Director of Center for Homeland Security strengthens partnership between UCCS, Croatia

Kurt Johnson, interim director of the Center for Homeland Security (CHS) at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, will meet with Croatia President Ivo Josipovic on Friday, May 21, to discuss potential collaboration between the university and the southeast European nation.

Croatian officials recently contacted the center for assistance in building a homeland security education program and laying the groundwork for a regional center of excellence in homeland security. Johnson will meet with Josipovic to discuss the next steps in the UCCS-Croatia partnership. He also will meet with the mayor of Split, Zeljko Kerum, and the rector of the University of Split, Ivan Pavic, to discuss locating the proposed homeland security education program and center of excellence in Split, the largest coastal city in Croatia. Johnson also will meet with the Veterans Committee of the Croatian Parliament and the committee working on national security and search and rescue.

The UCCS-Croatia partnership began in May 2009, when Johnson was invited to Croatia to meet with the Mayor of Zagreb, leadership of the University of Zagreb, and senior emergency management officials. In August 2009, a senior Croatian delegation visited UCCS leadership and area senior emergency management and defense officials.

CHS, which is one of four centers within the National Institute for Science, Space and Security Centers, conducts educational services and research in the homeland security area of study.