Difference Between Homeland Defense And Homeland Security

Understanding the difference between Homeland Security and Homeland Defense is blurred, they have similar tasks and mission, and we use descriptive definition verses legal definition to characterize them. Both have the same goals of protecting United States but utilizes available resources differently due the nature of the legalities of the Constitution and mission sets. Resources that come from local and state level are part of the Homeland Security structure are limited, with the exception of the National Guard due to its unique nature, which we will get to a little later. Homeland Security is first a local matter. It will be the first responders, local community that will have the immediate effect from a terrorist attack; they bear the responsibility to protect their community. When responsibility for homeland protection, from hazards to terrorist attacks, goes from local to federal, it is Homeland Security. …show more content…
It is a multifaceted, interconnected, complex system that we struggle to figure out how best protect our nation. Pre-9/11 there was little understanding between the two, but that changed with 9/11attacks and subsequent 9/11 Commission Report which led to the creation of DHS and reorganization of federal agencies, shifting the nation's focus to Homeland Security. Dr. Linda Kiltz states "In fact, homeland security is so complex that multiple perspectives are need to analyze the phenomenon because one perspective simply misses too much or fails to see critical pieces of the problem that need to be addressed." (Kiltz, 2012). She encourages interdisciplinary research to gain understanding the complexities and subtleties of homeland security. To pursue this effort will assist in defining Homeland Security, Homeland Defense and how these two influential impact protecting United States and preserving our way of