WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The United States Secret Service, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security, will sponsor a "Major Event Management Seminar," June 10-12, 2003, in Chicago, Illinois. The seminar's objective is to provide state and territorial homeland security advisors with an overview of the fundamental principles and models for managing security aspects of major events, and strategies for reducing vulnerabilities related to terrorism and other criminal acts.
Representatives from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands have been
selected to participate in the seminar.
"We have developed a core strategy of forming partnerships with law enforcement, the military, and other public safety officials that has helped bring all of the key players
together in planning for these events," U.S. Secret Service Director Ralph Basham said.
"Through this seminar, we hope to provide the nations homeland security directors and their staffs with key strategies and 'lessons learned' from past major events."
The U.S. Secret Service has long been involved in the design and implementation of security plans for events of national significance. Since December 2000, when the
Presidential Protection Act of 2000 became public law, the Secret Service has been authorized by Congress "to participate... in the planning, coordination, and
implementation of security operations at special events of national significance, as determined by the President."
With this new direction, the Secret Service formally assumed a role it had held for many events -- the lead federal agency for large events such as presidential inaugurations, major
international summits or conferences held in the United States and presidential campaign events and conventions. In addition, events such as Super Bowl XXXVI and the 2002
Winter Olympics have been designated to receive this special security status.