Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation

2006 Homeland Security Award

The 2006 Homeland Security Award Recipient is Donna H. Branson, Ph.D.

The United States and the world have moved into a new era which necessitates tighter and more vigilant security in all areas. The Foundation is doing its part by awarding Homeland Security Awards to United States individual citizens or companies that are making a measurable and constructive contribution related to basic and/or advanced research in the area of homeland security which will result in a significant and positive benefit to society. From 2003-2005 Homeland Security Awards were presented in each of four fields:

1) Biological, Radiological, Nuclear - Including utilities (air, water, telephone), aviation, business vulnerabilities, sensors, and lack of situational awareness;

2) Border/Transportation Security - Airport security, trucks, rail, and containers authorization, certification and tracking;

3) Emergency Response - Interoperability, emergency command centers, mobile devices (PDAs, cell phones, pagers, Internet);

4) Information Sharing - Cyber security, vertical and horizontal (Federal, State and private) communications, ways to encourage information sharing, privacy issues, and criminal and terrorist watch lists.

In 2006, the Foundation has partnered with AgustaWestland North America, Inc., one of the world’s largest helicopter manufacturers, to present one $25,000 award. Nominations were categorized in five fields: Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Chemical and Explosive Attacks; Border Security and Transportation Security; Cyber Security and Information Sharing; and Other. The fields are used solely for categorizing Nominations. The winner may be chosen from any of the fields.

Nomination

The Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation invites nominations for the Homeland Security Awards from the general public. Nominees must be United States citizens or companies. Nomination materials must consist of an official Nomination form available only online. The Nomination Form describes the nominee and the innovative work. If a nominee is selected as a semifinalist, the nominator will be asked to submit three letters of endorsement of the nominee and his or her work. All materials must be complied in a single package sent to the Foundation. Nominations are available at www.ccolumbusfoundationawards.org.

The deadline for Nominations is Friday, May 25, 2007.

Selection Process

The Foundation's Board of Trustees selects the semifinalists from among the Homeland Security Awards nominations received. The semifinalists are sent for ranking to a national Evaluation Committee composed of prominent individuals representing diverse fields of human endeavor. The Foundation's Board ultimately selects the four Homeland Security Awards Columbus Scholars.

Evaluation Committee

Each year the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation is honored to have the assistance of distinguished individuals serving on the Homeland Security Awards Evaluation Committee. Each year's committee is listed on the page linked to that specific year.

Award Ceremony

From 2003-2005 the Homeland Security Awards were presented in each of the four fields annually at a luncheon in conjunction with the Frank Annunzio Awards in October on Columbus Day in Washington , D.C. In 2006, the Homeland Security Award was presented at a breakfast ceremony sponsored by The Hill, in September in Washington, D.C.