Securing New York and the Nation: The Creation of the Department of Homeland Security

Formed in response to the September 11th attacks, the Department of Homeland Security was given the gargantuan task of protecting the entire nation. Tom Ridge, author of The Test of Our Times: America Under Siege...And How We Can Be Safe Again, joined us to discuss the creation of the department, its early history and his time as its first Secretary. He spoke about the agency’s successes and failures and provide recommendations for its future on issues including the federal threat-level alert system, immigration reform and the reorganization of DHS along regional lines—all with a particular focus on the unique security needs of New York.

Featuring a keynote by: Tom Ridge, Former Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Followed by a conversation with: Bob Kerrey, President, The New School