National Communications System NCS ESF2 Training Conference National Exercises

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National Communications System (NCS)ESF-2
Training ConferenceNational Exercises
Jessica Kaputa NCS Exercise Planner jessica.kaputa
_at_associates.dhs.gov 703-235-5544 28 November 2007
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• Federal Agency Participation in National
  Exercises
• Level of play determined by the level of the
  National Exercise
• Tier 1 White House directed, US Government-wide
  Strategy and Policy Focus. Full Scale (TOPOFF)
• Tier 2 Federal Strategy and Policy Focus.
  National Simcell participation (NLE 2-08)
• Tier 3 Other Federal Exercises focused on
  operational, tactical or organization-specific
  objectives (ESF-2 Spring Exercise)
• National Exercise Program (FEMA Office of Grants
  and Training)
• Tracks and evaluates all national level homeland
  security exercises
• Exercise based on 15 National Planning Scenarios
• DHS Homeland Security Exercise Evaluation Program
  (HSSEP)
• Capabilities and performance-based exercise
  program which provides a standardized policy,
  methodology, and terminology for exercise design,
  development, conduct, evaluation, and improvement
  planning
• NCS is an HSEEP Steering Committee Member

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• NCS Role in National Level Exercises
• ESF-2 Lead Agency Ensures the effectiveness of
  concepts, systems, policies, plans, and/or
  procedures by exercising and evaluating them
  during realistic simulations of crises and
  emergencies
• Level of participation determined by National
  Exercise Program and value of scenario in
  evaluating mission readiness
• Coordination with other Countries, Federal
  Departments and Agencies, state and local
  governments, and Private Industry members in a
  training environment
• Evaluation of NCS and ESF-2 Operational Plans
  through NCS Exercise Objectives based on Target
  Capabilities and the Universal Task List

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NCS Exercise Development

• Technical Assistance Team (TAT) Recently formed
  group of subject matter expertise from NCS Member
  Agencies Industry Partners
• Coordination with local venue planners (state,
  regional and local government and private sector)
• Lessons learned from TOPOFF 4 and previous
  exercises
• NCS Exercise Plan Training and Exercise Branch
  is drafting an update to the OMNCS/NCC Exercise
  Planning Guide in accordance with HSEEP
  guidelines

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• Upcoming Exercises
• Cyber Storm II
• Multiple Cyber Attack Scenarios (on simulated
  Internet)
• Government Sponsored, but Stakeholder driven
  (Government and Private Sector)
• 4 Infrastructure Sectors IT, Communications,
  Chemical, and Transportation (Rail and Pipeline)
• Involves 10 Information Sharing Analysis Centers
  (ISACs), 5 Countries (Australia, Canada, NZ, UK
  and US), and selected state and local governments
• NCC and Industry participation
• Exercise execution 10-14 March 2008

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• Upcoming Exercises
• Cyber Storm II (contd)
• Telecom Thread Scenarios
• Telecom Thread Scenarios
• MPLS Attack
• GETS card theft/fraud
• E911 Botnet
• Supply Chain Compromise widespread Telco outages

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• Upcoming Exercises (contd)
• National Level Exercise 02-08
• Combination of Eagle Horizon 2008 (formerly
  Forward Challenge and Pinnacle), Ardent Sentry
  2008, FEMAs Hurricane Preparedness Exercise
  six other exercises
• Implements National Planning Scenario of
  Terrorist/Chemical Attack and Hurricane, and
  Federal Continuity
• Exercise play will occur in Region X and Region
  III/NCR NCS plans to focus on Region III/NCR
  and limit participation in the Region X venue
• Communications, power, and water infrastructures
  will suffer serious damage in the hurricane
  scenario
• Communications working group working on
  emphasizing realistic communications play in to
  the Hurricane/Continuity Scenario
• Exercise execution 1-9 May 2008

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• NLE 2-08 NCS Core Mission Objectives
• Evaluate processes to respond to Industry, and
  Federal, state, and local government requests for
  assistance by using Action Request Forms and the
  Mission Assignment process (security, safety,
  perimeter access, and fuel for auxiliary power
  for restoration crews)
• Evaluate the effectiveness of NCS priority
  communications services GETS and WPS during
  times of severe congestion on the PSTN and
  wireless networks, and TSP for telecommunications
  restoration and provisioning, and evaluate the
  emergency service providers awareness of and
  ability to use these services
• Exercise competing priority conflicts for Joint
  Telecommunications Resources Board (JTRB)
  resolution
• Assess the training and operational readiness of
  ESF-2 Emergency Communications Teams

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• NLE 2-08 NCS Core Mission Objectives (contd)
• Demonstrate government and Industry coordination
• Assess the role of Stafford Act in facilitating
  Government/Industry response to disasters to
  include limitations and legal ramifications
• Evaluate government adherence to NCS Directive
  3-10 for Minimum Requirements for continuity
  Communications Capabilities
• Evaluate Essential Functions
• Demonstrate the agencys Notification and
  Activation procedures for COOP
• Assess the operational readiness of the alternate
  Relocation Facility
• Demonstrate the ability to provide operational
  telecommunications analysis products to aid the
  agencys decision-making process
• Demonstrate coordination of the information
  gathering/reporting process between multiple
  levels of the emergency response community
• Involve the Emergency Communications Team members
  for JFD operations