What role does the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security play – and is that common in most states?

I think most states have versions of that now. Ours is part of the governor’s office, which wasn’t always the case, but Wyoming and many other states changed that post-9/11. And that is critical because they know, day or night, how to get ahold of me if there is any issue, from a terrorist attack to a natural disaster.

We have a big weekly staff meeting that begins with a briefing from homeland security. We also may have daily briefings by the director of homeland security to me, if the situation calls for that.

Overall, how involved are the nation’s governors and state organizations in homeland security – and do you believe that role should be expanded? If so, how?

The governors are a very good group to have intricately involved in homeland security. All governors have every issue under the sun coming into their offices, but the top priority for all governors is the safety of their citizens.

Especially post-9/11, that means governors should be involved with the federal agencies, the National Guard should have a seat at the Joint Chiefs, and people in Washington, D.C., should be hearing from and listening to us. State governors have a great appreciation for the assets, weaknesses, and liabilities in their own states and how to best work with their local and state folks. So the governors should play an integral role in homeland security, not only with respect to the National Guard, but also issues such as the D-Block.

Do governors whose states are far from any coast or border have different homeland security concerns than those on the national boundaries?

You have to be very cautious in generalizing where potential threats are. Depending on what may be viewed as an asset, those certainly are our ports and borders, but we never want, as a country, to send a message outside the U.S. that there are some areas of concern that surpass others in importance. Wyoming, for example, provides about 40 percent of the nation’s coal and has tremendous assets in natural gas and oil. And I would say every state has assets that are potential targets for those who want to do us harm.

It’s a mistake to assume only highly populated areas or prominant national landmarks are areas of concern. We should have a blanket approach. A highway patrolman could stop someone anywhere in the country and become the front line of defense in stopping a potential attack. Just because they live in an area that does not normally gain national attention in terms of being a likely target, we don’t want our local law enforcement officers to think they need not be on full alert.

It’s a mistake to assume only highly populated areas or prominant national landmarks are areas of concern. We should have a blanket approach. A highway patrolman could stop someone anywhere in the country and become the front line of defense in stopping a potential attack. Just because they live in an area that does not normally gain national attention in terms of being a likely target, we don’t want our local law enforcement officers to think they need not be on full alert.

Generally speaking, how well are the governors, regardless of political party or geographic location, working together on these issues?

I think very well, because this is where the rubber meets the road. When there is a flood or other national disaster, no one looks for the number to the Oval Office or Congress – they call their governor. And governors are keenly aware of their local needs regarding all kinds of natural disasters and homeland security. We feel responsible, not in an academic or politically partisan way. People don’t care about that. They just want to know you have done your very best in terms of their safety.

What are your personal concerns, strictly as the governor of Wyoming, for your state in terms of homeland security and what have you and your predecessors been able to establish to deal with those?

One concern I have for Wyoming, because we are a rural state with a high quality of life and relatively low crime, is that our citizens might slip into complacency, thinking of terrorism as something that happens elsewhere. We need to challenge ourselves in Wyoming – and every other state – to remember we are part of the United States and our local police, sheriffs, CDI, and homeland security offices – in fact, all our citizens – need to recognize we need to be diligent and observant and do our part as a state, rural or not, to protect Wyoming and the country.

Before becoming governor, I was a federal prosecutor. We had numerous cases where a simple traffic stop in a small town could be the start of a large drug investigation, even if the drugs were not meant for distribution in Wyoming. And that is an appropriate analogy for anyone in Wyoming law enforcement, to realize they have to remain diligent and our rural nature does not mean we are immune or do not have a big role to play.

Any final thoughts?

The main thing is that the role of the governors in national security is critical and we must have a strong voice in D.C., because we truly do recognize our responsibilities and know it should not be relegated to some political battle. It’s not about party, it’s about country and the safety of our people.

This interview was first published in The Year in Homeland Security: 2011-2012 Edition.