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HSIN Advisory Committee 

2013 Implementation Strategy

Purpose of this Document

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN) 

benefit greatly from a partnership with the HSIN Advisory Committee (HSIN AC), a Federal Advisory 

Committee Act (FACA) approved body. The experience, guidance, and inclusive recommendations from 

the HSIN AC’s membership ensure trust between the HSIN Program Management Office (PMO) and all 

of HSIN’s stakeholders, partners, and users. The HSIN AC also provides DHS an avenue for providing the 

latest information to State and local homeland security professionals on the full array of Departmental 

information sharing programs. The HSIN PMO last coordinated with the HSIN AC members in November

2010, at which time the HSIN AC’s operations were suspended due to the need to gain formal 

recertification. Since that time, the HSIN PMO has actively addressed the TechStat and HSIN AC S1 2010 

Recommendations, and begun implementation of HSIN Release 3 (R3). This brief strategy statement 

defines the mutual benefits of this relationship, its near and longer term goals, and the actions taken by 

the HSIN PMO, to date, to meet the HSIN AC’s 2010 recommendations. 

The Benefits of the HSIN AC to the HSIN Program Office and Enterprise

 Requirements 

and Development

Direct communication with State, local, tribal, territorial, and 

private sector (SLTTP) users on requirements development, 

outreach strategy, and general accountability of users’ issues.

 Policy & 

Compliance

Identification of major policy issues and requirements, vetting of 

draft policies, assurance of policy compliance through open 

communication.

 Efficiency

Real time engagement with SLTTP user base, heading off 

development and communications issues before deployment. 

Expert advice on best practices and reality-checks on planned 

capabilities and features.

 Enhanced 

Governance

Process

Accountability to SLTTP user-base, built directly into the HSIN 

governance model

Prospective FY13 HSIN AC Agenda and Meeting Schedule

Near term
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In the near term, January to May 2013, the HSIN AC’s agenda would most directly benefit the HSIN PMO

by focusing on the following topics:

(1) Comprehensive update on progress since TechStat Review and HSIN AC S1 2010 

recommendations, including development and implementation of HSIN R3, budget 

management, outreach strategy, policy and governance advancements;

(2) The major risks the HSIN PMO is facing and the steps being taken to mitigate those risks;

(3) The HSIN R3 communications strategy, with focus on the rollout of the new identity proofing 

solution and expectations surrounding migration and portal consolidation; and 

(4) Updates on and demonstrations of the latest DHS information sharing strategies and program 

initiatives.

Long term

In the long term, looking six months forward into 2013, the HSIN PMO will need the HSIN AC’s expert 

guidance on the following anticipated issues and discussion points:

 Assistance with migration prioritization and roll-out;

 Validation and socialization of communications and outreach strategy;

 Relationship development with vital HSIN stakeholder communities such as 

HSIN State and Local Intelligence (SLIC) community of interest (COI);

 Policy issue identification, development and validation;

 Policy compliance and monitoring; and

 Assistance in achieving federation.

The table below provides a prospectus on the potential agenda items and desired outcomes of HSIN AC 

meetings during 2013. They are presented for discussion and reference as meeting agendas are 

finalized.
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HSIN AC Meeting Outline(s)

Meeting 

# 

Target 

Date

Agenda of items Desired Outcomes Required 

Participants

Meeting 

Location

Facilitated by Guest Speakers

1 January 

15

th

, 

2013

 Welcome & Introductions

 Membership

 HSIN Program Management 

Office (PMO) Contact 

Information

 AC Charter and Bylaws

 Elect Chair and Vice-Chair 

for HSIN AC

 Priority Agenda Items for 

Next Meeting

 Elect a Chair and Vice-Chair for HSIN 

AC

 Introduce IdP process and request 

members to complete process for 

feedback in February meeting

 All HSIN AC 

members

 HSIN SLT

 Teleconference  David 

Steigman, 

Designated 

Federal 

Officer (DFO)

 Donna Roy

 HSIN Senior 

Leadership 

Team (SLT)

 None

2 February 

27th-28th, 

2013 

 Purpose of this brief

 Just How Far We’ve Come –

OMB TechStat and S1 

Recommendations

 HSIN R3 Value Proposition 

and New Features

 Alignment to the National 

Information Sharing and 

Safeguarding Strategy

 How We’ve Acted On Your 

Recommendations Since 

2010

 Where We Need Your Advice

 AC Members are fully aware of 

program progress to date and steps 

taken to mitigate risks

 AC members are aware of major DHS 

information sharing initiatives

 AC members define the AC’s working 

group and committee structure, 

including coordination with major 

information sharing stakeholder 

groups such as the HSIN SLIC Board

 Obtain advice on IdP experience, 

communication tactics, and training 

guidance.

 All HSIN AC 

members

 HSIN SLT

 Washington, 

D.C. – Ronald 

Reagan Building

 David 

Steigman, 

DFO

 Donna Roy

 HSIN SLT

 Mr. Spires –

DHS CIO

 Mr. 

Kshemendra 

Paul – ISE 

Program 

Manager

 Mr. Chavez –

OPS Director

 Mr. Dan Cotter 

– DHS CTO

 Mr. Don Triner 

– OPS 

Coordination 

Director

 Donna Roy –

ISE, Executive 

Director 

 Ms. Wong -

NPPD

 Mr. Waters –

DHS OGC 

Attorney

 Ms. Leilani 

Cartledge – OPS 

Program 
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HSIN AC Meeting Outline(s)

Meeting 

# 

Target 

Date

Agenda of items Desired Outcomes Required 

Participants

Meeting 

Location

Facilitated by Guest Speakers

Specialist

3 June 

2013

 TBD  Obtain guidance on key messaging 

and tactic advice on the following:

o IDP

o Migration 

o Federated User 

Management

 All HSIN AC 

members

 HSIN SLT

 Teleconference  Michael 

Brody1, DFO

 HSIN SLT

 TBD

4 October 

2013

 TBD  Obtain guidance on key messaging 

and tactic advice on the following:

o Shared Space 

 All HSIN AC 

members

 HSIN SLT

 Teleconference  Michael 

Brody, DFO

 HSIN SLT

 TBD

 

1 Michael Brody, HSIN Policy Manager, will assume the role of the DFO effective March 2013. 
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Actions Taken by the HSIN Program to Meet the HSIN AC’s 2010 Recommendations

The HSIN AC met August 31- September 1, 2010 to provide advice and recommendations to the DHS Office of Chief Information Officer (OCIO)

with respect to the HSIN PMO and the upgrade of the HSIN Legacy platform. The following table outlines those recommendations and the 

actions implemented by the HSIN PMO since the last assembly. 

S1 Recommendations provided from HSIN AC HSIN PMO’s Responses

Recommendation 1: DHS adopt the OCIO 

recommendation to move forward with 

SharePoint 2010 and continue to market the 

upgraded platform as "HSIN Next Gen."

At the end of 2010, the HSIN PMO followed the S1 recommendation and rendered 

operational control from Operations, Planning and Coordination (OPS) to OCIO 

through a memorandum of agreement (MOA). 

With the departmental transition, the HSIN system upgrade took on a new name, HSIN 

Release 3 (R3) – built on SharePoint 2010. 

Recommendation 2: The OCIO work with HSIN 

Community of Interest (COl) sponsors and key 

mission areas as outlined in the HSIN AC charter 

to conduct a complete review and revalidation 

of the functional requirements being used to 

develop HSIN NextGen.

HSIN R3 is based on a comprehensive assessment of user requirements, the 

identification of sixty-one (61) core requirements and routine feedback from the HSIN 

user base on the identification, validation and prioritization of requirements 

development through groups like the HSIN User Working Group (HUWG). 

HSIN Policy is now leading an effort to align all functional stakeholder governance 

bodies to specific business needs, formalize their governing charters, and fully 

integrate them into the HSIN governance model.

Recommendation 3: Existing HSIN COIs to be 

reviewed for possible consolidation.

In early 2011, the HSIN PMO devised an executive review board (ERB) staffed with 

HSIN senior leaders and led by the HSIN Outreach team to review existing COIs and 

decide whether or not to consolidate, eliminate, or request a repurpose the COI’s 

mission. 

The HSIN PMO developed a COI Model Charter. All COIs are now required to have 

their own Charter, to define the COI’s mission, vision, goals, governance structure and 

membership criteria and to conduct an annual review of the COI’s purpose and, if 

necessary, elimination of the COI. 

The HSIN Terms of Service requires consultation with the HSIN PMO before the 

creation of any new sites to prevent development of sites with the same purposes 

across COIs.
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S1 Recommendations provided from HSIN AC HSIN PMO’s Responses

Recommendation 4: Each COl have business 

processes, a governance structure, and rules for 

vetting users approved by DHS and the HSIN 

PMO to ensure trusted and secure information 

sharing.

HSIN has established a COI Model Charter. The Model Charter serves as a template to 

be filled out by all COI Sponsors. Each Charter defines a COI’s governance and 

management structure, the COI’s mission, vision, goals, and membership criteria for 

entrance. 

All COIs must either adopt the baseline COI Model Charter or customize their own 

prior to becoming fully operational on HSIN R3. 

HSIN Policy has also implemented a new, comprehensive Terms of Services 

establishing the rights, duties and privileges of all HSIN users, including rules on 

membership criteria, nomination, validation and registration.

Recommendation 5: Any and all information 

sharing systems being developed within DHS, 

such as Virtual USA and Virtual Joint Planning 

Office (FEMA), are presented to the DHS 

Information Sharing and Safeguarding

Governance Board (ISSGB) for a decision on 

inclusion / integration into existing DHS 

information management systems such as 

HSIN.

The HSIN PMO has established a portal consolidation strategy. HSIN has developed a 

portal consolidation strategy based on the original Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) requirement to complete ten (10) consolidations by end of FY12. HSIN PMO has 

completed seven (7) consolidations through FY12. HSIN PMO then received an OMB 

reprieve for three (3) consolidations in light of HSIN R3 development during FY12. This 

reprieve was based on the reality that it is more efficient to consolidate once to the 

new, HSIN R3 platform, instead of consolidating twice to both Legacy and HSIN R3. In 

addition, the reprieve ensures Legacy migration to HSIN R3 by the end of May 2013, as 

scheduled, and the avoidance of increased operation and maintenance (O&M) costs. 

HSIN PMO is now planning the initiation of the balance of consolidations between now 

and FY15 based on requirements and resources.

In October 2011, the DHS HSIN Executive Steering Committee (ESC) Charter was 

adopted and the HSIN PMO’s senior leadership team began holding monthly meetings 

with this essential governance body. The HSIN ESC is authorized by and reports to the 

DHS ISSGB. It has an inclusive membership including all the DHS components that have 

the highest use rates of HSIN.

Recommendation 6: DHS maintain current 

outreach staffing.

In Fall 2012, a thorough analysis was conducted by the HSIN Acquisition and Outreach 

teams to align current HSIN business needs with current HSIN Outreach contactor 

support. The result of this analysis concluded that the HSIN Outreach contractor staff 

needed to be more technically savvy to assist COIs in the design implementation 

efforts as the program advances toward full operational capability (FOC). In light of the 

recent budget constraints and the results of the analysis, the HSIN Outreach 

contractor staff was reduced resulting in a leaner, more technically savvy team whose 
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S1 Recommendations provided from HSIN AC HSIN PMO’s Responses

expertise translates cross-functionally providing more efficient coverage and practices. 

Recommendation 7: The HSIN AC Charter be 

updated and submitted to Congress for renewal 

by November 13, 2010.

The HSIN AC Charter renewal and membership revision request was initiated by the 

HSIN PMO on November 30, 2010. Despite delays in the charter’s renewal, the HSIN 

PMO pushed on towards development and leveraged various other working groups 

such as the HUWG, HSIN User Development Group, Shared Mission Communities, and 

Mission Advocate Council. On December 5, 2012, the HSIN PMO was notified that S1 

had officially signed the charter. 

Recommendation 8: DHS ensure appropriate 

actions are taken expeditiously to fully staff the

Committee to represent the mission areas 

outlined in the Charter.

The HSIN PMO has dedicated two (2) full-time Federal employees to staff the HSIN AC. 

These employees are at the GS 13 and 15 levels. 

Recommendation 9: The work of the HSIN AC 

be more closely coordinated with that of the 

HSIN Mission Operators Committee (MOC).

In November 2010, the HSIN PMO conducted an analysis of key mission area 

stakeholders for HSIN AC membership who could contribute vital expertise and 

guidance to the program. The analysis compared key usage statistics with feedback 

from HSIN Outreach to arrive at a short list of candidate components. The three-part 

analysis included:

 Review of key usage statistics to reveal which major components have a vested 

interest in HSIN. 

 Consultation with HSIN Outreach to identify major components that have “socially 

significant and active” COIs, but who aren’t yet represented on current governance 

bodies. 

 Crossed the results and validated them with HSIN Outreach leading to the 

identification of specific components and nominees that should be added to the 

HSIN AC.

In June 2012, the HSIN ESC formally adopted the recommendation of the HSIN MOC 

Chairwoman to dissolve the HSIN MOC and add additional mission operators to the 

HSIN ESC. Those additional voting members have been added to the HSIN ESC and are 

now fully participating in HSIN governance.
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HSIN AC Members’ Biographies

HSIN AC Members’ Biographies

State, local, tribal law enforcement

Daniel Cooney Major Daniel Cooney represents the New York State Police, where he serves in 

the Office of Counter Terrorism. He serves as advisor to the director of the 

New York State Office of Homeland Security, where he oversees the staff of 

the New York State Intelligence Center, New York’s fusion center. He has been 

a New York state police officer for 23 years, and has been awarded a master’s 

degree in security studies from the Naval Postgraduate School.

Ron Leavell Captain Ron Leavell represents the Seattle (WA) Police Department, where he 

is currently in the Strategic Initiatives office. He previously was on cross 

assignment to the Washington State Fusion Center as a project director for the 

Urban Areas Security Initiative, responsible for planning, development, and 

implementation efforts for multi-agency, multi-government counter terrorism 

partnerships. Leavell has been a Seattle police officer for 26 years with 

experience in criminal investigations. He has a law degree from the Seattle 

University Law School. He was elected Vice Chair of the HSINAC shortly before 

the committee’s charter expired in 2010. 

Michael Milstead Sheriff Mike Milstead has served as Sheriff of Minnehaha County, South 

Dakota, for over 15 years. He previously served as chairman of the HSINAC and 

currently represents the National Sheriffs' Association on the Department of 

Justice's Global Advisory Committee, part of the DOJ Global Justice Information 

Sharing Initiative. Sheriff Milstead has nearly 40 years of law enforcement 

experience and has received extensive training on homeland security, weapons 

of mass destruction, terrorism, and incident management. 

Federal law enforcement

Jason Henry Jason Henry, a Supervisory Special Agent with the U.S. Immigration and 

Customs Enforcement (ICE), serves as the deputy director of the DHS Law 

Enforcement Information Sharing Initiative (LEISI), managing day-to-day 

operations to develop an agile information sharing capability for law 

enforcement across DHS. Henry has served 20 years in ICE and previously, the 

Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), includes providing oversight for 

information technology law enforcement initiatives and systems for ICE 

Homeland Security Investigations.

State Homeland Security Advisors

Mark Perez Mark Perez represents the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), 

where he is the State Homeland Security Advisor and Special Agent-in-Charge 

of the Department’s Investigations and Forensic Science (I&FS) Program Office. 

Previously, he worked in the FDLE in internal affairs, background 

investigations, and narcotics enforcement. He previously was a patrol officer 

and detective with the city of Winter Park Police Department. He holds a 

bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and is a certified law 

enforcement instructor.

Thomas Sands Captain Thomas Sands is Michigan’s Deputy State Director of Emergency 

Management and Homeland Security and commander of the Michigan State 

Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division. He is 
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HSIN AC Members’ Biographies

responsible for statewide management and administration of homeland 

security and emergency management programs. Captain Sands is chairman of 

the Michigan Homeland Security Advisory Council and the Homeland Security 

Preparedness Committee. He has been a member of the Michigan State Police 

for 24 years. He is a graduate of Central Michigan University and the FBI 

National Academy.

Rolando Rivero Rolando Rivero represents the Federal Emergency Management Agency as the 

Regional Continuity Manager for Region V (Chicago). He is responsible for 

continuity planning for Region V, including maintaining relationships for 

continuity planning with federal, state, local, and tribal organizations; and 

conducting training for such organizations throughout a six-state area. Rivero 

was previously a senior emergency management program specialist with 

FEMA. He was elected Chair of the HSINAC shortly before the committee’s 

charter expired in 2010. 

Fred Vincent Fred Vincent represents the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, 

where he serves as Special Assistant for Commonwealth Security and Deputy 

Director of the Virginia Fusion Center. He has been an emergency manager 

with the state of Virginia for more than 20 years and previously worked as an 

EMS Coordinator with the city of Richmond.

Fire Services

Charles Werner Chief Charles Werner represents the Charlottesville (VA) Fire Department, 

where he has served 33 years. He serves on the Virginia Statewide 

Interoperability Executive Committee, the International Association of Fire 

Chiefs Technology Council, and the Federal Communications Commission’s 

Emergency Response Interoperability Council’s Public Safety Advisory Board. 

Werner also represents the fire services on the Virginia Information Sharing 

Working Group.

Steven Westermann Chief Fire Executive Steven Westermann represents the Central Jackson 

County (MO) Fire Protection District. His experience includes 24 years in his 

current position, three years as deputy fire chief, and 13 years as a volunteer 

and professional fire-fighter. He is a graduate of Central Missouri State 

University and has attended the Program for Senior Executives in State and 

Local Government at Harvard University

Public Health/Agriculture

Mary (Shelly) Schecter Shelly Schecter represents the Nassau County (NY) Department of Health, 

where she serves as Director, Division of Community and Maternal Child 

Health. Schecter has served more than 35 years with the department as 

director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness, a supervising public health 

nurse, and a public health nurse. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the 

Boston College School of Nursing and master’s degrees from Adelphi University 

School of Nursing and the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland 

Defense and Security.

Erin Mullen Erin Mullen represents the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of 

America, where she serves as Assistant Vice President, Rx Response. She has 

more than 20 years’ experience including service on the National Disaster 

Medical System as a clinical pharmacy unit leader and work as a registered 
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HSIN AC Members’ Biographies

pharmacist. She holds a pharmacy degree from the Massachusetts College of 

Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences and a doctorate in Microbiology and 

Immunology from the University of Miami.

Critical Infrastructure or Key Resources in the National Infrastructure Protection Plan

James Rosenbluth James Rosenbluth serves as the Managing Director for Crisis Management and 

head of the Business Continuity Advisory Services at Cushman & Wakefield 

with responsibility for business continuity at the global commercial real estate 

firm. He develops policies and procedures for business continuity and crisis 

management for facilities and personnel throughout the world. Prior to his six 

year in this position, he had more than 20 years’ experience in the national 

intelligence community. He holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degrees from the 

University of Georgia.

Robert Dorsey Robert Dorsey serves as the Infrastructure Liaison Program Coordinator for the 

Northern Nevada Counter Terrorism Center, with responsibility for developing 

consistent state-wide methodology and programs for critical infrastructure and 

key resource sites. He has more than 20 years’ experience in corporate security 

and information systems and 13 years’ experience as a police officer and 

detective with the Santa Clara Police Department. Dorsey holds a bachelor’s 

degree from Jacksonville University.

Jeffrey Dell Jeffrey Dell is the Senior Vice President for Global Business Continuity and 

Recovery at the Bank of America, with responsibility for all readiness and 

response to crisis level disruptions and risks. Dell was previously Vice President 

for Corporate Security for the Bank of America, responsible for establishing 

policies and procedures for a multi-state region. Dell has more than 15 years’ 

experience in corporate security and seven years police experience

Adjutant General National Guard

Dan Crawford

Major Dan Crawford represents the National Guard Bureau, where he serves 

as Chief of the Information & Collaborative Environment Branch. In this 

position, he addresses homeland defense/civil support information sharing 

challenges and establishes policy within the National Guard and its domestic 

mission partners. He has served as an Emergency Communications Planner and 

Network Planner with the Alaska National Guard. He holds a bachelor’s degree 

from North Georgia State College and a master’s degree from the University of 

Maryland.

State or Local Chief Information Security Officer or cyber-related position within state or local 

government

Tara Stachelski Tara Stachelski represents the New York State Division of Homeland Security & 

Emergency Services, where she serves as the Chief Information Officer, 

including responsibility for a variety of cyber-security related activities. She has 

been with the agency for eight years and oversaw the technological merger of 

five agencies into the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. 

Stachelski previously worked for 10 years as a technology consultant. She holds 

a bachelor’s degree from Utica College.

Local, County/Parish, or City Government

John Miller John Miller serves as the County Supervisor for Black Hawk County, Iowa. He 
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HSIN AC Members’ Biographies

serves as the Chairman for the Area Transportation and Emergency 

Management Commissions and has been the Chairperson of the National 

Association of Counties Public Safety Subcommittee. He has more than eight 

years of experience in county and local government. Miller has been a regional 

director for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the regional 

director for a congressman. He holds a bachelor’s degree from McPherson 

College

Tribal Government

Monte Fronk Monte Fronk represents the Mille Lacs Band Native Americans, where he 

serves as Coordinator of the Milles Lacs Band Department of Public Safety, 

supervising emergency management, emergency medical services, and 

preparedness services for the past 13 years. Fronk holds bachelor’s and 

master’s degrees from State Cloud State University

Any Relevant Homeland Security Discipline

Lindsey Johnson Lindsey Johnson serves as an Intelligence Analyst for the Tennessee 

Department of Safety and Homeland Security, State Fusion Center. She assists 

federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies with strategic and tactical 

intelligence analysis and is the Tennessee Fusion Center primary analyst for 

transnational crime and counterintelligence. Johnson holds a bachelor’s degree 

from the University of Tennessee.
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How HSIN AC Members Can Communicate with the HSIN Program Management 

Office (PMO)

 HSIN AC Members are free to contact HSIN PMO managers at their convenience.

 They should always copy Dave Steigman (DFO) and/or Sarah Schwettman (Alternate DFO) along 

with the HSIN AC Chair, Mr. Rolando Rivero, to ensure that their questions are pursued in full by 

the HSIN PMO.

 Below, please find a full table of contact information for essential HSIN PMO personnel.

Name Role Email Phone

David Steigman2 HSIN AC, Designated 

Federal Official

David.Steigman@HQ.DHS.GOV 202-357-7809

Sarah Schwettman HSIN AC, Alternate

Designated Federal 

Official

Sarah.Schwettman@hq.dhs.gov 202-357-7882

Donna Roy Program Director Donna.Roy@HQ.DHS.GOV 202-282-9635

James Lanoue Deputy Program 

Manager

James.Lanoue@HQ.DHS.GOV 202-357-7635

Denzil Thies Program Advisor Denzil.Thies@HQ.DHS.GOV 202-357-7622

Tracy Hollis Solutions Engineering 

Manager

Tracy.Hollis@HQ.DHS.GOV 202-357-6108

Melvin Brown Outreach & 

Communications 

Manager

Melvin.Brown@HQ.DHS.GOV 202-357-7863

Michael Brody Policy Manager Michael.brody@HQ.DHS.GOV 202-357-7661

 

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Serving as DFO through the end of February, 2013 – DFO duties then shift to Michael Brody, Policy Manager