In today’s climate of increased security and vigilance, the following individuals and programs have been identified as having some relationship to the issue of Homeland Security. Media who have an interest in securing experts in this subject area for quotes or background information for stories may contact these individuals directly.

Business Legislation
Marisa Pagnattaro (pagnatta@terry.uga.edu), 706-583-0459

Pagnattaro teaches several Legal Studies classes related to the effects of new Homeland Security-related requirements on business, e.g. import/export issues, shipping/customs, etc.

For more information: www.terry.uga.edu/legalstudies/faculty/information/map.php

Computer and Information Security
Craig Piercy (cpiercy@terry.uga.edu), 706-542-3589

Piercy teaches a Management Information Systems class in which he addresses computer and information security. The class covers issues like passwords, firewalls, antivirus protection, good computing practices, etc.

Counter-Terrorism and Criminal Law Enforcement
Larry Thompson
Contact: Heidi Murphy, Director of Communication, (hmurphy@uga.edu) 706-542-5172

Former U.S. Deputy Attorney General deals with the interplay between domestic law enforcement and national security issues as they relate to counter-terrorism. His course covers case law, executive initiatives and anti-terrorism legislation, including the Homeland Security Act.
For more information www.law.uga.edu/academics/profiles/thompson.html.

Chief Jimmy Williamson (jwilliamson@police.uga.edu), 706-542-1032

Jimmy Williamson is the Chief of Police for the University of Georgia Police Department.  Not only does Williamson oversee day to day police operations, he played a critical role in transitioning the UGA Police Department to its current level of response capability.  Various special teams have been created within the department to address issues including domestic and international terrorism.  The department’s Criminal Investigation Division, the Bomb Team and Special Response Team (SWAT) are critical in homeland security efforts.  The police department’s primary interest is safety for the University of Georgia.  However, the police department will often work closely with other agencies in the Northeast Georgia region and state when additional resources are needed or the scope of the incident demands specialized resources and training.  In addition, the police department is a part of the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), a network of federal, state and local law enforcement representatives with the sole purpose of investigating behavior or activities that may pose a threat to homeland security.    

Community Emergency Management
Gordon Maner (maner@cviog.uga.edu), 706-542-9502

Maner teaches a community-based Emergency Management course in conjunction with the Georgia Municipal Association and the Association County Commissioners of Georgia which includes a component on homeland security. Experts from the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) act as guest instructors.

Data Management/Decision Support Systems
Jay Aronson (jaronson@uga.edu), 706-542-0991

Aronson addresses large-scale data management, data warehousing, data visualization, data mining, data analysis, multidimensional data analysis, and OLAP (online analytical processing) in his MIS classes and also addresses some of the issues, problems, solutions and activities in this area related to Homeland Security in his book, “Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems” co-authored with Efraim Turban and T.P. Liang. The new edition of the book is scheduled to be released in March 2004 by Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 2004.

Food Processing Requirements
Yao-wen Huang (huang@uga.edu), 706-542-1092
Keith Gates (kgates@uga.edu), 912-264-7268

Huang and Gates offer a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point Workshop for Seafood Industry and Regulatory Agents for the State of Georgia every three months. As AFDOS Certified Trainers, Huang (of the Food Science faculty) and Gates (of the Marine Extension Service) have been teaching food safety issues including food security related to the Homeland Security such as “the food processing facilities registration requirement for domestic and imported food products” and “the prior to notice requirement for the imported food products in the workshop.”

Food Safety and Security
Mark A. Harrison (mahfst@uga.edu), 706-542-1088

As part of a USDA-funded grant, Harrison is developing a course showing how biological and chemical terrorism could affect food safety and security of foods. The 3 credit course is expected to be offered starting in 2005 covering food from both plant and animal origins.

Government Responsibilities
Terrell Austin (taustin@uga.edu), 706-542-2985

Austin teaches the Security Leadership Practicum, an initiative to discuss security issues and inform students of career opportunities in the new security environment. Units focus on such issues as international cooperation in fighting terrorism, interagency cooperation, federal, state and local responsibilities, and first responder preparedness. Students learn of security challenges at every level of government and in the private sector.

For more information: http://www.uga.edu/cits/resources/SLP.htm.

Hazardous Materials, Environmental Safety
E. Wayne Dill (ewd@esd.uga.edu), 706/583-0449

Dill directs UGA’s Division of Environmental Safety, and has extensive experience in the environmental health and safety field. His office works with other units on campus to foster a safe environment for University employees, students and visitors. The division is responsible for coordinating and overseeing management of hazardous waste, chemical and laboratory safety, environmental safety and industrial hygiene programs. A fully equipped and trained hazmat team operates from ESD.
For more information: www.esd.uga.edu.

Islam, Arabic
Alan Godlas (godlas@uga.edu), 706-542-1486

Godlas has expertise in the study of Islam, religion, Qur'an, hadith, the Sunnah, Shi'ism, Sufism, Islam in the modern world, Muslim women, Islamic art, architecture, music, history, and Arabic. He maintains a Webby-nominated website on the subject at http://www.arches.uga.edu/~godlas/.

Nonproliferation, International Trade and Security
Gary Bertsch (gbertsch@uga.edu), 706/542-2985

Bertsch directs the Center for International Trade and Security (CITS), affiliated with UGA’s School of Public and International Affairs. He is an internationally renowned expert on security and weapons proliferation. The Center conducts research, teaching and outreach on trade, technology and security issues that pertain to preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction. Among programs hosted by CITS is the biennial Richard B. Russell Symposium, which this year focuses on the WMD threat to the American homeland. CITS work is supported by a host of foundations and contracts with the U.S. Departments of Energy, Commerce, and State.
For more information: www.uga.edu/cits or email cits@uga.edu.

Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness
Opal Haley, Director (ohaley@uga.edu), 706/542-5845
Steve Harris, Emergency Operations Manager (sharris@uga.edu), 706/542-5845

UGA's Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness is responsible for providing a comprehensive security and emergency management program for the University of Georgia in order to save lives, protect property, promote continuity of operations, and reduce the overall effects of large-scale disasters. Haley and Harris assess threats and implement safeguards based on current trends and events and serve on campus, University System, local, state and national homeland security and emergency preparedness committees.
For more information: www.osep.uga.edu.

Weapons of Mass Destruction, Toxicology
Cham Dallas (cdallas@mail.rx.uga.edu), 706/542-5412

Dallas directs UGA’s Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program and one of the CDC’s eight Specialty Centers for Public Health Preparedness, CLEARMADD. CLEARMADD focuses on procedures for pharmacy, veterinary medicine, agroterrorism and emergency medicine (in collaboration with the Medical College of Georgia). Procedures developed for training healthcare responders will be validated for establishing national standards for large-scale WMD response. Media products also are being developed for distribution statewide and nationwide for WMD professional training and public education. In addition, CLEARMADD provides for UGA research on biologically based detection, patient biomonitoring and pharmaceutical treatment. Dallas is a National Civilian Consultant for Weapons of Mass Destruction for the U.S. Air Force Surgeon General.
For more information: www.clearmadd.uga.edu.