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First Virtual DHS COE Summit Highlights COVID Operational Impact and Research

Jun 30, 2021

  • News

For the third time running, CINA joined our Center of Excellence counterparts and more than 1,200 registrants for the DHS COE Summit from May 17-21, 2021. Leading up to the event, attendees could visit 20 virtual COE booths featuring research videos and capabilities fact sheets. And 34 student groups presented research posters and successfully engaged in this year’s Student Grand Challenge, a tabletop exercise which simulated a supply disruption due to COVID-19.

Our CINA team at Mason worked tirelessly for months leading up to the events to coordinate logistics and create content for the summit,” said CINA Director, Jim Jones who facilitated a session discussion on Network Discovery from Data. “We appreciate the opportunity to showcase our center’s research in this engaging format while also meaningfully collaborating with our fellow COE’s to support our collective mission.” Jones added.

In addition to event pre-production, CINA Science Director, Stu MacKenzie also moderated the popular DHS Leadership panel discussion on Emerging Threats and Challenges.

To build awareness, the COE Communications committee coordinated with DHS communications to create social handles and promotions for the event itself, which helped contribute to an almost 40% increase in registrants from the previous COE Summit.

The new virtual format allowed attendees to plug in from across the country and around the world. COE participation was high and sustained, each active and emeritus COE leveraged the virtual platform to create strong promotional content in many mediums. And the engaging 60+ presenters and panelists represented relevant topics and diverse components from across the HSE

Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas, DHS Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Pritesh Gandhi, U.S. Representative Bennie Thompson (chair of the House Homeland Security Committee), and Rebecca Medina, Director of DHS Science and Technology Directorate Office of University Programs offered keynote remarks. The COE Summit also featured two tracks and two DHS Leadership Panel discussions on current challenges and workforce development.

Sessions and presentations are available for view until July 1 at the summit virtual event experience website, coesummit.org — then check the CINA YouTube channel for details.

*The programs and services offered by George Mason University are open to all who seek them. George Mason does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic national origin (including shared ancestry and/or ethnic characteristics), sex, disability, military status (including veteran status), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, pregnancy status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. After an initial review of its policies and practices, the university affirms its commitment to meet all federal mandates as articulated in federal law, as well as recent executive orders and federal agency directives.

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