The Olson Group, Ltd. exists to bring proven leadership and experience to the public safety community, matching the talents of outstanding practitioners with Federal, State and local agencies addressing responsibilities in a rapidly changing homeland security environment.

Olson Group Selected to Deliver Delaware Exercises                                                    

OGL has been chosen by the Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security to support the First State’s Emergency Preparedness Response Exercise Series.  The five-year contract will involve the development, conduct and evaluation of seminars and workshops and tabletop, functional and full-scale exercises. 

Cross-Border Terrorism Exercise in Montana                     

OGL supported the Operation Sweetgrass full-scale exercise in Montana and Alberta in September.  The exercise, at the Sweetgrass (MT) Border Crossing, involving the Montana National Guard and Disaster and Emergency Services Division, the Emergency Management Alberta, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Public Safety Canada, US Customs and Border Protection, Canada Border Services Agency, US Air Force, FEMA, EPA and local governments in both countries.  The terrorism exercise included an intelligence build-up, a simulated weapon release and attempts to infiltrate cross the border at other locations with chemical and radiological weapons.  Several hundred personnel took part, including student volunteers from Lethbridge College.                                                                         

Eight Simultaneous Tabletops for Providence UASI                                                   

OGL designed, conducted and evaluated hurricane exercises for the Rhode Island cities of Providence, Central Falls, Cranston, East Providence, Johnston, North Providence, Pawtucket and Warwick on June 10.  The exercises, carried out concurrently in each city, gave every jurisdiction’s management team an opportunity to consider the implications of a Category 4 storm for themselves and as a region.

Gallaudet University Active Shooter TTX                             A gunman on a university campus; an all-too familiar scenario.  What if, however, the scene played out at a university where every student is deaf?  This was the premise of Town & Gown, a tabletop exercise for the senior administrators at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC.  The June 4 exercise also drew participants from the DC public safety community, the Federal Government, and other area institutions of higher education.  OGL support was provided its contract with the DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency.

Utah Snow Quake                                                                     The Utah Department of Public Safety hosted a combined tabletop exercise and EOC functional exercise for its divisions in August, supported by OGL.  The exercise addressed the Department’s ability to coordinate its resources in managing a response to a major earthquake.  The exercise was the first involving all of DPS’ more than a dozen component agencies.

DHS Citizenship and Immigration Services                                   

OGL is supporting the USCIS Academy, the Burlington VT-based training center for Citizenship and Immigration Services personnel.  The USCIS Academy is tasked with developing a highly educated and professional workforce equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary for the agency to delivery its mission.  OGL personnel are providing program management support and administrative services at the Academy’s headquarters operations in Washington, DC.