The Gate 15 Interview: Faith-Based ISAO and DHS CISA on partnership, risk reduction, pizza MREs, and some great rock n’ roll

22 March 2024

Please enjoy this episode of The Gate 15 Interview podcast on Spotify, Apple, Google, as well as other locations accessible via the Anchor link or almost anywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts.

In this episode of The Gate 15 Interview, Andy Jabbour welcomes Mayya Saab, Executive Director, Faith-Based Information Sharing & Analysis Organization (FB-ISAO), Susan Schneider, presently detailed as Associate Director, Non-governmental Engagements, with the DHS Office of Partnership and Engagement, and Daniel Avondoglio, with the Office of Security Programs at CISA.

“We are fundamentally an Agency of partnerships” 

“There’s no such thing as a small act of hate”

two quotes shared in the podcast, both attributed to Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas.

Two notes.

  • This discussion is not limited in only being relevant to the faith-based community but addresses considerations and ideas relevant to the broader community.
  • During the podcast, when discussing 2023 Threat Data, Andy noted that it is possible that mosques came under attack more frequently than the data suggested. Out of a total of 1027 incidents, mosques were targeted 5% of the time. That percentage, 5%, accounts for the overall number of mosques in the United States and correctly reflects the percentage of mosques that were targeted in 2023.

In the discussion we address:

  • What is FB-ISAO and what DHS is doing for the faith-based community.
  • The general threat environment and how current geopolitical events are impacting that.
  • Private-Public Partnership.
  • Mitigating Risk.
  • Resources!
  • Connecting. Planning. Training. 
  • We play Three Questions and talk summer, food and music!
  • And more! 

The QR code at right and the associated web address below are for CISA’a “Active Assailant Security” list-serve, managed by CISA’s Active Assailant Security Branch, through the GovDelivery platform. We encourage those interested in the topic of “active assailant security” to scan the QR code or go to this web site and subscribe to receive relevant products and announcements as they become available.

A few references mentioned in or relevant to our discussion include:

The Gate 15 Interview is a monthly interview between Gate 15’s founder and Managing Director, Andy Jabbour and guests from throughout the homeland security risk management community addressing a wide range of all-hazards topics and issues. Read more about Gate 15’s full podcast menu at our Podcast page. You can subscribe and enjoy all the Gate 15 Podcasts on Spotify for Podcasters, Apple, Spotify, Google, as well as other locations accessible from the Spotify for Podcasters link. Week-to-week, you can hear and learn more about our all-hazards threats, risks, mitigation and other issues impacting homeland security risk management from our team as well as our regular and special guests. The full podcast menu includes:

  • The Security Sprint is our weekly rundown of the week’s notable all-hazards security news, risks and threats and some of the key focus areas for organizations to consider behind the headlines. Gate 15 team members discuss physical security, cybersecurity, natural hazards, health threats and other issues across our environment.
  • Nerd Out! Security Panel Discussion, moderated by Dave Pounder, focuses on physical security topics including terrorism, extremism, hostile events, and other pertinent topics.
  • The Gate 15 Interview, is a monthly interview between Gate 15’s founder and Managing Director, Andy Jabbour and guests from throughout the homeland security risk management community addressing a wide range of all-hazards topics and issues.
  • Venue Security, The IAVM Podcast Series is our newest podcast as Gate 15’s founder and Managing Director, Andy Jabbour hosts short interviews with venue safety and security experts from the International Association of Venue Managers’ (IAVM) Venue Safety and Security Committee (VSSC) and other special guests from the IAVM community. 
  • The Cybersecurity Evangelist, with Jennifer Lyn Walker, is a cybersecurity-focused discussion with Jen and invited guests. This is presently a Gate 15 special podcast and occasionally is updated on our Gate 15 podcast channel.
  • The Risk Roundtable, was a monthly discussion among our team and occasional guests exploring the all-hazards threats and risks impacting the United States and internationally. This was suspended in September 2023.

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