Introduction
It is the government’s job to protect U.S. citizens from outside threats and this is where national security comes into play. Not only is it their job to protect individual people, but there is also many companies in the U.S. that need more protection. Such industries may include anything that has to do with advanced technology, aerospace, chemical producers, or even companies that make weaponry. The National Security Agency always has to be aware of any potential threats that could happen on a daily basis. They have a large team of highly trained and specialized employees to make sure that the job gets done.
The Idea in a Nutshell
National security did not originate in the United States. It actually originated in European countries because they were the first to have a concept of maintaining a stable nation with the concept of security. National security, as a term, was first introduced in the United States not until after World War II. The National Security Agency was then founded in 1952 by presidential order, which was an independent agency within the U.S. Department of Defense. The primary function of this agency is to “encode and decode communications intelligence and to protect U.S. signals and information systems.” The headquarters of the National Security Agency is located in Fort Meade, MD and it is the largest employer in the country of mathematicians. This agency was unknown for many years and so was their large budget. It wasn’t until recently that they were actually acknowledged.
The Top Ten Things You Need to Know About National Security:
National security did not become a concept until the National Security Act of 1947 was signed by the U.S. President Harry S. Truman. Even though this act was signed on July 26, 1947, it did not take effect until September 18, 1947, which was the “the day after the Senate confirmed James V. Forrestal as the first Secretary of Defense.
The National Security Act was amended in 1949. With his amendment the act created a few others forms of security, which include the National Military Establishment (also known as Department of Defense), Department of the Air Force, Secretary of Defense, and established a National Security Council.
National Security is the “requirement to maintain the survival of the nation-state through the use of economic, military and political power and the exercise of diplomacy.” There are several factors that are taken into account when it comes to national security which include making sure that armed forces remain effective, classified information is always protected, and that there is a prepared plan for emergencies such as terrorism. Although these are just a few factors listed, it is highly important that the government makes sure the tasks are carried out effectively.
The government branch that is responsible for coordinating the policies on national security issues is the National Security Council. This was created by the National Security Act in 1947. The President uses this council when considering national security and foreign policy issues, which is what the National Security Council was mainly created to do.
5. In order for a nation to have national security they must possess economic security, energy security, environmental security, etc. There are many security threats that not only involve the usually enemies such as nation-states but they also involve non-state enemies such as terrorist organizations, narcotic interest groups and some multi-national organizations.
6. This nation as a whole is very competitive and national security for countries with high amounts of resources and value is mainly based on technical measures and operational processes. This can include anything that involves information protection, state secrets, weaponry, and negotiations with other nation states. They basically depend on “management practices, technical capabilities, the projection of images on both internally and externally, and the capacity to gain enough of the will of the people to gather taxes and spend them on useful efforts.”
Some argue that it is necessary to protect certain industries through national security. Some industries that require protection is aerospace, advanced electronics, and semiconductors. Usually, companies that are involved with foreign competition seek national security because “it would be dangerous to rely primarily on foreign producers for them.” An example of a company that is protected by national security because of this is the semiconductor industry.
The semiconductor industry is highly protected by national security. Semiconductors are the technology that makes many products work such as computers, cell phones, medical devices, digital cameras and TVs. They also play an important role in defense systems that are used to ensure national security. The reason this industry is significant to national security is because we cannot rely on foreign producers for them since they are used primarily in our defense systems.
Another industry that is protected by national security is any type of chemical company. There are over 2,000 tons of plutonium and highly enriched uranium that exist in several countries around the world. There have been 18 documented cases of theft or loss of the enriched uranium or plutonium that have yet to be discovered. There are terrorists and other groups that are searching for nuclear weapons or the experience to make them. The consequences of nuclear explosion anywhere in the world would be devastating. Not only could any country be a target, but whoever the target may be, every country around the world would feel the effects.
10. The aerospace industry is a strong defense that helps strengthen America’s national security. “The aerospace and defense industrial base produces the weapons that protect our country, boost out economic strength, support our allies and promote U.S. interests around the world.”
The Video Lounge
This video tells a little about the history of the National Security Agency and how it first started. It also explains some of the daily tasks they do and how they are the largest firm of code breakers in America.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-u0_n8wilp8
My Take
National security is very important not only in the U.S., but all over the world. Although some people may oppose of it and feel that individual rights are more important, national security is the reason why most citizens are even alive and able to have freedom because it is the government’s job to protect them from outside threats. Whether it may be a semiconductor, aerospace, or chemical industry, national security should be equally important in all industries because they are all a major part of our society and they all need to be protected.
References
Aerospace Industries Association. (2010) Strategic Plan. Retrieved September 24, 2010 from http://www.aia-aerospace.org/issues_policies/strategic_plan/
Hill, Charles W. L. (2009). International Business: Competing in the Global Marketplace. (7th ed.) New York, NY: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
National Security. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved September 24, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_security
“National Security Agency.” (2008) The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Retrieved September 10, 2010 from http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-NatlSecAg.html
Office of the Press Secretary. (2010). Key Facts about the National Security Summit. Retrieved September 24, 2010, from http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/key-facts-about-national-security-summit
Semiconductor Industry Association. The U.S. Chip Industry. Retrieved September 24, 2010 from http://www.choosetocompete.org/us_chip_industry.html
United States National Security Council. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved September 24, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_National_Security_Council
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Contact Info: To contact the author of “Top Ten Management on National Security” email Kelly Guerin at kelly.guerin@selu.edu.
Biography
David C. Wyld (dwyld.kwu@gmail.com) is the Robert Maurin Professor of Management at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana. He is a management consultant, researcher/writer, and executive educator. His blog, Wyld About Business, can be viewed at http://wyld-business.blogspot.com/. He also serves as the Director of the Reverse Auction Research Center (http://reverseauctionresearch.blogspot.com/), a hub of research and news in the expanding world of competitive bidding. Dr. Wyld also maintains compilations of works he has helped his students to turn into editorially-reviewed publications at the following sites:
Management Concepts (http://toptenmanagement.blogspot.com/)
Book Reviews (http://wyld-about-books.blogspot.com/) and
Travel and International Foods (http://wyld-about-food.blogspot.com/).
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Written by David Wyld
Professor of Management, Southeastern Louisiana University
select: More Security System Articles
Tags: Certain, Importance, Industries, Management, National, Overview, Protect, Security