Public Safety, Resource Protection & Emergency Services

The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Safety, Resource Protection and Emergency Services (DAS-PRE) oversees the Offices of Law Enforcement and Security, Wildland Fire, Aviation Services, and Emergency Management, and the Program Manager for Interagency Borderland Coordination and Field Communications.  

Although each Office has a distinct charge, their missions intertwine to achieve a common goal: implement appropriate policies, response protocols, and safe practices to ensure the safety of the nearly 70,000 Interior employees and the public who visit or live in close proximity to the over 500 million acres we manage. Four office directors and the Program Manager - Interagency Borderland Coordination and Field Communications support the DAS-PRE.  

Roles and Responsibilities of the DAS-PRE Offices 

Office of Law Enforcement and Security (OLES) 

Established in October 2001, in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks, OLES leads the Department’s law enforcement, security, and intelligence activities by providing effective direction, oversight, guidance, and coordination. OLES develops law enforcement, security, and intelligence policies and procedures across Interior and assist bureaus (Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service) in implementing their own law enforcement operations. OLES is responsible for the Department’s Law Enforcement Records Management System, physical security for the Stewart Lee Udall/Main Interior Building in Washington D.C., and the employee/contractor access/security credentials program. During critical incidents or national emergencies, OLES facilitates special law enforcement and security operations.   

Office of Wildland Fire (OWF) 

Interior’s wildland fire program comprises OWF and four bureaus with wildland fire operations—Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Park Service. OWF provides governance, policy guidance, budget oversight, and operational accountability and supports the Wildland Fire Information Technology Program jointly with the U.S. Forest Service and other agencies. OWF closely coordinates and fosters essential partnerships with the U.S. Forest Service and other Federal, tribal, state, and local governments and non-governmental partners to help accomplish wildland firefighting missions and reduce wildfire risk.   

Office of Aviation Services (OAS) 

The mission of OAS is to raise the safety standards, increase the efficiency, and promote the economical operation of Interior’s aircraft activities. OAS has four major roles and responsibilities:  1) develop, implement and oversee aviation policy and program development in compliance with Federal aviation regulations; 2) deliver safe, mission-ready, inspected aircraft and qualified pilots and train bureau personnel to support Interior’s mission; 3) conduct aircraft and equipment research and development; and 4) represent Interior within the Federal interagency community and aviation industry/academia. OAS has the government’s leading unmanned aircraft system program. 

Office of Emergency Management (OEM) 

The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) leads efforts to enhance protection and preservation of our employees, volunteers and visitors and of the lands and resources with which we are entrusted. OEM provides expertise and leadership for the Department’s emergency management responsibilities worldwide by integrating emergency management programs and functions, and supporting activities to prevent, protect against, mitigate the effects of, respond to, and recover from natural hazards such as fires, floods and earthquakes and ecosystem hazards such as oil spills and wildlife disease outbreaks.   

OEM develops and coordinates policy and provides oversight and direction to develop integrated and comprehensive bureau and office emergency management programs across Interior. These programs cover all types of emergencies affecting Federal and tribal lands, facilities, infrastructure, and resources. 

Program Manager - Interagency Borderland Coordination and Field Communications  

The Department established the Program Manager in response to increased border security activities initiated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the mid-2000’s and the subsequent increase in the use of DOI managed lands by the U.S. Border Patrol. A major responsibility of the Program Manager is to protect natural and cultural resources on the border by assuring timely and effective coordination between the Department, its bureaus, and DHS to avoid, minimize, and mitigate possible impacts on DOI managed lands and by strategically working with bureaus to identify solutions when challenges arise. In addition to border related activities, the Program Manager also leads efforts to collectively improve field communications within DOI. 

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