DHS Resilience Framework: Providing a Roadmap for the Department in Operational Resilience and Readiness

In the wake of multiple large-scale disasters that plagued the U.S. in 2017, DHS initiated a more focused effort to formalize a Department-wide process that integrates activities for incorporating resilience into our critical infrastructure. This holistic framework ensures sustained resilience of mission essential functions and related supporting critical infrastructure assets during all phases of mission operations (normal operations, disruptive event, response, and recovery/reconstitution). This effort has been led by the DHS Office of the Chief Readiness Support Officer (OCRSO) with participation by Continuity of Operations, Components and key Headquarters organizations in partnership with the Department of Energy, Federal Energy Management Program under a Memorandum of Understanding. The result of this effort is the development of a six-step DHS Resilience Framework. This Framework establishes a process for the Department to use as a roadmap for incorporating Continuity into normal operations and building resilience into critical infrastructure assets. The Resilience Framework ensures DHS can sustain its mission essential functions in times of threats and disasters, as well as during normal operations.