Timothy K. Cameron, Sheriff of St. Mary’s County, completed the Executive Leaders Program at Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security on Feb. 25 in Monterey, Calif.
The goal of the Executive Leaders Program is to enhance senior leaders’ capacity to develop policies and strategies and while strengthening working relationships across the jurisdictional boundaries of regions, agencies, local-state-tribal-federal governments and the private sector.
Sheriff Cameron was chosen because of his extensive experience and recognized leadership in the disciplines that make up homeland security. Sheriff Cameron resides in Clements.
Participants met for four one-week intensive sessions over a nine-month period at the NPS Center for Homeland Defense and Security in Monterey, Calif. The 31 participants represent a snapshot of homeland security across the country and include state and local homeland security and emergency management directors, law enforcement, fire safety leaders, municipal governments and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The Executive Leaders Program was launched in August 2006. It is part of a series of graduate and executive level education programs sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, National Preparedness Directorate-FEMA and developed and conducted by the NPS Center for Homeland Defense and Security.
CHDS, established in 2002 and located at the 100-year-old NPS, is the nation’s homeland security educator. Students develop critical thinking, leadership and policy skills during a rigorous 18-month program leading to a Master of Arts degree in Security Studies. Each graduate completes a thesis on a current issue facing his/her jurisdiction.
To date, more than 330 participants have earned master’s degrees from the Center, the first institution in the nation to offer a postgraduate degree in the homeland security field. The Center has developed a cadre of education programs and resources which are shared with academic institutions around the country as part of its University and Agency Partnership Initiative. The Mobile Education Team has conducted more than 160 Executive Education Seminars for governors and mayors and their homeland security teams. For information, visit www.chds.us.
The mission of the NPS is to provide unique advanced education and research programs in order to increase the combat effectiveness of the U.S. and Allied armed forces as well as enhance the security of the United States. For information, visit www.nps.edu