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GOV. BLAGOJEVICH ANNOUNCES
SUPPORT FOR HIGH-PROFILE AVIATION SECURITY
CONFERENCE AT SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
CARBONDALE
Monday’s Conference Will Feature National
Aviation Security Leaders and Experts, Providing a
Forum to Discuss Important Issues Facing Vital
Illinois Industry
CHICAGO – Building on his commitment to grow the
homeland security industry in various key markets
across Illinois, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today
announced $3,000 in Opportunity Returns support for
the “Aviation Security Technology Innovations and
Policy Conference,” which is being held on Monday,
April 3rd from 8:30am to 5:30pm at Southern Illinois
University Carbondale’s (SIUC) Student Center. The
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity’s (DCEO) Homeland Security Market
Development Bureau (HSMD) is partnering with SIUC to
co-sponsor the day-long conference, which will
address and discuss possible solutions to critical
issues currently facing aviation security, including
discussion of new technologies and techniques to
improve security in the aviation sector.
“Aviation security is a vital issue in today’s
global marketplace. The aviation industry is a
critical part of the Illinois economy, providing a
crucial service to the business community and people
across our state. Illinois is home to major hubs
like O’Hare International Airport and Scott Air
Force Base, eight regional airports, major air
carriers and leading aviation security firms. We are
excited to be supporting this important conference,
which is providing a forum to discuss aviation
security. We will continue developing Illinois’
homeland security industry through key partnerships
with universities, research institutions and the
private sector so we can facilitate more growth in
this market to protect our families and create new
jobs,” Gov. Blagojevich said.
"Aviation security is the number one concern of the
American people since 9/11. In addition to ensuring
the safety of the traveling public, there are
important economic factors driven by a robust
aviation security system, and new technologies will
continue to advance this field. As the senior
Democrat on the House Aviation Subcommittee, I have
been following these issues very closely, and I was
happy to assist Southern Illinois University and
Gov. Blagojevich in planning this conference,” U.S.
Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL) said.
"Gov. Blagojevich's plan to create a new homeland
security industry right here in Illinois makes
economic sense. To be able to incubate this new
industry at our university, to be able to train,
educate and place our graduates in this growth
industry will strengthen this state's ability to
attract public and private investment in this field
and provide good paying jobs that will encourage our
graduates to stay and work in Illinois.
This conference is another important step in that
direction,” Southern Illinois University President
Glenn Poshard said.
The conference will feature keynote speeches by R.
William Johnstone, co-author of the 9-11 Commission
Report, a 20-year aviation security congressional
staff member and currently a consultant on homeland
and national security matters, and HSMD Deputy
Director Matthew Summy. Conference attendees will
also participate in panel discussions that will
address new aviation security technologies, the
implementation of these new technologies and privacy
and civil liberties issues that arise as a result of
aviation security techniques.
In addition to DCEO’s HSMD Bureau, conference
sponsors include SIU’s Paul Simon Public Policy
Institute, the College of Liberal Arts, the
Provost’s Office, the Department of Political
Science and Public Administration, the Department of
Aviation Management and Flight and the College of
Applied Sciences and Arts.
“Gov. Blagojevich and I are excited to be partnering
with Southern Illinois University to advance
important topics in the area of aviation security,
and we thank it for taking the lead to create more
dialogue to tackle some of these issues. Aviation
security is a critical market of the homeland
security industry, and we will continue working to
develop it through our Homeland Security Market
Development Bureau. By supporting these types of
innovative collaborations with higher education
institutions, we are cultivating a stronger
workforce and advancing homeland security policy so
we are better equipped to address the needs of today
and tomorrow,” DCEO Director Jack Lavin said.
DCEO-HSMD will be conducting a Transportation
Security conference later this year in the Chicago
area.
Gov. Blagojevich's Opportunity Returns regional
economic development strategy is the most
aggressive, comprehensive approach to creating jobs
in Illinois' history. Since a one-size-fits-all
approach to economic development just doesn't work,
the Governor has divided the state into 10 regions -
each with a regional team that is empowered and
expected to rapidly respond to opportunities and
challenges. Opportunity Returns is about tangible,
specific actions to make each region more
accessible, more marketable, more entrepreneurial
and more attractive to businesses. It is about
upgrading the skills of the local workforce,
increasing the access to capital, opening new
markets, improving infrastructure, and creating and
retaining jobs. Opportunity Returns is about
successfully partnering with companies and
communities, both large and small, to help all of
Illinois reach its economic potential. |
