Guardians,
During Hurricane Katrina a number of different forces were deployed to assist local governments, including the National Guard and Department of Defense active duty forces. There has been an extended discussion since then regarding how National Guard forces conduct operations in conjunction with active duty forces deployed pursuant to requests for assistance by states. The National Guard can be recalled by the Governor under Title 32 USC, while recall for duty under the Department of Defense falls under Title 10 USC. In addition, there is limited authority for DOD to call up Regular Reservists if needed.
As a result the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008 recommended that the Department of Defense "engage with the community of governors to work out an understanding of unity of effort during domestic terrorist events and public emergencies." This guidance was provided in anticipation that Congress would consider legislation to call up Reservists (in addition to existing authorities to employ the National Guard under State or Federal authority).
To implement this recommendation, the President issued Executive Order 13528 in January 2010. The order creates a Council of Governors and describes its function.
"The Council shall meet at the call of the Secretary of Defense or the Co-Chairs of the Council to exchange views, information, or advice with the Secretary of Defense; the Secretary of Homeland Security; the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism; the Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement; the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas' Security Affairs; the Commander, United States Northern Command; the Chief, National Guard Bureau; the Commandant of the Coast Guard; and other appropriate officials of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense, and appropriate officials of other executive departments or agencies as may be designated by the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of Homeland Security."
Today, Secretary Gates and Secretary Napolitano hosted the first meeting of the Council of Governors at the Pentagon.
The Council is co-chaired by Governor Gregoire (Washington) and Governor Douglas (Vermont). Other members include Governor O'Malley (Maryland), Governor Perdue (North Carolina), Governor Henry (Oklahoma), Governor Nixon (Missouri), Governor Rounds (R-SD), Governor Fortuno (Puerto Rico), Governor Brewer (Arizona), Governor McDonnell (Virginia).
I attended today's inaugural meeting with FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, General Gene Renuart (NORTHCOM), and General Craig McKinley (National Guard Bureau). We were also joined by Assistant DHS Secretary Juliette Kayyem and Assistant Secretary of Defense Paul Stockton.
Today's meeting was the first ever face to face meeting of governors, federal civilian leaders, and military leaders to discuss how we create unity of effort in responding to natural and manmade disasters. It was an extraordinary event where issues of authority, jurisdiction, capability, competency, and resourcing were openly discussed by the participants. The Coast Guard plays a key role in this process and there is much to learn from our existing doctrine and relationships with states and local authority authorities as they relate to search and rescue and oil spill response.
My thanks to Governors Gregoire and Douglas for their leadership and to Secretaries Gates and Napolitano for hosting this first and historic meeting.
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