National Security Policy and Preparedness Division

The Division’s multi-disciplinary staff coordinate and determine DOT equities and participation in interagency national security policy development—particularly with the White House National Security Council (NSC)—across topics that include critical infrastructure security and resilience, biodefense and public health, cybersecurity, all-hazards emergency preparedness, continuity of operations, and exercises (among others).

The Division analyzes and directly shapes NSC policy considerations—including executive orders and other presidential memoranda—that affect DOT’s multi-modal programmatic areas. Such Division efforts directly inform and prepare the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, and other DOT senior leadership for their participation in NSC Principals Committee, Deputies Committee, and other meetings.

The Division represents the Department in its role—alongside the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—as Co-Sector- Risk Management Agency for the Transportation Systems Sector. The Division partners with the Current Operations, Response, and Recovery Division to establish appropriate Transportation Systems Sector engagement during emergency response activities.

The Division spearheads robust exercise-related efforts that assess, validate, and fulfill the Department’s roles and responsibilities in the planning, conduct, and evaluation of interagency exercises—to include preparing DOT senior leadership for participation in national- and senior-level exercises.

Finally, the Division’s continuity-related efforts develop the means to ensure that—through appropriate planning, guidance, and training—the Department can continue performing its essential functions uninterrupted under all conditions, including through alternate operating sites and communication capabilities.

Partner Entities:

• National Security Council
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
• Other Federal agencies regarding policy issues relating to intelligence, security, and emergency response

Stakeholders:

• Office of the Secretary of Transportation Offices
• DOT Operating Administrations
• The White House National Security Council
• DHS (i.e., the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Transportation Security Administration, and U.S. Coast Guard)
• Other interagency partners
• Private sector owners, operators, and stakeholders in the Transportation Systems Sector

Major Projects:

• DOT liaison with White House Policy Groups
• National Preparedness/Presidential Policy Directive-8
• Critical infrastructure/Presidential Policy Directive-21
• Transportation Systems Sector Co-Sector Risk Management Agency responsibilities
• Civil Reserve Air Fleet Allocations
• Defense Production Act
• Biodefense and Public Health