Homeland Security Outlook

By Don Erickson

Every year, the Security Industry Association hosts the Government Summit in Washington, D.C., to provide participants with exclusive information about legislation and regulations that are important to the security sector.

The two-day event has become the top public policy conference in the security industry, and this year, for the June 8-9 Summit at the Embassy Suites Convention Center Hotel in D.C., we have assembled what may be our strongest-ever lineup of speakers.

Former DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff is headlining the Summit. From 2005 to 2009, Secretary Chertoff was the Bush administration's point man in protecting the United States against terrorist attacks, and he is sure to have many valuable insights regarding national security and the development of federal policies.

Companies that do business -- or plan to do business -- with the government, meanwhile, will gain much from a speech by General Services Administration Administrator Martha Johnson. As the head of the federal government's primary procurement agency, Ms. Johnson will be able to offer guidance to Summit attendees about GSA schedules, cooperative purchasing and how to navigate the contracting process successfully.

Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board Executive Director H. Glen Walker will provide an overview of the federal government's stimulus spending, which has meant millions of dollars in business for the security industry. And Federal Protective Service Director Gary Schenkel and Nuclear Regulatory Commission Commissioner Kristine Svinicki will explain how their agencies secure federal properties and nuclear facilities, respectively.

In addition, we will welcome as special guest speakers Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist George Will and Clinton White House Press Secretary Mike McCurry, both of whom are sure to offer insightful and entertaining presentations on the ways of Washington.

Finally, we will have several panels of government and industry experts discussing security issues, including biosecurity, identity management, stimulus spending, procurement and more.

Whether you are interested in learning more about how to sell to the federal government or you want to know what lawmakers and regulators are doing today that will affect how you do business tomorrow -- and find out what you can do to shape the laws and regulations that they're considering -- the SIA Government Summit is the can't-miss event of the year. For more information or to sign up, visit www.siaonline.org.

Don Erickson is the director of government relations for the Security Industry Association.