Department of Homeland Security, Principles
Department of Homeland Security, Principles : Guiding Principles of Homeland Security 2: "The philosophy that informs and shapes decision making and provides normative criteria that governs the actions of policy makers and employees in performing their work. (1) Protect Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. We will defend America while protecting the freedoms that define America. Our strategies and actions will be consistent with the individual rights and liberties enshrined by our Constitution and the Rule of Law. While we seek to improve the way we collect and share information about terrorists, we will nevertheless be vigilant in respecting the confidentiality and protecting the privacy of our citizens. We are committed to securing our nation while protecting civil rights and civil liberties. (2) Integrate Our Actions. We will blend 22 previously disparate agencies, each with its employees, mission and culture, into a single, unified Department whose mission is to secure the homeland. The Department of Homeland Security will be a cohesive, capable and service-oriented organization whose cross-cutting functions will be optimized so that we may protect our nation against threats and effectively respond to disasters. (3) Build Coalitions and Partnerships. Building new bridges to one another are as important as building new barriers against terrorism. We will collaborate and coordinate across traditional boundaries, both horizontally (between agencies) and vertically (among different levels of government). We will engage partners and stakeholders from federal, state, local, tribal and international governments, as well as the private sector and academia. We will work together to identify needs, provide service, share information and promote best practices. We will foster inter-connected systems, rooted in the precepts of federalism that reinforce rather than duplicate individual efforts. Homeland security is a national effort, not solely a federal one. (4) Develop Human Capital. Our most valuable asset is not new equipment or technology, but rather our dedicated and patriotic employees. Their contributions will be recognized and valued by this Department. We will hire, train and place the very best people in jobs to which they are best suited. We are committed to personal and professional growth and will create new opportunities to train and to learn. We will create a model human resources management system that supports equally the mission of the Department and the people charged with achieving it. (5) Innovate. We will introduce and apply new concepts and creative approaches that will help us meet the challenges of the present and anticipate the needs of the future. We will support innovation and agility within the public and private sector, both by providing resources and removing red tape so that new solutions reach the Department and the marketplace as soon as possible. We will harness our nation's best minds in science, medicine and technology to develop applications for homeland security. Above all, we will look for ways to constantly improve-we will recognize complacency as an enemy. Be Accountable. We will seek measurable progress as we identify vulnerabilities, detect evolving threats to the American homeland and prioritize our homeland security resources. We will assess our work, evaluate the results and incorporate lessons learned to enhance our performance. We will reward excellence and fix what we find to be broken. We will communicate our progress to the American people, operating as transparently as possible and routinely measuring the success of our progress. (DHS, Securing Our Homeland: U.S. Department of Homeland Security Strategic Plan 2004. February 24, 2004, p. 5)
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