New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Terrorist Financing & Drug Trafficking Strategy
My Masters Project focuses around the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (NY/NJ HIDTA). Narco-terrorism has become a significant issue for the safety and security of the United States. Terrorist financing also plays a significant role in the war on terror. I chose to create a three part strategy for the NY/NJ HIDTA that will combat both narcoterrorism and terrorist financing. Each chapter describes another detailed plan of how the NY/NJ HIDTA, as well as particular agencies within, combat these issues in attempt to keep our nation secure. My Masters Project was carefully constructed with a strong focus on terrorist financing. The top priority of terrorist organizations is to cripple the American economy. This paper will illustrate the significance of “following the money will eventually deteriorate terrorist organizations at their core. Narco-Terrorism & Terrorist Financing 3 Acknowledgements I would like to thank my parents, John and Marie O‟Mara. They showed me how hard work and determination can make your dreams come true. I would not be where I am today without their love and support. Not only did they proofread my papers throughout these past two years, they provided encouragement when it was really needed. My sisters, Jennifer and Meghan have also been a tremendous support system throughout this journey. I would like to thank them for proofreading my papers and providing me with an outside perspective. I would also like to thank my fiance, Steve. Not only did he look over my work and fix the grammatical errors, he was my rock. He was always there to support me and give me that extra push to keep on working. He believed in me and the work I was capable of even when I doubted myself. I am eternally grateful. I would like to thank my grandmother, “Mama”, for teaching me that education is a valuable gift. She saw potential in me when I had doubts. I wish she could be here to experience this achievement with me but I know that I have made her proud. There are three people I must thank that were a tremendous part in the execution of my Master‟s Project. Detective Ray Bravo, his knowledge of Homeland Security mixed with his personal experiences enabled me to fully comprehend the lessons that were taught throughout this program. I would like to thank him for sitting patiently with me while I asked him hundreds of Narco-Terrorism & Terrorist Financing 4 questions. I learned so much from his stories and valuable insight. Detective John Petrocelli was always there to read over my papers and provide me with the advice and guidance that I needed to move forward. His friendship and support were invaluable to me. Investigator Robyn Arias, who is my colleague and my friend. I would like to thank her for staying after work with me to help me on my homework assignments. She was always there to provide support and inspiration when I felt like giving up. Most importantly, I would like to thank Dr. Ryan. His enthusiasm for academia resonates throughout the Pace community. He has been an inspiration and a support system throughout this journey. His hard work and dedication to this Master‟s program is shown throughout my Master‟s Project as well as my fellow peers‟. It is truly an honor to be able to graduate in the first cohort. Thank you Dr. Ryan we couldn‟t have done this without you. Narco-Terrorism & Terrorist Financing 5 Table of
Homeland Security Intelligence: Perceptions, Statutory Definitions, and Approaches
This report provides a potential conceptual model of how to frame homeland security intelligence (HSINT), including geographic, structural/statutory, and holistic approaches. Given that state, local, tribal, and private sector officials play such an important role in HSINT, the holistic model, one not constrained by geography or levels of government, strikes many as the most compelling. The report argues that there is, in effect, a Homeland Security Intelligence Community (HSIC). Although the HSIC's members are diffused across the nation, they share a common counterterrorism interest. The proliferation of intelligence and information fusion centers across the country indicate that state and local leaders believe there is value to centralizing intelligence gathering and analysis in a manner that assists them in preventing and responding to local manifestations of terrorist threats to their people, infrastructure, and other assets. At the policy and operational levels, the communication and integration of federal HSINT efforts with these state and local fusion centers will likely remain an important priority and future challenge.
Using Activity Theory in Developing Instructial Tools for Project Management Studies
Competence and skills of the project manager are significant to project success. The skills needed in project managersâ work cannot be learned only by reading the books or a lecture hall; one learns them by practice. Therefore, an important challenge for educational institutions is to develop pedagogical practices that allow students to participate in working life projects and to confront real-life problems. Project-based learning (PBL) offers a model that enables students to practice the skills and competences needed in working life projects by utilizing real-world work assignments in time-limited projects. Using PBL method alone does not necessarily guarantee learning result. In order to be successful, PBL method requires effective and competent supervision and guidance of students as well as appropriate tools for instruction. In this study the concepts from activity theory (AT) are applied to development tools for supervising project-based learning.