News from New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs

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Homeland Defense Deputy Speaks at New York National Guard Conference

Media Advisory

FORT HAMILTON , NY (08/25/2008; 1000)(readMedia)-- The Honorable Paul McHale, the Department of Defense official charged with overseeing Homeland Defense speaks to leaders of the New York National Guard, and other regional National Guards, including New Jersey and Connecticut, on Tuesday, August 26 at Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn. Members of the press are invited to cover Secretary McHale's remarks as well as those of other key speakers.

WHO: Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas' Security Affairs Paul McHale, New York State Deputy Secretary Michael Balboni, Secretary McHale's New York State Counterpart; and New York National Guard Commander Major General Joseph Taluto.

What: Assistant Secretary McHale is the Keynote Speaker for the New York National Guard Domestic Operations Conference being held August 26-28 at The Community Club at Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn. The conference brings together about 75 key leaders from the New York Army and Air National Guard, state and federal officials, and participants from regional National Guard headquarters to discuss how the New York National Guard deals with responses to natural disasters, homeland security missions and deterring or responding to terrorist attacks. Following his remarks, Secretary McHale will be available to speak with members of the press along with Mr. Balboni and Major General Taluto.

When: Secretary McHale will speak at 9:45 a.m., Tuesday, August 26. The press availability will begin at approximately 11:30 a.m. Major General Taluto will deliver opening remarks at 8:40 a.m., followed by Mr. Balboni at 9 a.m.

Where: Fort Hamilton Community Club, Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn, N.Y.

For access to Fort Hamilton, a secure military facility, members of the press should contact Mr. John Manley, Fort Hamilton Public Affairs Officer at 718-630-4721, no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, August 26.

Background:

The New York National Guard has fielded a state homeland security force in the New York City area continuously since September 11, 2001. This makes it unique among the 54 state and territorial National Guards. In addition, the New York National Guard provided security forces at the states regional airports, the northern international border and at critical federal or state installations in the aftermath of September 11, 2001.

During that time the New York National Guard has fielded forces to deal with floods, fires and snowstorms, while deploying more than 9,000 Soldiers and Airmen to Iraq or Afghanistan.

This conference will give New York's National Guard leaders the opportunity to discuss best practices for dealing with natural disasters, security operations, and providing support to first responders in an attack.

The Honorable Paul McHale:

Assistant Secretary Paul McHale, a former U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania, was nominated by President George Bush to be the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense on January 9, 2003, and confirmed by the Senate on February 4, 2003. In this position, he is responsible for the supervision of all homeland defense activities of the Department of Defense (DOD). With the reorganization of the office of the Under Secretary of Policy in December 2006, Secretary McHale assumed supervision of Western Hemisphere security affairs for the Department.

In December 2006, Secretary McHale, an officer in the Marine Corps Reserve, took a leave of absence from his civilian job to serve in Afghanistan.

Michael Balboni:

Mr. Balboni, an 18-year Long Island veteran of both houses of the state legislature, was appointed Deputy Secretary for Public Safety by former Governor Eliot Spitzer. He has extensive experience in security and law enforcement matters and prior to this appointment he was the Chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs. He was the author of the state's Anti-Terrorism Law of 2001 that mandates severe penalties for those who commit terror acts, make terror threats, or render assistance to terrorists. In 2005, he authored the Chemical Plant Security Act, the first of its kind in the nation.

Major General Joseph Taluto:

Major General (MG) Joseph J. Taluto was appointed The Adjutant General for the State of New York on January 23, 2006. Prior to that assignment, Major Gen. Taluto served as commander of the 42nd Infantry Division; commanding Task Force Liberty-a force of 20,000 Active Duty, Reserve, and National Guard Soldiers--in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III from 2004-2005. In 2001 MG Taluto served as the Joint Task Force Commander during the 42nd Infantry Division's initial emergency response mission to assist the City of New York in its security and recovery operations following the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center. He directed a force of some 2,000 Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors and Marines to assist the city's Office of Emergency Management.