An Origin Story with Andy Mitchell

Many of our episodes have featured those leaders of today and visionaries of tomorrow, but in this episode, we’re having a conversation with one of yesterday’s pioneers, Mr. Andy Mitchell.

But a bit of a background first. What prompted funding towards training and educating the countries' emergency responders and government leaders? Shortly after the end of the Cold War we entered into the country’s next era of conflict – one of terrorism. This era was heralded in with the 1993 World Trade Center attack and the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah building in Oklahoma City. These events prompted the government to pass the Anti-terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996.

After the attack of September 11^th and the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, this increase of funding for tactical training was expanded to include building the critical thinking capacity within the homeland security enterprise.

In 2002 we saw the establishment of the Homeland Security Centers of Excellence. Then in 2003, additional funding was allocated to expand education even further. One of these undertakings occurred at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.

So, let’s take a walk into the past and hear about the origin story of the Center for Homeland Defense and Security.