Tracey Howard

The meeting included the confirmation of quorum following roll call and a period for public comment, which received no speakers. Key discussions focused on the report regarding the statewide adoption of the National Incident Management System (NIMS), where training efforts and utilization of mobile vaccine units for incident management teams were highlighted. A request was processed and approved to reallocate Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) funds for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department to cover CopLink renewal and miscellaneous network/wireless equipment. The commission also reviewed and discussed the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2021 HSGP process and allocations, including adherence to federal criteria percentages for cybersecurity and soft target enhancement. Finally, the body reviewed and recommended for final approval the FFY 2021 HSGP funding recommendations, which passed with all but two projects (one on the state side and one on the Urban Area Security Initiative side) being funded.

The meeting commenced with the call to order and roll call. Discussions centered on agenda item two, public comment, which concluded without any participants offering comments. The primary focus shifted to agenda item three, the approval of previous meeting minutes, which involved an edit regarding the date of the prior meeting (corrected to July 31, 2023). Agenda item four provided an overview of the Federal Fiscal Year 2023 State and Local Cyber Security Grant Program (SLCGP) funding opportunity, detailing updated deadlines and emphasizing the shift in focus to objectives two through four (understanding posture, implementing protections, and training personnel), along with a 20% cost share requirement. Agenda item five involved presentations from applicants. The City of Reno presented three projects: switch replacement for outdated hardware, a network and security assessment to identify segmentation needs, and core router replacement for redundancy. The Clark County School District presented requests for Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for critical employees and eventually all staff, additional internal firewalls for network segmentation, incident response planning for critical departments like Transportation and Food Services, and a modern security awareness training program.

The meeting commenced with a roll call confirming quorum. Key discussions included agenda item two, dedicated to public comment, which concluded without any participants calling in. Agenda item three involved the approval of the minutes from the August 5th, 2025 meeting. Agenda item four focused on introducing the new assistant state hazard mitigation officer, Zach McCauley, and providing program updates. Updates covered the opening of the HMGP postfire FY25 application period and the status of four anticipated FMAGs (Callahan, Marie, Pan, and Conor fires), noting that only the Callahan fire funds have been officially allocated thus far, detailing fund breakdowns for planning, initiative, and regular projects. Important deadlines for application submission were announced for February 27, 2026 (internal deadline) and March 30, 2026 (FEMA deadline). The team was strongly encouraged to submit applications for projects related to all four FMAGs, with unfunded projects to be placed on a waitlist pending future funding allocation. Updates were also provided on the current status and expiration dates of various county hazard mitigation plans. Finally, the group was informed that the State Hazard Mitigation Team is beginning the process of updating the state plan, contracting with Wise Oaks for assistance, and intending to build internal capacity for future plan development.

The meeting commenced with roll call and transition into public comment, which included a discussion initiated by the state flood plane manager regarding the need to train flood plane and emergency managers on the Disaster Recovery Reform Act (DR 1206) for post-disaster reimbursement activities. The main agenda item involved an overview and discussion regarding the Federal Fiscal Year 2025 Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSP) and State Homeland Security Program funds. Key discussion points included the allocation process, adherence to national priority areas (such as border crisis response and election support), and the ranking procedures for new projects. Two applications were withdrawn during the process. Further discussion covered the ongoing requirement for funding computer replacements and personnel costs (like a cyber intel analyst position), with an expressed intent to move these off grant funding onto agency budgets in future years. The overall process requires strict adherence to a compressed timeline for funding approvals.

This strategic direction aims to ensure graduates possess technical, critical thinking, and communication skills required by STEM employers, with a focus on increasing enrollment and completion in high-quality STEM programs for students from all backgrounds in Rural Nevada. Key objectives include fostering a diverse workforce, promoting awareness of STEM education and careers, and establishing high-quality STEM education programs with knowledgeable educators and engaged business partners. The plan outlines actions such as defining equity in STEM, scaling programs for underserved groups, developing awareness tools, and promoting collaboration among STEM stakeholders to achieve a common vision.