NC Homeland Security Task Force Named
By Allan Maurer
© 2003 LocalTechWire.com. All rights reserved.

RALEIGH, NC, Aug 6, 2003 — North Carolina technology leaders met with top federal officials to discuss involving NC companies in federal homeland security efforts at a special North Carolina Electronics and Information Technologies Association (NCEITA) meeting Wednesday.

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole, and U.S. Reps. Richard Burr (R-05) Bob Etheridge (D-02), and David Price (D-04) and staff from U.S. Senator John Edwards and U.S. Rep. Howard Coble (R-06) and Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-07) and other officials attended.

At a press conference following the meeting, Representative Etheridge said, "This is an opportunity for North Carolina to create jobs and a partnership with the federal government."

Rep. Etheridge, the NC delegation's only member of the select committee on homeland security, said, "What we've done today is a big step. This is the beginning of bringing jobs back home to North Carolina."

Spending is Inadequate

Rep. Burr said North Carolina has not received its share of homeland security spending "commensurate with what we have to offer."

When asked how much the federal government is spending on homeland security, Rep. Etheridge replied, "Whatever it is it's not enough. It is inadequate."

NC Secretary of Crime Control and Public Safety, Bryan Beatty quoted a PLO terrorist who said, "Why go after the lions when there are so many sheep?" He added, Let's make sure North Carolina is a lion."

NCEITA said it has created a statewide homeland security task force co-chaired by Randy Fraser of Time Warner Cable and Janet Wylie of Engineous Software. The task force will work with the state's congressional delegation and other state leaders to provide a bridge between federal officials and technology companies in North Carolina.

Task Force Members

Members of the task force are: Steve Parrott, Sprint; Marye Anne Fox, president of North Carolina State University; Joe Fredoso, Cisco Systems; Betsy Justus, ACS; Alan Ying, Mercury MD; Dave Rizzo, MCNC; Doug Miskew, Capital Strategies; Lee Bryan, Knowledge Vector; Mark Stephens, Madison Communications; Matt Carbone, Ideations; Mary Musacchia, SAS; Olin Broadway, UNC-Charlotte; Debra Bryant, The Ferguson Group; Ed Turlington and Charles Marshall, Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard; and Joan Myers and Candice Ward of NCEITA.

The meeting resulted from a suggestion by Rep. Burr. “Last fall, Rep. Burr recommended that NCEITA bring members of the Congressional delegation together with technology companies to discuss ways to bring more money for homeland security back to North Carolina,” said Randy Fraser.

“Often times Washington leaders first look to Silicon Valley or Northern Virginia for technology solutions when some of the most awesome technological capabilities are right here in North Carolina,” said Janet Wylie. “We wanted to make sure our congressional team was fully up to speed on the cutting-edge first responder technologies our N.C. companies have and the capabilities of entities like MCNC in playing a role in homeland security.”

“This new war will not be won on the battlefield alone, but it will require a partnership of researchers, business people and government. North Carolina’s technology industry can play a leading role in this effort, and I appreciate the opportunity to get an in-depth look at the capabilities of NCEITA’s member companies,” said Rep. Etheridge.

Companies Present

North Carolina is home to over 2,300 Information Technology companies. Several presented examples of technology relevant to homeland security at the meeting. The companies represented were: Knowledge Vector, Ideations, Mercury MD, ACS, and IBM, SAS and Cisco.

“We want to help share information and work with our congressional delegation to open up opportunities for our member companies,” said Rusine Mitchell-Sinclair, chairperson for NCEITA.

“North Carolina has some of the best and brightest technologists in the world that want to help in the critical mission of protecting the United States.”

Other high-ranking federal officials at the meeting included Steven Cooper, chief information officer of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; General William F. Kernan (retired); John Gilligan, vice chancellor for Research and Development at North Carolina State University; secretary of crime control and public safety, Bryan Beatty; John Reingruber (retired U.S. Department of Defense); Chris Swecker, special agent in charge, FBI; and Don McArthur, special agent FBI.

NCEITA hosted the event at MCNC whose mission is to enhance economic growth and the quality of life in North Carolina through technology-driven entrepreneurship and research. NCEITA highlighted MCNC’s ability to incubate and identify technologies that have security applications.

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