IACP Leadership in Homeland Security Award
The IACP Leadership in Homeland Security Award honors excellence and significant contributions to overcoming United States homeland security challenges
Complete the 2024 IACP Awards Interest Form to receive information as it becomes available.
This award recognizes single agencies and multi-agency collaborative efforts that demonstrate significant contributions to information sharing and analytical work in the United States homeland security enterprise, and/or sound decision making during the preparation and execution of critical incident response, mitigation and recovery efforts resulting from acts of terrorism, and extremism in addition to natural or man-made calamity.
For further information, contact awards@theIACP.org.
2022 Winner
United States Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Investigations
Beginning in September 2021, Newark homeland Security Investigations Special Agents worked with national security partners to screen and vet nearly 16,500 Afghan evacuees temporarily housed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. This mission resulted in the completion of interviews of Afghan nationals considered subjects of interest to the counter terrorism and/or counterintelligence community. Agents effected the administrative arrest of an alleged member of a terrorist organization that had claimed responsibility for the deadly bombing that killed thirteen U.S. military men and women last year during evacuations from Afghanistan.
2020 Winner
Emergency Support Function #13, U.S. Department of Justice
On the behalf of the U.S. Department of Justice, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) coordinates a critical part of the National Response Framework known as the Emergency Support Function (ESF) #13. The ESF #13 is staffed by personnel from a cadre of contractors, prior law enforcement and emergency management personnel, and current law enforcement officers from more than 40 different law enforcement agencies. Their mission is to coordinate federal law enforcement missions during natural disasters and other significant events threatening the United States. In 2019, the ESF #13 coordinated disaster preparation and response during Hurricane Dorian which saw an incredible deployment of nearly 500 federal law enforcement officers. Officers were deployed and stationed at State Emergency Operation Centers and Regional Response Coordination Centers along the southeast coast from Miami, Florida to Charlotte, North Carolina to assist with disaster preparation and response. The ESF #13’s achievements in cross jurisdictional cooperation, vast geographic area of operation management, strategic deployment of supplies and personnel, reflects significant efficiencies and innovation to disaster response.
2019 Winner
Department of Homeland Security, Office of Intelligence and Analysis
The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) Open Source Collection Operations Team identified an individual who tweeted a murder-for-hire solicitation to kill Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. This information was shared via the secure Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN) platform, where a Texas Fusion Center Analyst identified the social media subject and their Massachusetts-based residence. The Boston Police Department’s Regional Intelligence Center Analysts and DHS Intelligence Officer assigned in Massachusetts, collaborated with ICE/HSI Boston, Boston Joint Terrorism Task Force, and the Cambridge Police Department to initiate an investigation. The subject was arrested and charged. The collaborative efforts reflect improvements and efficiencies in sharing and processing intelligence information, as well as the direct impact and value of the intelligence function in informing and supporting investigative efforts.
2018 Winner
Border Enforcement Security Task Force, Brownsville, Texas
U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST), Brownsville, is a collaboration designed to enhance border security along a 112-mile stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border. This area contains critical energy infrastructure, commercial fishing, and cargo infrastructure, and is an area frequently targeted by transnational criminal organizations trying to exploit the South Texas border for illicit purposes. Results have included the seizure of illegal drugs, profits, and vehicles. BEST serves as an investigative best practice, demonstrating a comprehensive regional response to the growing threats facing homeland security. The task force is comprised of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Coast Guard; Texas Parks and Wildlife-Marine Tactical Operations Group; South Padre Island Police Department; U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air Marine Operations; Port Isabel Police Department; U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations; and Cameron County Sheriff’s Office.
