Homeland Security Conference

The 2025 Homeland Security Conference took place in Oklahoma City, October 28-30. More than 300 attendees participated in 50 training sessions and breakout discussions during the three-day event. These sessions covered topics such as communications, hazardous materials, cybersecurity, incident management, search and rescue, law enforcement, information sharing, school security, and many others.

Kari Watkins, the President and CEO of the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, moderated a panel commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing. This panel included former Governor Frank Keating, former First Lady Cathy Keating, OKC Fire Chief Richard Kelley, Retired OHP Trooper Charlie Hanger—who played a key role in the arrest of Timothy McVeigh—Retired OKC firefighter Chris Fields, Retired FBI agent Barry Black, and communications expert Lucien Jones.

The Oklahoma Incident Management Assistance Team (OK-IMAT) was activated to support the conference. Their mission involved assisting with logistics and planning to ensure a smooth operation throughout the event! The team consists of personnel from the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Region 2 Regional Medical Response System, Oklahoma City Fire Department, Norman Police Department, and Tulsa Fire Department.

Participants also had the chance to utilize the Department of Public Safety’s “shoot house,” where they honed their shooting skills with airsoft weapons. Furthermore, they took part in an active shooter scenario to evaluate their responses in such critical situations.

No other event unites law enforcement, fire services, EMS, emergency management, educational institutions, and health services on this scale across the state.

On behalf of the staff at the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security, we extend our gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of our second annual conference! Whether you were an attendee, a vendor, or a staff member, your involvement helped enhance our collective knowledge about safeguarding our state. Stay tuned for updates on next year’s conference!

In October 2024, OKOHS successfully hosted its inaugural Homeland Security Conference at the Robert R. Lester Training Center in Oklahoma City. This event was organized in partnership with the Department of Public Safety (DPS), the Oklahoma School Security Institute (OSSI), and the Oklahoma Counter Terrorism Intelligence Center (OCTIC). The one-day conference attracted over 275 participants and included 23 breakout sessions featuring training workshops, equipment demonstrations, and program presentations.

We are excited to offer an even more robust experience this year, featuring three full days of training and breakout sessions.