The goal of the National Academic Consortium for Homeland Security is to help improve the security of the U.S. and its worldwide interests, while protecting and preserving its values, freedoms and civil liberties, and economic interests and competitiveness. The specific objectives of the Consortium are to help: (1) Improve understanding of national security issues, especially terrorism and strategies for counter-terrorism; (2) Promote development of better-informed public policy, strategy, plans and programs regarding national security issues; (3) Develop new technologies and transition those technologies into effective, practical and affordable solutions to (current and future) international and homeland security problems; and (4) Educate and train the people required by governmental and non-governmental organizations, to effectively accomplish international and homeland security roles and responsibilities. The primary role of the Consortium is to promote, support and enhance academic research, technology development, education and training, and service programs dealing with all aspects of international and homeland security, through collaboration and information- sharing among academic institutions, researchers and scholars. Our vision is that the Consortium also becomes an effective sounding board and consultative body to assist federal-government decision makers in developing more effective national policies and programs concerning academic research and technology development, education and training, and related service programs pertaining to national security. (NACHS, The Ohio State University)