Critical incident leadership and planning is an important topic in the field of homeland security. Within this field are many challenges. For the purposes of this forum only two shall be discussed. The two challenges related to critical incident leadership and planning is the ability to learn in a simulated environment and funding. The first challenge surrounds learning as there is a significant cost associated in providing a real life scenarios where employees can learn. Employees need to understand how they should react in a simulated process to ensure that they can perform in the real event. This simulated scenario also allows an independent group to measure the effectiveness of the incident response manager. An inexpensive and effective method to do this would be through the utilization of Second Life (SL). SL is one of the most popular virtual world provides a unique and secure teaching and learning environment for instructors and students. This learning environment could be designed to be private for a specific response group or incident where each avatar assigned to a unique name could include the name of group name that the individual is belong to. The second issue, which surrounds funding, directly correlates with the capabilities and readiness to respond to a group. To properly correct this one would need to find a method to assign funding needs to risks or events that are most likely to occur.

1. ONLINE EDUCATIONAL INCIDENT RESPONSE
TRAINING: VIRTUAL WORLDS AS A COST
EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR HOMELAND AND
CYBER SECURITY.
J. ABRAMSON, M. DAWSON, and D.
BESSETTE. Department of Computer
Science, Post University, 800 Country Club
Road, Waterbury, CT, 06708.

2. Abstract
Critical incident leadership and planning is an important topic in the field of
homeland security. Within this field are many challenges. For the purposes of t his
forum only two shall be discussed. The two challenges related to critical incident
leadership and planning is the ability to learn in a simulated environment and
funding. The first challenge surrounds learning as there is a significant cost
associated in providing a real life scenarios where employees can learn.
Employees need to understand how they should react in a simulated process to
ensure that they can perform in the real event. This simulated scenario also allows
an independent group to measure the effectiveness of the incident response
manager. An inexpensive and effective method to do this would be through the
utilization of Second Life (SL). SL is one of the most popular virtual world provides
a unique and secure teaching and learning environment for instructors and
students. This learning environment could be designed to be private for a specific
response group or incident where each avatar assigned to a unique name could
include the name of group name that the individual is belong to. The second issue,
which surrounds funding, directly correlates with the capabilities and readiness to
respond to a group. To properly correct this one would need to find a method to
assign funding needs to risks or events that are most likely to occur.

3. Associated Research
• Dawson, M., Marwan, O., & Abramson, J. (2014) Understanding the Methods Behind Cyber Terrorism.
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Encyclopedia of Information Science & Technology 3rd Edition.
Dawson, M., Omar, M., Abramson, J., & Bessette, D. (2014). The Future of National and International
Security on the Internet. Information Security in Diverse Computing Environments.
Dawson, M., Al Saeed, I., Wright, J., & Onyegbula, F. (2014) Open Source Software to Enhance the
STEM Learning Environment. Encyclopedia of Education and Technology.
Dawson Jr., M. E., Crespo, M., & Brewster, S. (2013). DoD cyber technology policies to secure automated
information systems. International Journal of Business Continuity and Risk Management, 4(1), 1-22.
Omar, M., & Dawson, M. (2013, April). Research in Progress-Defending Android Smartphones from
Malware Attacks. In Advanced Computing and Communication Technologies (ACCT), 2013 Third
International Conference on (pp. 288-292). IEEE.
Burrell, D. N., Dawson, M., Quisenberry, W., Finch, A., & Goliday, A. (2012). AN EXPLORATION OF
GOVERNMENT TALENT MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR INFORMATION ASSURANCE AND
CYBER-SECURITY EMPLOYEES IN ORGANIZATIONS WITH PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY
MISSIONS. Journal of Knowledge & Human Resource Management, 4(8).
Onyegbula, F., Dawson, M., & Stevens, J. (2011). UNDERSTANDING THE NEED AND IMPORTANCE OF
THE CLOUD COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT WITHIN THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND
AGRICULTURE, AN AGENCY OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Journal of
Information Systems Technology & Planning, 4(8).
Dawson, M. (2011, February). Applicability of web 2.0: Training for tactical military applications. In Global
TIME (Vol. 2011, No. 1, pp. 395-398).
Dawson, M., & Rahim, E. (2011). Transitional leadership in the defence and aerospace industry: a critical
analysis for recruiting and developing talent. International Journal of Project Organisation and Management,
3(2), 164-183.

4. Second Life (SL): Map/Location

5. SL: Map/Location

6. Identification of Key Targets

7. Weather Discussions – Business
Continuity & Disaster Recovery
Planning

8. Interactive Walkthroughs

9. SL: Campsite Mock Up

10. SL: Equipment Training

11. SL: MOSES Interrogation Scenario

12. OpenSimulator (OpenSIM)

13. Viewers

14. 3D Studio Max

15. Blender

16. Scenario Planning

17. Key Terms