National Fusion Center Association (NFCA)

This link is the website of the National Fusion Center Association.(NFCA)

It looks to me like private advocate associations focused on public governmental entities are an interesting connection between public and private interests aimed at connecting upper level people in the private  commercial sector of intelligence with people (government employees) public sector of intelligence.

That is the Private/Public inter connection

Another aspect of NFCA is Public/public agency intra connection.

Fusion Centers(Wikipedia link) are distributed state level intelligence entities of a national intelligence network.

"The fusion process is an overarching method of managing the flow of information and intelligence across levels and sectors of government to integrate information for analysis.^[1] That is, the process relies on the active involvement of state, local, tribal, and federal law enforcement agencies—and sometimes on non-law enforcement agencies (e.g., private sector)—to provide the input of raw information for intelligence analysis. As the array of diverse information sources increases, there will be more accurate and robust analysis that can be disseminated as intelligence."

Note that this segment:  "and sometimes on non-law enforcement agencies (e.g., private sector)—to provide the input of raw information for intelligence analysis" gets about 218 results in a Google search but none of them are from a .gov address source.  The attribution of the Wikipedia segment is to "Carter, D. L. The Intelligence Fusion Process for State, Local and Tribal Law Enforcement" Google it with an added .gov and there are multiple .gov websites where it appears as a reference or an entire report. 

Originally Carter prepared a White Paper Report for the Intelligence Program Michigan State University


At the NFC Link:

THE MISSION:
To represent the interests of state and major urban area fusion centers, as well as associated interests of states, tribal nations, and units of local government, in order to promote the development and sustainment of fusion centers to enhance public safety; encourage effective, efficient, ethical, lawful, and professional intelligence and information sharing; and prevent and reduce the harmful effects of crime and terrorism on victims, individuals, and communities. 

Looks to me like the mission statement represents local government agencies to other government agencies as well as connecting private and public intelligence sectors at the local level.

"Association of Associations":  There is not Association of that title but when the associated associations get together they speak with a bigger voice to bigger fish.  For example this is a collection of associations speaking to a Senate report at this link on the NFC website.  The associations are as follows:

International Association of Chiefs of Police - National Sheriffs Association - Major Cities Chiefs - Major County Sheriffs Association - National Governors Association Homeland Security Advisors Council - National Narcotics Officers Coalitions Association - National Fusion Center Association - Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies

It is simply lobbying.  Lobbying by Associations with a constituency of public employees that through their association have connection to mutual private interests and their direct and indirect lobby influence on government.

By their names you shall know them.  Each of the Associations above are .org designated except Major Cities Chiefs which is .com

The associations are special interest groups representing associated government agencies.  Their connection with the associated agency is at the government agency manager level.  The associations also have connections to related private industry sponsors.  Look at the sponsors of the ASCIA at this link divided into Platinum, Gold and Silver categories.

Cozy, very cozy.

This is Robert C. Sloan at his .gov website where he is Director, Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

This is Robert C. Sloan at the ASCIA .org website where he is President of the ASCIA. Note that his photo has the official state CBI seal above his head.

Look at the associated groups signing this letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The connections that are the focus of this blog entry have interesting aspects connecting unofficial participation of persons having official job positions and connections to private business entities that have connections to their official job positions.


2 google hits immediately upon posting this blog entry.