Symposium Examines Investment in America's Security

JERSEY CITY, N.J., Dec. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- "Investing in America's Security: Policy/Resource Issues" will be the topic of the 4^th Northeast Regional Security Education Symposium held by the Professional Security Studies Department of New Jersey City University (NJCU), 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., on Friday, December 5, 2014 in the Multipurpose Room of the Michael B. Gilligan Student Union Building on the NJCU Main Campus at 2039 Kennedy Boulevard in Jersey City.

Ambassador (Retired) Clay Constantinou will deliver the Symposium's keynote address. Featured speakers include: Joseph Picciano, P.E., Deputy Director, New Jersey Office of Homeland Security & Preparedness; Hon. Michael Balboni, President and Managing Director of RedLand Strategies, Inc. and former New York State Senator and Deputy Secretary of Public Safety; and Dr. Michael J. Chumer, NJIT Research Professor and Academic Advisor, and Director of NJCU's D.Sc. in Civil Security Leadership, Management and Policy Program.

NJCU students pursuing their D.Sc. degree will present posters overviewing their research and the program's faculty will hold a panel discussion.

"The fourth annual security education symposium explores essential issues related to America's security," said John W. Collins, Jr., CPP, Ed.D., chairperson and professor of NJCU's Professional Security Studies Department. "It also celebrates the continued success and growth of NJCU's first doctoral program, the Doctor of Science in Civil Security Leadership, Management and Policy. This doctoral program develops executive-level leaders by ensuring that they have the skills to research, prepare and respond to security issues and that they embody the finest in our field and nation."

Tickets are $30 and can be purchased by calling 201-200-2275, or at https://secure.touchnet.net/C21117_ustores/web/store_main.jsp?STOREID=10&SINGLESTORE=true

Ambassador (Retired) Clay Constantinou

Clay Constantinou attorney at law, served as the US Ambassador to Luxembourg and as founding Dean of the School of Diplomacy at Seton Hall University. His current law practice areas include domestic and international business disputes and government matters. Constantinou employs his extensive relationships around the world to achieve clients' objectives.

In 1994 President Clinton appointed Mr. Constantinou Ambassador to Luxembourg. He served in that post until 1999. During the 1997 Luxembourg European Union presidency, Mr. Constantinou led American delegations and participated in negotiations with EU officials on trade and global-cooperation issues. In addition he periodically advised President Clinton on Cyprus and Eastern Mediterranean issues.

In 1999, Mr. Constantinou was appointed as the first permanent Dean of Seton Hall University's School of Diplomacy and served in that position until 2005. Under his leadership the School was selected to serve as Secretariat and project manager for the 2001 United Nations theme, Dialogue among Civilizations. The year-long effort produced a report, published by the School, entitled Crossing the Divide and was presented by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the General Assembly.

In 1991 he was named New Jersey City University Distinguished Alumnus and in 1997 Seton Hall University School of Law named him "Distinguished Graduate of the Year." In 1999, New Jersey City University conferred Mr. Constantinou a Doctor of Letters honoris causa.

In 1999, Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides awarded Mr. Constantinou one of the Republic's highest distinctions, the Medal for Exceptional Services. In the same year Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos bestowed upon him the Medal of Saint Barnabas the Apostle. Mr. Constantinou is also the recipient of other honors and awards including the Ellis Island Medal of Honor and the American Hellenic Institute, National Public Service Award.

Mr. Constantinou earned a B.A. in political science from New Jersey City University, a J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law, and an L.L.M. from the New York University School of Law. In 1996 he earned a certificate at Harvard University's, Kennedy School of Government, for his participation in the Senior Managers in Government program.

Joseph Picciano, P.E., Deputy Director, New Jersey Office of Homeland Security & Preparedness

After a 30-year career with FEMA, Joseph Picciano joined OHSP in June of 2007 to help lead the office in coordinating homeland security programs; statewide preparedness goals; develop catastrophic planning capability; and, build programs that support resiliency for public and private sector critical infrastructure. 

With FEMA he was the Deputy Principal Federal Official (PFO) for the Hurricane Katrina response in the Gulf States serving under Admiral Thad Allen, as well as being appointed as the Deputy (PFO) for the Northeast US by Secretary Chertoff for the 2006 Hurricane season. He served as the Acting Regional Director for FEMA's NYC office from 1999 through 2006 and oversaw the Federal WTC federal recovery effort.

Mr. Picciano has been a Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO) in Presidentially-declared disasters and participated in responses across the nation. In 2002 he received the FEMA Director's Award for his service during 9/11. In 2004 he was appointed as the Deputy PFO overseeing activities in response to the Orange Threat in NYC/ NJ, the Republican National Convention and served as PFO for TOPOFF 3 in New Jersey, a major WMD exercise. Through his public and private sector career he has worked in almost all aspects of emergency management from risk analysis to radiological emergency preparedness.

Mr. Picciano graduated from Newark College of Engineering in 1971 with a BS in Civil Engineering, received a Master's Degree in Environmental Engineering from NJIT in 1976. Mr. Picciano was honored as a distinguished alumnus for 2002.

Hon. Michael Balboni, President and Managing Director of RedLand Strategies, Inc. and Former New York State Senator and Deputy Secretary of Public Safety

Former New York State Senator and Deputy Secretary of Public Safety under two New York State Governors, Michael Balboni is the President and Managing Director of RedLand Strategies, Inc., a consulting firm that provides the expertise, experience and contacts necessary to help companies and government agencies position themselves to get through a crisis, improve business performance, and maximize growth.

Prior to forming RedLand Strategies, Mr. Balboni had been a leader in New York security, politics and government.  Following the tragic days of September 11, 2001, Mr. Balboni was appointed as the first Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee. During his tenure, he wrote nearly all of the major laws relating to Homeland Security for New York State, many of which became models for national legislation.

In 2007, he left the New York State Senate to become Deputy Secretary for Public Safety and Homeland Security Advisor for New York State where he managed an agency of 63,000 employees with a $5 billion budget. Michael also oversaw the creation of programs such as New York Alerts, the Critical Infrastructure Suspicious Activity Reporting system for the State, as well as ensuring that hundreds of millions of dollars went to state and local first responders to make our city and state safe.

In addition, Senator Balboni has served on transition teams for President Obama and Governor Cuomo. He is also a Senior Fellow with the Homeland Security Policy Institute (HSPI) at George Washington University and serves on the Spending and Government Efficiency (SAGE) Commission.

Mr. Balboni currently serves on several homeland security think tanks and charitable boards dealing with public health, and is a regular contributor as a terrorism expert on national and local television and print media.

At RedLand Strategies, Mr. Balboni specializes in providing extensive experience on a broad range of public safety, homeland security, and government relations issues. Through strong relationships with key governmental officials at all levels, Mr. Balboni is able to get the right meeting with the right official for his clients, both domestic and international.  His vast knowledge and qualifications place Mr. Balboni at the intersection of government relations, crisis management, media strategy, business development and homeland security.

He provides advice to companies such as JP Morgan Chase, CSX Transportation, Phoenix Beverage, Raytheon, 3VR Security, FJC Security, TEI Group, Bethpage Federal Credit Union, Aliah Healthcare, County of Nassau, Town of North Hempstead, JFK International Arrivals Terminal, and Proteus on Demand (partial list of clients). In addition, Mr. Balboni advises several municipalities on matters ranging from emergency management to mass fatality planning, as well as crime lab operations.

Dr. Michael J. Chumer, NJIT Research Professor and NJCU Academic Advisor

Dr. Chumer retired from NJIT in June 2012. He currently holds the following appointments: Director, Unmanned Aircraft Systems Research, NJIT; Associate Director, New Jersey Innovation Institute (NJII), an NJIT non-profit organization; Director NJIT MS Emergency Management/ Business Continuity Program; Affiliated Faculty and Academic Adviser NJCU Doctor of Science Program in Civil Security Management, Leadership and Policy; and Member, Board of Directors Business Emergency Operations Center (BEOC) Alliance

Dr. Chumer was successful in obtaining the first FAA Certificate of Waiver/Authorization (COA) in N.J. to conduct research on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in order to safely integrate them within the National Airspace within the specific domains of emergency management, Homeland Security and public safety.

As a Homeland Security private sector advocate and subject matter expert (SME), Dr. Chumer is called upon to provide guidance on collaborative communication models that engage the private sector with the public sector during all dimensions of Homeland Security emergency management. His research focuses on command and control as used in the military and its application to emergency response during multi-agency collaboration such as experienced in Katrina and the recent Tsunami disasters.

Dr. Chumer's areas of expertise include Homeland Security, Organization Security, Emergency Management, Information Systems and Technologies, Cyber-Security, Social Media use during disasters.

Ellen Wayman-Gordon
Assistant Vice President for University Advancement-
Public Information and Community Relations
(201) 200-3426 | [email protected]

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SOURCE New Jersey City University