DOD Identifies Army Casualty: Sgt. Ryan J. Hopkins

DOD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom

Sgt. Ryan J. Hopkins, 21, of Livermore, Calif., died Jan. 8, at Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, of injuries sustained in a motor pool accident in Baghdad, Iraq, on Oct. 4, 2008. At the time of the incident, he was assigned to the 64th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo. At the time of his death, he was assigned to the Warrior Transition Unit, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas

DOD is responsible for content and accuracy of this notice.

Policy Change Announcements: DOD Identifies Army Casualty

"DOD Identifies Army Casualty:" I get these notices almost every day. And have never passed them on.

Editor's Note: Early on it was decided not to pass on announcements in reference to any servicepeople, no matter what field of the armed services who had paid the ultimate price in the name of freedom....

Reasons being;

• What if the posting from DOD is incorrect? - Not to besmerch the DOD - mistakes happen.
• What if a family member saw the posting before they were notified by the DOD?
• Is it proper to announce the name of a service person or family?
• It was out of care for the service people and their families that the announcements were not offered.

After careful consideration, this practice will begin, because how can we fully understand and appreciate what we have, if we don't pay tribute to those who have had the great fortune to be able to contribute to the defense of this Country and have the God given talent and ability to serve?

As a tribute and to give thanks, we remember.... Besides the DOD doesn't make mistakes. The Armed services doesn't make mistakes, they make soldiers, heros, and the ability to live one more day in freedom.

I was rejected from serving due to health, otherwise I might have been called to service in Iraq. Instead, I served as a Civilian Workforce Employee for US Army Corps of Engineers and SBA . So I served by country in a different manner, but an important one, none the less.

Thank You for your service



Publisher, Motion Center

Homeland Security Executive Hiring

Homeland Security Executive Hiring


For more Information click here for the Official DHS (US Govt. Website)



Play a critical role in securing our nation in the areas of counterterrorism, border security, immigration, and preparedness, response and recovery by becoming a leader in Homeland Security’s Senior Executive Service (SES) civilian workforce.



The Senior Executive Service was established by the Civil Service Reform Act and went into effect on July 13, 1979. The SES is comprised of the men and women charged with leading the continuing transformation of our government. This dedicated corps of executives shares a commitment to public service and a set of democratic values grounded in the fundamental ideals of the Constitution. As the leaders of our federal civilian workforce, senior executives strive each day to create a more citizen-centered, result-oriented federal government.



SES is governed by one distinct personnel system in which the same executive qualifications are required for all members. Applicants to SES positions must demonstrate that they possess Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs). These ECQs define the competencies needed to build a corporate culture within Homeland Security that strives for results, serves customers, and builds successful teams and coalitions both within and outside the Department. ECQs are required for entry to the SES and are used in selection, performance management, and leadership development for Homeland Security’s executive positions.



Current Opportunities

The Department of Homeland Security is actively seeking to fill a number of newly allocated senior executive positions.



SES positions within the Department will be filled using a “resume-only” process. Applicants submit a resume (maximum of five pages) that addresses both their ECQs as well as their technical qualifications (TQs). The TQs address the technical knowledge to perform the duties of the position, for example; industry issues, government programs, application of laws, rules, and regulations. For more information, see resume writing tips (PDF, 1 page - 62 KB) and the sample resume (PDF, 4 pages - 41 KB).



SES vacancy announcements will be posted for a minimum of 30 days. Candidates must be able to obtain a security clearance. The 2010 salary range is $119,554-$179,700.



Provided below is a listing of SES positions for which the Department will be seeking qualified applicants. This list includes currently advertised positions and those to be announced in the near future. The “Apply Now” link in the left hand column indicates the position is currently under recruitment.



Business/Finance

Apply Now Title Component Closing Date

Apply Now Chief, Performance and Quality USCIS September 24, 2010

Apply Now Chief, Intake and Document Production USCIS September 17, 2010

Apply Now Director, Business Management Division FEMA September 24, 2010

Apply Now Director, Grants Management Division FEMA September 30, 2010

Apply Now Director, Acquisition Support & Operations Analysis S&T October 7, 2010

Information Technology / Cybersecurity

Apply Now Title Component Closing Date

Chief Technology Officer, CS&C NPPD

Intelligence

Apply Now Title Component Closing Date

Deputy Director, Suspicious Activity Reporting Program Management Office (SAR-PMO) I&A

Director, Operations Support Division (OSD) I&A

Assistant Director of Field Operations, West NPPD

Assistant Director of Field Operations, Central NPPD

Assistant Director for Operations NPPD

Assistant Director of Field Operations, NCR NPPD

Principal Dep. Asst. Sec., Infrastructure Protection NPPD

International (Travel & Trade)

Apply Now Title Component Closing Date



Law Enforcement / Immigration Enforcement

Apply Now Title Component Closing Date

Deputy Director, Office of Detention Policy and Planning ICE

Legal

Apply Now Title Component Closing Date

Apply Now Chief Counsel for New York City OGC October 15, 2010

Apply Now Chief Counsel for Los Angeles OGC October 15, 2010

Apply Now Deputy Chief Counsel for Field Management, USCIS OGC October 8, 2010

Management

Apply Now Title Component Closing Date

Apply Now Associate Director, Customer Service USCIS September 17, 2010

Chief Operating Officer, CS&C NPPD

Chief - Personnel Security MGMT



Medical / Scientific

Apply Now Title Component Closing Date

Apply Now Director, Office of National Laboratories S&T October 13, 2010

Preparedness / First Response / Recovery

Apply Now Title Component Closing Date

Assistant Administrator, National Preparedness FEMA

Apply Now Director, National Processing Service Center FEMA September 30, 2010



For information on benefits, other career opportunities and more about the Department's components and agencies, visit the Careers section of this Web site.



The Department of Homeland Security is an Equal Opportunity Employer.



The Department is also developing senior leaders through its SES Candidate Development Program. Applications will be accepted soon.

Toronto's mayor unveils fifth anniversary retrospective exhibition to kick off 2010 Scotiabank Nuit Blanche

Scotiabank Nuit Blanche celebrated its past and kicked off its fifth year today with the unveiling of Some Enchanted Evenings, a fifth anniversary retrospective exhibition presented by Scotiabank featuring photos, videos and previously mounted works from the 2006-2009 editions of the free all-night contemporary art event. The exhibition runs until October 3 at Scotia Plaza, 40 King St. W.



To enhance the event experience and expand the festivities beyond one night, the City of Toronto is also hosting a series of lectures entitled Nuit Talks - five evenings covering five topics over five days starting September 28. The talks will encourage dialogues that explore the boundaries of contemporary art in public space and critically engage in future plans for the event.



"This retrospective exhibition offers a great opportunity to look back and celebrate the successes and magical moments of the first four years," said Rita Davies, Executive Director of Cultural Services at the City of Toronto. "So far, the event has been a platform for more than 600 official art installations by nearly 2,000 artists representing more than 15 countries worldwide, resulting in a total of $38 million in economic gain for our city - not bad for a completely free event lasting only 12 short hours."



“For the past five years, we’ve witnessed Scotiabank Nuit Blanche become a very special tradition in this city - a celebration of the amazing creative cultures here in Toronto,” said Duncan Hannay, Scotiabank Senior Vice-President, Marketing. “We’re very fortunate to have such a wealth of talent in this city, to showcase it, and to attract so many wonderful artists to join us for a magical evening. Year after year, Scotiabank Nuit Blanche reminds us of the incredible richness that art brings into our lives and we are proud to be a part of that.”



With 130 projects by nearly 500 artists featured at the 2010 edition of Scotiabank Nuit Blanche, it will be impossible for the public to experience it all in one night, and event-goers are advised to plan ahead. The City of Toronto announced key event information and navigational tools that will make getting around the event easier and safer.



Finding information

• Centrally located Scotiabank Information Centres are a great place for the public to start their night. Event-goers can pick up a guidebook or map, chat with Volunteer Information Ambassadors, vote for Scotiabank People's Choice.

• Full program details, including project descriptions, images and links to artists’ websites can be found at http://www.scotiabanknuitblanche.ca

• Program brochures are now available at independent project venues and Scotiabank locations.

• The public is also encouraged to become a fan of the event on Facebook (www.facebook.com/sbnuitblancheTO) and follow @sbnuitblancheTO on Twitter for

the latest behind-the-scenes information and event tips leading up to, and on, event night.



Getting around

• The souvenir edition of the Scotiabank Nuit Blanche branded TTC Day Pass is now on sale at subway ticket counters and will be valid from 9 a.m. on October 2 until 9 a.m. on October 3 at a cost of $10. The TTC will continue to run all-night service on portions of both subway lines.

• Exhibition projects have been placed closer together, and predominantly on the Yonge-University subway line, making it easier to see more installations and encourage simple navigation.

• Yonge Street will be entirely closed to car traffic from Bloor Street South to Front Street, and portions of Bloor Street, Bay Street and Queen Street will also be car-free, creating safe and accessible pedestrian routes through large portions of the downtown core.



Navigational Tools

• The Mobile-optimized web content at www.scotiabanknuitblanche.ca will adapt to any handheld and allow participants to access all event details and vote for Scotiabank People’s Choice while they are out and about on event night.

• The My Night itinerary planner on the website allows audience members to create their own personal list of must-sees, print it, view it from a hand-held device and share it with friends.

• The second edition of Night Navigator App will be available to iPhone, Blackberry and Android users on September 30. It utilizes GPS to help users navigate the event, find the closest projects, vote for Scotiabank People's Choice, join the conversation and view or upload event photos in real time.

• New for 2010 is Share Your Night - an online platform that aggregates tweets, comments, texts, photos and more from event-goers, in real time. The stream is on the website, on Night Navigator, and will be featured on specially designated screens found at the Scotiabank Information Centres on event night.



Scotiabank Nuit Blanche is Toronto’s annual all-night celebration of contemporary art, produced by the City of Toronto in collaboration with Toronto’s arts community.



Scotiabank is committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work, both in Canada and abroad. Recognized as a leader internationally and among Canadian corporations for its charitable donations and philanthropic activities, in 2009 the Bank provided about $39 million in sponsorships and donations to a variety of projects and initiatives, primarily in the areas of healthcare, education, social services and arts and culture. For more information the public can visit www.scotiabank.com.



Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. It is the economic engine of Canada and one of the greenest and most creative cities in North America. Toronto has won numerous awards for quality, innovation and efficiency in delivering public services. Toronto's government is dedicated to prosperity, opportunity and liveability for all its residents. For information about non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

CBP Intercepts Endangered Sea Turtle Eggs in Atlanta

CBP Intercepts Endangered Sea Turtle Eggs in Atlanta

Atlanta – U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists working at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport intercepted a collection of endangered sea turtle eggs, officials announced today.

Thirty-five freshly harvested sea turtle eggs were found within the luggage of a passenger arriving from Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The eggs had already deteriorated beyond the chance of survival when discovered.


Endangered sea turtle eggs confiscated from a passenger by CBP officers in Atlanta.
CBP agriculture specialists routinely seize goods confiscated from passengers who either inadvertently bring prohibited items into the country or blatantly ignore laws banning importation of certain items.
Sea turtles and their eggs are protected by both the Endangered Species Act and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. The goal of CITES is to ensure that international trade in animals does not threaten their survival.


“Late summer typically marks the beginning of sea turtle egg harvest season in parts of Central America when sea turtles make their way onto the beaches of the Central American coast of Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. Our agriculture specialists are aware of the possibility of passengers from these areas having the potential to be carrying these items during this time of the year,” said Stephen Kremer, CBP area port director for Atlanta.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the primary agency responsible for enforcing CITES in the U.S. CBP works in tandem with FWS to ensure CITES is enforced at every port of entry in the U.S.





U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

ICE's Operation Community Shield goes global with new task force in Honduras Operation Double Impact from the videographer's view

"We knew these operations were different from the states. There was a feeling of heightened awareness of our surroundings and increased tension in the air. Shootings and murders are taking place all over the city on a daily basis. When we were driving to a location downtown to look for gang members, we saw a body with a gunshot wound to the head lying on the sidewalk. " - Chuck Reed, ICE video production specialist

In Honduras, on assignment for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Video Production Specialist Chuck Reed kept his camera rolling nearly nonstop for three days in May during Operation Double Impact. While Reed is routinely behind the lens of live police action, the prospect of filming ICE/HSI agents and Honduras National Police (HNP) as they scoured the Tamara Prison and the Honduras streets, targeting Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and the 18th Street (M-18) gangs, made him "a little nervous."

The MS-13 and M-18 gangs engage in almost every conceivable criminal enterprise, including weapons and drug trafficking and human smuggling and trafficking. They violently protect their illicit interests through murder, murder for hire, kidnapping, blackmail, extortion and assassination. Frequently traveling between the U.S. and their home countries (usually somewhere in Central America or Mexico), these highly-mobile transnational gang members create a revolving door effect, perpetuating the north-south circular flow of gang activity.

A global and sophisticated anti-gang strategy is, therefore, critical to law enforcement. This fact was the impetus for expanding into Honduras, ICE's most effective tool in the fight against transnational street gangs -- Operation Community Shield (OCS). Since 2005 when OCS was first launched, ICE has partnered with federal, state and local law enforcement to identify, investigate, disrupt and dismantle violent street gangs. ICE is like no other federal law enforcement agency in that it is empowered by law with the authority to remove (deport) criminal aliens. Thus, ICE's OCS is a powerful force in the fight against transnational gangs.

Establishing a new Operation Community Shield Task Force (OCSTF) based in Honduras this past February, the ICE National Gang Unit, in conjunction with the ICE Assistant Attaché Honduras and the Narcotics Affairs Section of the Department of State, created the first OCS international alliance.

"Our OCSTF in Honduras is fostering and promoting clear, guided core law enforcement principles for Honduras National Police (HNP) gang units in their early stages of development," said Christopher Merendino, the International Program Manager of ICE/HSI Transnational Gangs. "Working together, disrupting these gangs in targeted areas and collecting intelligence, ICE and the HNP are bridging the gaps in combating gang activity and building a strong international crime-fighting network that will be difficult for gang members to elude."

After four months of ICE's mentoring and capacity building teaching the vetted HNP officers of the newly-formed task force the art of gang intelligence collection and sharing, as well as proven ICE enforcement strategies, the OCSTF put their lessons to work.

Reed videotaped and took still shots within the Tamara Prison, which housed MS-13 and M-18 gang members in four different compounds. But getting inside the prison was not an easy feat as task force members had to pry open the prison doors, which the inmates had locked. ICE Assistant Attaché in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Javier Pacheco, who helped coordinate the OCSTF in Honduras, was on the scene. Pacheco said the inmates "were not used to anyone invading their space. They own the prisons."

With limited time and the clock ticking, task force members had time to search only part of one M-18 compound. Law enforcement officers seized knives, narcotics and cell phones (the latter of which provided valuable call data that can be used for further gang investigations). Out of 180 inmates searched, the task force was able to fingerprint approximately 30 gang members using the latest digital scanning technique, the ICE CrossMatch Mobile IDENT.

"Our goal is to document every single MS-13 and M-18 member that is housed in the Honduras prison system," said Pacheco. Having fingerprints, photos and other identifying gang member information on file and sharing this information with law enforcement on both sides of the border is essential to stopping the problem of gang activity.

After the prison raid, OCSTF officers saturated the gang-plagued Comayaguelo Market, a place where gang members sell drugs, rob pedestrians and hold meetings. Officers arrested 33 gang members on Honduran federal and state criminal violations, including narcotics and firearms charges. They seized narcotics, cell phones and a vehicle. They also seized more than 1.8 million counterfeit DVDs and CDs with an estimated street value of $2 million. This latter crime is an intellectual property rights (IPR) violation and is also under ICE's jurisdiction.

Reed lauded the "great working relationship" between ICE and the HNP. "We could never have gone into the prison, conducted the IPR operation or conducted any of the gang operations without the cooperation of the HNP and the Minister of Security," said Reed. "The ICE vetted unit worked tirelessly to make the operation a success. Although there was a language barrier, I felt as if I got to know these agents. I was thoroughly impressed with their work ethic and their ability to get the job done."

Pacheco, who has served in Honduras as the ICE Attaché for more than a year says he's met "some of the best police officers in Honduras. They are focused on their mission. They are loyal and dedicated to their job. They believe in what they are doing and believe that they can make a difference."

In fact, Pacheco says Operation Double Impact has already made a difference. "We are starting to see the mentality evolve," said Pacheco. "More people are coming forward to their local precincts and sharing information and providing leads. We are seeing more arrests and greater quality of arrests -- not just the street thugs, but the gang leaders are being reported."

From his experience, Pacheco says that children join gangs in order to survive. "It's a pressure thing. A gang that owns the community pressures the kids to join."

The solution is education at an early age," Pacheco said. He cited a Honduran government and State Department backed community policing program designed to offer children guidance and keep them out of gangs.

Reed recorded the events of Operation Double Impact as part of his job for ICE. The entire experience, however -- dangerous, adrenaline spiked and ultimately purposeful and fulfilling -- will also be filed in Reed's memory bank. "It's something I'm never going to forget." Reed said.

Continuing with the success of the Honduran OCSTF, ICE is in the process of establishing an OCSTF in Kingston, Jamaica.

-- ICE --

Former high school swim coach indicted on child pornography charges

BOSTON - A Boston man was charged in federal court with receipt and possession of child pornography following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
U. S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz, ICE HSI Special Agent in Charge Bruce M. Foucart and North Attleboro, Mass., Police Chief Michael P. Gould, Sr. announced on Thursday that Timothy S. Kelly, 39, of North Attleboro, was charged in a four-count indictment with receiving child pornography and possession of child pornography.
The indictment alleges that on Dec. 23, 2006, Kelly knowingly received visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, and on June 22, 2009, knowingly possessed visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Kelly had previously been employed as a swim coach for the Attleboro YMCA and North Attleboro High School.
If convicted, Kelly faces up to 20 years imprisonment for each count of receipt of child pornography and up to 10 years imprisonment for possession of child pornography, to be followed by up to lifetime years of supervised release and up to a $250,000 fine.
The case was investigated by ICE HSI and the North Attleboro Police Department, with assistance from the Bristol County District Attorney's Office.
This investigation was part of Operation Predator, a nationwide ICE initiative to protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel overseas for sex with minors, Internet child pornographers, criminal alien sex offenders, and child sex traffickers. Since Operation Predator was launched in July 2003, ICE agents have arrested more than 12,800 individuals.
ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE. This hotline is staffed around the clock by investigators. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit www.ICE.gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423.