Homeland Security, or any other Government Agency - does not need "Spotlight" politicians, running the show. People who live to see their faces in the news , people who live to go on Cable TV shows ( CNN, HLN, Fox News ).
Homeland Security is about the butt of all jokes and laughs ; similar to what the FBI is becoming. What Homeland needs is some real direction and leadership - a take the bull by the horns type of person ......and someone with some leadership ability to steer the whole organization in the right direction.
Subordinates are only as good as their leadership. Equipment, policy's and practices.....are only as good as their leadership. Morale, everyday operations.....success and accomplishments --- are only as good as the leadership.
Homeland Security needs a kick in the butt. It needs to be steered in the right direction. Jeh Johnson was close.......and from my observations the only one that done Homeland right. Tom Ridge was a blunderbuss. It was not until Jeh got ahold of Homeland that it became decently successful......but kind of like George Bush not taking out Saddam in the first Gulf War ; Jeh did not do all that needed to be done.
Foundation......every organization needs a foundation. Every organization needs a plan, and a team to build the foundation and organize the plan - to put the plan in effect. The team needs high morale, good equipment, competent leadership , a sense of teamwork and a sense of urgency to complete the mission at hand.
Experience is where your leadership needs to come from. YOU DON'T pick a career politician to lead a organization, because politicians think politics always...how to save their butt - or what can they do to save their job ; and be conservative as to not hurt any ones feelings ; tit for tat ; back scratch someone else ; use their position for influence.
The Secretary of Homeland Security needs to come from within, someone whom has worked their way up the ladder. No sense in working somewhere if you are not going to get promoted.
Director of the FBI. The Director of the FBI needs to come from within the Bureau. Someone whom knows the people & Agents inside, how to conduct an investigation, and the Bureaus internal workings. The Director does not need to be some ex something .....or ex someone, or former Federal Prosecutor. A Special Agent in Charge , section or Bureau Chief needs to be the one to take the reins and assume command of the nations Top Law Enforcement Agency. Comey was an outsider, a former Federal Prosecutor.....and in my opinion....a disaster for the FBI. McCabe......would have done well if he would have stuck to being an Agent...and done his job of leading , instead of trying to play politician. Do your job, support your people, and forget about being sorry if you tick someone off. Loyalty to yourself.....your team and your organization. You tick someone off outside the group - a politician - or some committee ..... Big deal. Do your job at the head of your post , support the people below you ( sometimes even if they are slightly wrong...but never being grossly incorrect ) , do your best.....and no one can criticize you. NEVER FEED YOUR OWN people to the feral hogs.......never throw your own subordinates to the firing line of another organization....NO MATTER how bad it is. That is bad for morale. FBI does not hand over their agents...for doing their jobs, to some political subcommittee for an investigation ; when the FBI Agents were in the right. CIA does not freely hand over covert agents to a political sub committee ( investigating ) for an investigation.....with hunt.......or "I just want to know". As in the Military - we leave no man behind, to do so is bad for morale.....and prevents troops from giving their all & performing their best.....les they a scared to commit or give 100%. Same is true for feeding your young ( subordinates ) to another organization or group.......to be slayed on the firing line. Unless someone REALLY screws up, is grossly negligent, or totally out of line ---- You don't handcuff your own, and say "here you go" to an opposition force. Any such request by another group should be met with "Kiss my butt" .....or document why " You want one of my people in chains and shackles delivered to you".
Never sell your lower enlisted out.
Foundation - Plan - Morale - Equipment.
Leadership......leadership and experience from within.
Major Lambda
