national exercise program (nep) overview

National Exercise Program (NEP)Overview

August 2009

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Creating a Unified Exercise Strategy

National Exercise Program (NEP)Meets requirements laid out in Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) 8, Homeland Security Act of 2002 (as amended by the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act), and The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina: Lessons LearnedProvides the U.S. Government (USG) a national, interagency-wide program and a multi-year planning system to focus, coordinate, plan, conduct, execute, evaluate, and prioritize national security and homeland security preparedness-related exercises activitiesWorks as the primary mechanism to improve delivery of Federal preparedness assistances to State and local governmentsStrengthening preparedness capabilities of Federal, State, and local entitiesIncorporates Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) methodology

In response to presidential and congressional requirements, the Homeland Security Council—in coordination with DHS and FEMA—created and put into place the National Exercise Program (NEP) to unify

homeland security preparedness exercise strategies

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NEP OverviewThe President approved the NEP Charter and Implementation Plan on April 11, 2007Department and agency designees coordinate their exercise program responsibilities and requirements through the NEP Executive Steering Committee; an interagency governance structure Chaired by the Director of the FEMA National Exercise DivisionThe NEP shall serve as the mechanism for:

Examining the preparation of the USG and its officers and other officialsAdopting policy changes that might improve such preparation

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NEP ComponentsNEP program components include:

National-Level Exercise (NLEs) (Annual NEP Tier I exercise) (national security and/or homeland security exercises centered on White House directed, USG-wide strategy and policy)

Principal-Level Exercise (PLEs) (Quarterly cabinet level exercises focused on current USG-wide strategic issues)

NEP Five-Year Exercise Schedule of NLE/PLE and significant NEP Tiered exercises with a strategic USG-wide focus

National Exercise Schedule (NEXS) (schedule of all Federal, Regional, State, and local exercises)

Corrective Action Program (CAP)

Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)

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NEP GuidanceNLEs, PLEs, and NEP Tier II exercises will reflect USG-wide priorities, not single department or agency programs Homeland Security Council (HSC) Domestic Readiness Group’s Exercise & Evaluation Sub-Interagency Policy Committee (E&E sub-IPC) recommends exercise priorities, goals, objectives, schedules, and corrective action issues to the Deputies Committee (Cabinet Deputy Secretaries) for approvalFEMA NED chaired NEP Executive Steering Committee supports day-to-day coordination

Develops proposed exercise priorities, goals, objectives, schedules, and corrective action issues for the E&E Sub-IPCCharged with ensuring that all NEP exercises are successfully coordinated and conductedComprised of representatives across the USGDefining and drafting a NEP Five-Year Exercise Schedule

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NEP Exercise TiersTier I: White House directed, U.S. Government-wide strategy and policy focused. (1 NLE and 4 PLEs annually)

Tier II: Federal strategy and policy focused. (<3 annually)

Tier III: Other federal exercises operational, tactical or organizational focused

Tier IV: State, territorial, local, tribal or private sector focused

Tier I

Tier II

Tier IIIRegional or Other Federal Exercises

Tier IVNon-Federal Exercises

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NEP Five-Year Exercise ScheduleBased on strategic direction and policy priorities

Transition Training

Domestic Natural Disaster

National Security

Domestic Terrorism

Sets forth focus, goals, themes, and schedule for NLEs & PLEs

Requires process for discouraging changes less than two fiscal years out

Allows for departments and agencies to:

Align other exercises, training activities, and preparatory reviews of policies, plans, and procedures

Align with regional and State efforts

Budget resources for exercise planning & participation

Leverages existing interagency exercise conferences

IED

National Exercise Program Five-Year Exercise Schedule (Tier I / Tier II)

Elections InaugurationTransition Confirmation

FY 10Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep





National Level Exercise National Special Security EventsPrincipal Level Exercise Version: 2008-06-17

NLE 09InternationalTerrorism

Prevention Focus

Regions VI

NSSE: Presidential Inauguration

Principal Level Exercise 3-09

Principal Level Exercise 4-09Principal Level

Exercise 1-09


Administration Transition Training Program

Prep for NLE 09Principal Level Exercise 2-09

NLE 2010DomesticTerrorismImprovised Nuclear DeviceRegion VIII & IX

Olympics in Vancouver Principal Level Exercise 4-10


Principal Level Exercise 1-10 Principal Level

Exercise 2-10 Prep for NLE 2010

Congressional Elections & Transition

Prep for NLE 2011



NSSE:PoliticalNationalConvention

NSSE:PoliticalNationalConvention



Prep for NLE 2012

NLE 2013Domestic Non-Terrorism

Major Hurricane

Region IV & VI

NSSE: Presidential Inauguration




Administration Transition Training Program Prep for

NLE 2013






Major Hurricane

HSC Assigned

Olympics Prep

WMD or MANPADS

HSC Assigned

Attack on Transit

HSC Assigned

HSC Assigned

Food Security

Chemical Biological


TBD

NEP Tier II Exercise

Empire 09RDD / FRMACRegion II

Unified Support 09Mass MigrationRegion IV

Governor / House of Reps.Transition Training Program

NLE 2011Domestic Non-Terrorism

Major Earthquake

Region IV, V, VI, VII

NLE 2012International Defense / Crisis

Cyber Attack

Region (TBD)

IED

2013 Date TBDDiablo Bravo 13

SONS 13

2012 Date TBDFRMAC 12

HSC Assigned

Pan Flu

Vigilant Shield 2011

Vigilant Shield 2012

Cyber Storm III

SONS 2010Region I

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National Exercise Simulation Center

Vision Statement: To establish a state-of-the art National Exercise Simulation Center (NESC) at FEMA Headquarters to support the Department’s all-hazards preparedness and response program through the use of a central facility that coordinates Modeling & Simulation resources, maximizes exercise efficiency, and provides sustained exercise and training support to all stakeholders

Section 664 of 2007 Homeland Security Appropriations Act:

“The National Exercise Simulation Center uses various methods of

simulation to train elected officials and emergency response personnel from all

levels of government.”

The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned, page 119:

“DHS should develop and fund a National Exercise Simulation Center (SIMCEN), similar

to the Department of Defense’s Joint Warfighting Center. The SIMCEN would act

as a tool to simulate the Federal role in emergency response and be capable of working with State and local exercises.”

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NESC OverviewThe NESC was formally established 12 January 2009 and is a component of the National Exercise Division

NESC supports the NED’s role as the executive agent for the NEP

NESC capability will be utilized during National-Level, NEP Tier II and other NEP Tiered exercises as necessary

Current Operating Capabilities:

Multiple linked display capability

VTC, Teleconference

100+ networked workstations with integrated phone

iSave technology installed

In-house dedicated secure communications

Capability includes up to “secret” classification level

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NESC Projected CapabilitiesFully operational State-of-the-Art Exercise Control and Sim Center to:

Support national, federal, state, and local exercises throughout the United States and internationally with around-the-clock servicesAct as the central hub linking exercises and planning personnel to specialty services in a hub and spoke frameworkIncorporate National and FEMA improvement management services toinclude FEMA Remedial Action Management Program, National Corrective Action Program, and Lessons Learned Information SystemProvide advanced operational planning supportFacilitate modeling and simulation activities that support exercises, training, and unique eventsAct as an extension of the NRCC for purposes of supporting national readiness

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NLE Project GuidanceThe National Exercise Division drafted guidance for conducting NLEs

Major components include:

Project goals and characteristics

Planning working group considerations (Scenario, External Affairs, Control and Evaluation, etc)

Conduct and security guidance

National after action evaluation process

Version 1.0 posted to www.LLIS.gov and is considered a ‘living document’ and maintained by the National Exercise Division

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Regional Exercise Support ProgramEstablished as a formal application-based process to provide subject matter expert assistance to regionally coordinated initiatives

RESP supports Regional, State, Territorial, Tribal, local and Urban Area Security Initiative’s exercise initiatives

RESP support includes:

Facilitation of Training and Exercise Plan Workshops (TEPW)

Delivery of the HSEEP Training Course

Exercise Support for discussion and operations-based exercises (design, development, conduct, evaluation, and improvement planning)

All applications for RESP support is coordinated through the appropriate FEMA Regional Exercise Officer

More information on this program can be found at https://hseep.dhs.gov

https://hseep.dhs.gov/

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Capabilities and performance-based exercise program, which provides a standardized policy, methodology, and terminology for exercise design, development, conduct, evaluation, and improvement planning

Provides a consistent exercise methodology for all entities involved in exercises, including Federal, State, and local governments, departments, and agencies; private sector entities; and Non-Governmental Organizations, regardless of the exercise scenario

Articulated in four policy and guidance Reference Volumes:

HSEEP Volume I: HSEEP Overview and Exercise Program Management

HSEEP Volume II: Exercise Planning and Conduct

HSEEP Volume III: Exercise Evaluation and Improvement Planning

HSEEP Volume IV: Sample Exercise Documents and Formats

HSEEP Volume: Prevention Exercises

HSEEP Overview

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HSEEP Program DescriptionCapabilities-based approach

Standard policy, methodology and terminology for exercises

Training through the HSEEP Training course and online independent study courses

Technological support through the HSEEP Toolkit

Support for Improvement Planning Workshops and Training and Exercise Planning Workshops

Training

Technology

Direct Support

Policy and

Guidance

HSEEP Training

Technology

Direct Support

Policy and

Guidance

HSEEP Training

Technology

Direct Support

Policy and

Guidance

HSEEP

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HSEEP Cycle

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CAP Overview (USG Interagency)

The Interagency CAP does not replace existing department and agency remedial action programs

- Links the outputs of departmental and agency programs to provide effective Interagency-level coordination and tracking of corrective actions

The CAP captures lessons learned via Lessons Learned Information Sharing website

The USG Interagency CAP provides a disciplined process and automated tracking system to ensure that corrective actions are implemented in a

timely, reliable manner after exercises and real-world events.

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CAP ScopeThe Interagency CAP coordinates and tracks:

Corrective actions arising from officially designated National-Level Exercises (NLE) and other appropriate NEP Tiered exercises

Corrective actions requiring coordination by multiple departments and agencies

Available for real-world events for which the HSC’s DRG convenes an After-Action Conference within 30-days of the end of response activities

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CAP Purpose

Establishes a disciplined approach and consistent processes for implementation of corrective actions that are currently handled through a wide array of inconsistent, ad hoc processes

Provides coordination channels for departments and agencies to jointly vet and implement corrective actions

Tracking and reporting functions provide senior officials and decision-makers with real-time insight into the status of corrective actions

Solves the recurring problem of observing the same issues identified as shortcomings in after-action reports following exercises and real-world events

The CAP “closes the circle” of a broader preparedness cycle, ensuring that evaluation of exercises and real-world incidents consistently yields concrete

improvements to the Nation’s preparedness

What is Lessons Learned Information Sharing?The national, online network of lessons learned, best practices,

and innovative ideas for the emergency response and

homeland security communities

650 after-action reports1,600 state and local plans800 LLIS.gov original content documents

LLIS.gov serves as both a comprehensive repository for preparedness information and a network for sharing expertise.

Online since April 19, 2004, with over 46,000 members

Over 13,000 documents currently available, including:

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