Capacity building and sustainment : focusing on the end-state for Homeland Security

Abstract

Since 9/11, the U.S. has developed policies to counter the terrorist threat. Integral to those policies is preparedness. Homeland Security Presidential Directive 8 states that preparedness will include, "capacity building prevention activities such as information gathering, detection, deterrence, and collaboration related to terrorist attacks." Despite the criticality of capacity building in relation to preparedness, the term is not defined. There has been no discussion on what capacity building means. The term is often equated to federal assistance or used interchangeably with capabilities and capability based planning. Capacity building strategies, however, are distinct and link into wider economic, political, and societal issues. Despite capacity building's criticality to preparedness and sustainment, various or ambiguous interpretations will translate to differences in strategic priorities. This thesis will examine the existing strategies to determine the linkage between capacity building, preparedness, sustainment, capability, capability based planning, and the envisioned end-state. It will also address sustainment issues and homeland security costs based on differing capacity building interpretations. The end product is a capacity building definition that captures the costs and variables with building and sustaining capabilities. This thesis will also demonstrate how capacity building measures serve as the foundational premise for a sound homeland security strategic plan.