Threading the Needle: How the United States Northern Command Can Create Effective Interagency Relationships

• Main Author: Morris, Michael F.
• Other Authors: NAVAL WAR COLL NEWPORT RI
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2002
• Subjects: Military Operations; Strategy and Tactics; *MILITARY OPERATIONS; *HOMELAND SECURITY; DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE; UNITED STATES; MISSIONS; BUDGETS; MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS; CULTURE; NORTHCOM(UNITED STATES NORTHERN COMMAND); The Needle; NORTHCOM
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA405642; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA405642

This paper addresses the significant operational political and organizational risks inherent in the implementation of United States Northern Command, or NORTHCOM, and how the command can mitigate those risks by carefully managing their relationships with the homeland security interagency players. After briefly reviewing homeland security organizational issues, the author proposes three areas of potential problems -- budget authority, unclear lines of authority and responsibility, and a lack of communication, command, and control relationships among interagency players. To address these problems, the author suggests NORTHCOM focus on five characteristics of their interagency relationships -- coordination, cooperation, cohesiveness, clarity, and coherence. To implement these characteristics, the author recommends NORTHCOM pursue the following eight recommendations: participate in the homeland Security Council/Policy Coordination Committees at the CINC or DCINC level; both fill and establish permanent liaison officer positions with their interagency partners; develop a deep cultural awareness of other agencies; maintain a clear customer focus; establish a strong teamwork ethic; collaborate on mutual Memoranda of Understanding with their partners; develop, exercise, and evaluate scenario-based operational plans; and keep a constant emphasis on the homeland security mission.