Assignment

The Role of Fusion Centers in Counterterrorism Strategies

For this assignment, write an essay at least 500 words in length on how the role of fusion centers has changed in the United States from post-9/11 to today. Further, you will be required to discuss a terrorism plot that has been stopped by the efforts put forth by fusion centers. The last paragraph of your paper will summarize your finding about the current state of fusion centers and the public perception of them.

Introduction to Terrorism.

As part of this assignment, you are required to read a short document entitled the National Strategy for Information Sharing, which was originally published by the Bush administration in 2007 (updated in 2012), and outlines the initial role of fusion centers in the United States. This will provide the historical context and background information for your essay.

In 2010 at the National Fusion Center Conference, the fusion center directors, in partnership with the federal government, distilled the baseline capabilities for state and major urban area fusion centers into national network priorities and changed the focus of fusion centers to include four Critical Operational Capabilities (COCs) to include receive, analyze, disseminate, and gather.

After reading the National Strategy for Information Sharing, respond to the following questions in your essay:

- What improvements do you recommend take place or be added to the role of fusion centers in the United States?

- Do you believe that strengthening the ability of fusion centers to execute the COCs is critical to building an integrated National Network of Fusion Centers capable of sharing information with the federal government and other local and state entities? Why, or why not?

- How did one of the COCs help to prevent or stop a terrorism plot?

- Lastly, in recent years why has the role of fusion centers been questioned by the public and private industries?

Be sure to cite and reference all quoted and paraphrased material following APA style guidelines. You must use at least two sources in addition to your textbook. At least one of your sources must be from the CSU Online Library. The International Security and Counter Terrorism Reference Center database found in the CSU Online Library is a good place to start.