Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division at the Department of Justice. As Assistant Attorney General, he helped trace the terrorist attacks to the al-Qaida network after September 11 and increased information sharing within the FBI. Prior to joining the Bush Administration, Judge Chertoff was a Partner in law firm of Latham & Watkins. From 1994 to 1996, he served as Special Counsel for the U.S. Senate Whitewater Committee. In 1990, Judge Chertoff was appointed by President George H.

The following is the transcript of the Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, January 12, 2005. Secretary Ridge: John, thank you very much, David. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. It is true as of February 1st I’ll be able to walk through the front door. That’s a good thing. It’s a much abused reference for those who enter public service and then leave it, but I am reminded from time to time, particularly by my children, that there will be a point in time when I get into the back seat and the car doesn’t move. That means I’ve got to get out and get in the front seat and move it myself.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Robert C. Bonner unveiled the first Radiation Portal Monitors now operational at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The event was part of a seaport security summit designed to acquaint port officials and the public with the pivotal role played by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in safeguarding the nation’s busiest seaport. “When it comes to the continued vibrancy of the United States economy, it is safe to say that as the ports of LA and Long Beach go, so goes the nation,” Commissioner Bonner stated. The recent recommendations that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff announced on July 13, called for “better systems to move people and goods more securely”.

The Department of Homeland Security released remarks delivered by Secretary Michael Chertoff at a recent conference. He said, in part: “We do not want to be a fortress state. We do not want to be a security nation. We want to be a secure nation. And that means part of our assessment of priority and part of our assessment of risk always involves an element of balance. We want to balance the steps that we take to make sure we are optimizing the protection against risk, but with regard to things like our freedom, our privacy and our prosperity, because we will lose this war if we turn ourselves into a fortress. We will lose this war if we devalue those things which we hold dear in order to gain additional measures of protection.

The Department of Homeland Security released the speech delivered by Secretary Michael Chertoff at the Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events in Los Angeles. Among other things, he stated that the three basic principles of port security are partnership, risk management, and a layered approach to security. He pointed out that every shipment of cargo to the United States (100%) is currently screened. Those found to present a risk are then scanned. Source: HK Law

Jesse Grooms, Jr., risk manager for Virginia International Terminals, Inc., in Norfolk, on March 20 received the American Association of Port Authorities’ (AAPA) Professional Port Manager (PPM) certification. AAPA’s 2007 board chairman, Capt. Allen O. Domaas, PPM, president and CEO of Canada’s Fraser River Port Authority in New Westminster, B.C., presented the coveted award to Mr. Grooms at the Association’s annual “Washington People” Luncheon, in Washington, D.C. AAPA made the award presentation immediately following a keynote address by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, which attracted about 325 port and government officials from throughout the Western Hemisphere.

The Department of Homeland Security posted the remarks by Secretary Michael Chertoff concerning port security. Topics included keeping dangerous cargo out of the United States, the port security grant program, and the transportation worker identification credential (TWIC) program. Source: HK Law

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, only the second to serve in this cabinet level post since the DHS was formed after 9/11, will address the American Association of Port Authorities’ (AAPA) annual Washington People’s Luncheon event on Tuesday, March 20, at the Willard Inter-Continental Hotel in downtown Washington, D.C. The topic: securing America’s seaports. Before being sworn in as DHS’s new chief, Sec. Chertoff served as a U.S. circuit judge for the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, and as Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division at the Department of Justice. In that post, he helped trace the 9/11 terrorist attacks to the al-Qaida network, and worked to increase information sharing within the FBI and with state and local officials.

The following is a statement, in its entirety, from Vice Adm. Thad W. Allen regarding his nomination to be commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, given before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. Washington - Good afternoon Mr. Chairman and distinguished members of the Committee. I am honored to be before you today and look forward to listening to your views and answering your questions. I am grateful for the confidence of President Bush in nominating me to be the 23rd Commandant of the United States Coast Guard. I can think of no greater honor and no better way to continue serving our Nation than through our Coast Guard, a Service whose embedded responsibilities impact every American.

The US Senate voted to promote VADM Thad W. Allen to the rank of Admiral and to serve as the next Commandant of the US Coast Guard. Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff issued a Statement commending the Senate for its quick action.

The Department of Homeland Security has stated that Secretary Michael Chertoff has selected Roger T. Rufe, Jr., Vice Admiral, USCG (ret.) as the next Director of the Department’s Operations Directorate. Source: HK Law

The Advance reported that while terrorist attacks on Staten Island's bridges would be difficult, experts say, the Staten Island Ferry remains a high-profile, vulnerable target. Harvey Kushner, a Long Island University professor of criminal justice and a federal government counterterrorism adviser, said the payoff for terrorists would be the sea disaster spectacle value. Officials said city ferries remain vulnerable despite the post-9/11 ban on trucks and cars. Instead of using car or truck bombs to attack the ferries, terrorists simply could send suicide bombers aboard the boats posing as passengers, it was explained. Police and Coast Guard officials have beefed up security on the ferries since 9/11. The NYPD assigned additional officers to patrol the boats and the ferry terminals.

The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs conducted a hearing entitled Homeland Security: The Next Five Years. As explained in her opening statement, Senator Susan M. Collins (R-ME) wants to assess the homeland security challenges the next five years will bring. Michael Chertoff, Secretary of Homeland Security, discussed those challenges, including port and maritime security. He noted that not every risk can be eliminated, so the goal is to prioritize the threats and address those of highest importance. Among the various witnesses, Richard A. Falkenrath, Deputy Commissioner for Counterterrorism, New York City Police Department, stated that the threat of a weapon of mass destruction in a shipping container has been exaggerated.

The first new U.S. christened Bertholf (WMSL 750) before 1,000 enthusiastic guests at Northrop Grumman's shipyard. Cutter (NSC) honored Coast Guard veterans several of whom attended the ceremony. U.S. Rep. U.S. Coast Guard personnel and veterans at the ceremony. The name Bertholf honors the U.S. Commandant, Ellsworth Price Bertholf (1866-1921). On Jan. Cutter Service and the U.S. agencies. implementing the successful merger of the two services. full load. maximum speed. command and control electronics. marine safety and environmental protection. services has never been higher. In partnership with the U.S. economical and enduring platform.

The U.S. Coast Guard announced today it will participate in the first-ever Department of Homeland Security-sponsored small vessel security summit to be held in June to discuss ideas for improving security for vessels not covered by the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff is expected to deliver the keynote address. Details on the location, dates and time of the summit will be announced once finalized. “We want to hear ideas from the people who regularly use our ports and waterways to determine how we can better structure new safety and security regimes that will have a minimal impact on those who rely on our waterways for their livelihood as well as recreation,” said Adm. Thad Allen, commandant of the Coast Guard.