Welcome to the Washington Homeland Security Roundtable.

What a truly amazing year 2011 has been inside the Beltway. Budget - we finally got a budget for FY11 and have now shifted gears to also try to have one for FY12. Unfortunately, FY11 was so delayed that many USG programs and requirements were either unfunded, pushed into FY12, or simply so late in arriving that it was difficult for both government programs' requirements and industry quarterly numbers to be met. The fiscal year-end contracting crunch was a little more intense than usual.

We're all exhausted - regardless of party affiliation or lack thereof - after the recent Debt Ceiling debacle. We simply refuse as a country to resolve the hard issues. For the first time ever in the history of our country, the United States has seen its' credit rating dropped from AAA to AA. Volatility seems to have a daily re-definition in the stock market, and the Justice Department investigation of Standard & Poor's has begun.

Osama Bin Laden is dead. Unfortunately, so now are 30 members of Seal Team Six, other military forces, a specially trained canine, several Afghanis and an interpreter, after the Taliban used an RPG to take down a military helicopter. We should consider keeping quiet about the operational details of secret missions.

Eleven states, including now Maryland, have passed a version of the Dream Act, providing in-state tuition for many as well as a clear path to citizenship - regardless of immigration status or states' budget woes. In California, the plan includes state funded financial aid.

USCG, with the FBI and the Honduran Navy, made a historical drug seizure of 7.5 tons of cocaine worth an incredible $180 million. USCG accepted the on-time delivery of Cutter Stratton – the third National Security Cutter; began fabrication of Cutter Hamilton, and awarded a fixed price contract for the Cutter James. They launched the first two Fast Response Cutters, began production of hulls #3-8 and contracted for hulls #9-12, making great strides in a much needed fleet replacement program.

TSA is beginning PreCheck, the expedited traveler screening pilot in several markets, as well as deploying in 29 markets the Advanced Imaging Technology millimeter wave machines with advanced privacy software.

In spite of funding gaps and construction delays, DHS NAC remains focused on completing the St. Elizabeth's HQ facility. There is ongoing movement in components to a cloud environment, along with concerns over the privacy and effectiveness of data-mining systems.

And the campaigns are once again in full speech mode. Mitt Romney, former Governor of Massachusetts, Texas Governor Rick Perry, Herman Cain, Ron Paul and others ride the up and down roller coaster of public approval, while the consistent newsmaker is non-candidate Sarah Palin.

Meanwhile, the White House is said to have already labeled Cabinet Secretary's into either the Asset or Liability column. An appeals court has ruled the Obamacare requirement for individuals to purchase health insurance or pay a penalty to be unconstitutional, and an 'unprecedented exercise of federal power.' President Obama is a little more gray-haired every day.

Cheers to the USCG, the FBI and partners for all their hard work, and to those who dove for two weeks to recover the submarine and contents to keep it out of our country. Our condolences and tremendous appreciation and respect to the military and their families for their daily sacrifices to keep us a free nation. Every day, we witness tremendous commitment by our USG partners to further the goals of our nation.

As always, we continue to believe in our ability as a thoughtful, small group to affect meaningful change. Come help us!

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Upcoming Events

May 23, 2012 (Wednesday)

William J. Bratton, Vice Chairman of Secretary Napolitano's Homeland Security Advisory Council.

11:30am until 1:30pm.