GovSec offers bang for the buck in uncertain fiscal times

Officials charged with the awesome responsibility of securing our homeland might need to add "sequestration" to the list of 21st-century threats that they face.

Under a cloud of fiscal uncertainty and Washington gridlock, the 2013 GovSec conference and expo will spotlight the strategies and technologies that can help government, homeland-security and law-enforcement officials achieve their missions — even when their budgets are under fire.

In this environment of austerity, event organizers are trying to give attendees the most bang for their buck by co-locating GovSec with the law-enforcement-focused TRExpo.

The event takes place May 13-16 in Washington, D.C.

"The combination of TRExpo and GovSec allows for the fusion of two audiences — law-enforcement and government-security professionals — who share the common goal of ensuring the safety of our communities and critical infrastructure," said Don Berey, senior event director for TRExpo.

Topics for the educational sessions reflect the times, with titles such as "Building a Law-Enforcement Intelligence Operation Center on a Budget," "Smile! Your Use-of-Force Incident Is Now No. 1 on YouTube," and "Effective, Low-Cost Lockdown Enhancements Your School Can Implement Immediately."

Other signs of the times: "Case Studies on the Use of Electronic Social Media in Political Dissent," as well as sessions on Chinese espionage, cyberbullying and open-source intelligence.

Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the former commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan, will kick off the conference as part of the opening ceremony at 8:45 a.m. on May 14. Gen. McChrystal will offer his take on the security challenges facing the United States.

"Few people have as much insight on the current state of military and global affairs as General McChrystal," the conference website explains. "In this insightful presentation, Gen. McChrystal discusses the new challenges facing America in a globalized world, the proliferation of non-state actors and the advance of information technology and instantaneous communication. He shares a thorough assessment of U.S. security and what the future will hold."

Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, described as "one of the world's foremost experts in the field of human aggression and the roots of violence and violent crime," will analyze the new breed of domestic and international terrorism and offer tips on prevention, response and survival in a 1 p.m. keynote on May 14. Grossman's presentation is titled "The Bulletproof Mind: Psychological and Physiological Preparation for Combat."

On May 15, retired Washington Redskins quarterback and entrepreneur Joe Theismann will deliver the third keynote presentation, titled "Managing to Win!".

"In his charismatic and entertaining style, Joe will share how an effective leader empowers individuals to step out of their comfort zone and achieve a higher level of performance," the conference website explains.