"The second recommendation [White House Katrina lessons learned report] identified the need for a federal planning process to unify the planning efforts that occur across the interagency. DHS addressed this recommendation through its development of the National Planning and Execution System (NPES) which is a formal curriculum based planning process used by the IMPT to build interagency contingency plans. OPS leadership recognized that the success or failure of the IMPT would hinge largely on its ability to develop a planning process that could coordinate the efforts of this interagency group and facilitate the development of a shared planning culture across the federal government. Prior to NPES, few federal departments and agencies adhered to a formal planning process that organized the operational planning efforts within their respective departments. To achieve this goal, OPS created NPES, which integrates current and emerging interagency planning "best practices," is consistent with the NRP, and adheres to the core concepts and terminology addressed in NIMS. (DHS, Statement of Frank DiFalco, Director of the National Operations Center, OOC, June 20, 2007, pp. 5-6)