WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) will host the first National Conference on Emergency Communications in Chicago.  Widely anticipated throughout the country, this conference will attract nearly 500 multi-discipline practitioners, government officials, and industry representatives from across the country.  The theme selected for this year’s conference, Effective Communications for a Secure Nation, centers on advancing the goals of the National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP). Appointed on March 5, 2009, DHS Assistant Secretary of Intergovernmental Programs Juliette Kayyem will address the emergency response community in a keynote presentation on Thursday, April 23 at 1:15 pm.  Having served as Massachusetts first Undersecretary for Homeland Security, Assistant Secretary Kayyem’s remarks will focus on the Department’s plans to revitalize its working relationship with State, local, tribal and territorial governments. Credentialed members of the press wishing to cover this event must register online at National Conference on Emergency Communications. To obtain a conference badge, members of the press must present their media outlet issued credentials at the conference registration desk and sign in. WHAT:  National Conference on Emergency Communications WHEN:  April 22-24, 2009 WHERE:  Hilton Chicago, 720 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60605 The agenda will also include plenary sessions and speaker panels that address National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP) implementation, State and local governance planning and coordination, and information sharing on grants and tools development.  For more information on the National Conference on Emergency Communications, please visit http://www.nationalECconference.com/. Contact: DHS Press Office Phone: (202) 282-8010