Homeland Security Discipline Definitions

Emergency Management Agency
Organizations, both local and State, that coordinate preparation, recognition, response, and recovery for WMD incidents.
This category includes:

  • State and Local Emergency Management Agencies (EMAs)
  • Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOADs)
  • Professional Associations (e.g., American Society of Civil Engineers, American Institute of Architects)
  • Human Service Agencies
  • Private Agencies Supporting EMA Activities
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Emergency Medical Services
Individuals who, on a full-time, part-time, or voluntary basis, serve as first responders, EMTs (basic), and paramedics (advanced) on ground-based and aeromedical services to provide prehospital care.
This category includes:

  • EMT (basic)
  • Paramedic (advanced)
  • First Responders
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Fire Service
Individuals who, on a full-time, part-time, or voluntary basis, provide life-safety services, including fire suppression, rescue, arson investigation, public education, and prevention.
This category includes:

  • Firefighters
  • Company Officers
  • Fire Marshal’s Office
  • Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Teams
  • Technical Rescue Teams
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Governmental Administrative
Elected and appointed officials responsible for public administration of community health and welfare during an incident.
This category includes:

  • Mayors
  • Elected Officials
  • Executives
  • Chief Administrative Officers (City Managers and Supporting Staff )
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Health Care
Individuals who provide clinical, forensic, and administrative skills in hospitals, physician offices, clinics and other facilities which offer medical care including surveillance (passive and active), diagnosis, laboratory evaluation, treatment, mental health support, epidemiology investigation, evidence collection, along with fatality management for humans and animals.
This category includes:

  • Physicians,
  • Dentists,
  • Nurses,
  • Physician Extenders (Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners),
  • Veterinarians,
  • Pharmacists and Technicians
  • Medical Examiners/Coroners,
  • Therapists,
  • Epidemiologists,
  • Facility Management,
  • Security,
  • Environmental Investigators,
  • Medical Records
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Hazardous Materials Personnel
Individuals who, on a full-time, part-time, or voluntary basis, identify, characterize, provide risk assessment, and mitigate/control the release of a hazardous substance or potentially hazardous substance.
This category includes:

  • Technicians
  • Specialists
  • Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS)
  • Environmental Quality Control
  • Private Companies and Contractors Supporting Hazardous Materials Activities
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Law Enforcement
Individuals who, on a full-time, part-time, or voluntary basis, work for agencies at the local, municipal, and State levels with responsibilities as sworn law enforcement officers.
This category includes:

  • Patrol Officers
  • SWAT Teams
  • Bomb Technicians
  • Evidence Technicians
  • Supervision/Management/Incident Command
  • Investigations
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Public Health
Individuals whose responsibilities include the prevention of epidemics and spread of disease, protection from environmental hazards, the promotion of healthy behavior, responding to disasters and assistance in recovery, as well as assuring the quality and accessibility of health services.
This category includes:

  • Epidemiologists,
  • Environmental Engineers,
  • Environmental Scientists,
  • Occupational Safety and Health Specialists,
  • Health Educators,
  • Public Health Policy Analysts,
  • Community Social Workers,
  • Psychologists and Mental Health Providers,
  • Counselors
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Public Safety Communications
Individuals who, on a full-time, part-time, or voluntary basis, through technology, serve as a conduit and put persons reporting an incident in touch with response personnel and emergency management, to identify an incident occurrence and help support the resolution of life-safety, criminal, environmental, and facilities problems associated with the event.
This category includes:

  • Call Takers
  • Shift Supervisors
  • Medical Control Centers
  • Dispatchers (EMS, Police, and Fire)
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Public Works
Organizations and individuals who make up the public/private infrastructure for the construction and management of these roles at the Federal level. The categories/roles include administration, technical, supervision, and craft (basic and advanced).
This category includes:

  • Environmental Services (Water Quality)
  • Solid Waste
  • Animal Services
  • Water Treatment
  • Public Buildings and Parks
  • Telecommunications, Electric Districts, and Digital
  • Cable
  • Engineering and Equipment Services
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Volunteers
Tailored to the community and focuses on community-specific public education and outreach, training, and volunteer opportunities.

  • Citizen Corp Councils and affiliate programs
  • CERT
  • Neighborhood Watches
  • Medical Reserve Corps
  • Nonprofits
  • Community Resources
  • Volunteers for police, public health and etc.
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