Department of Defense Releases the Strategy for Homeland Defense and Civil Support
June 30, 2005

The Department of Defense announced today the release of the Strategy for Homeland Defense and Civil Support, a first-ever document that addresses DoDs roles in the homeland defense mission and support to civil authorities.

The Strategy for Homeland Defense and Civil Support articulates strategic goals and objectives and provides direction to relevant Homeland Defense activities across the department. These activities include deterring and preventing attacks, protecting critical defense and designated civilian infrastructure, providing situational understanding, and preparing for and responding to incidents.

Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England called the Strategy, the next significant milestone in reshaping the departments approach to homeland defense. England said, It constitutes the departments vision for transforming homeland defense and civil support capabilities and will improve significantly the departments ability to counter threats of the 21st Century.

The strategy defines DoDs strategic objectives in a lead, support, enable framework. The department has the lead role in providing for the defense of the United States, is an important government partner in providing support to civil authorities, and actively seeks to enable domestic and international partners to improve their homeland defense and homeland security contributions.

The strategy focuses on building needed transformational capabilities, enhanced maritime awareness and response capability, strengthened allied contributions to collective security, and improved support to civil authorities.

A PDF version of the strategy is available at: http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jun2005/d20050630homeland.pdf.