Fact Sheet

March 1, 2004

Contact: HHS Press Office
(202) 690-6343

HHS Secretary's Command Center

Purpose: Completed in December 2002, the Secretary's Command Center was created to provide a focal point for public health information and intelligence to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. The Command Center coordinates the activities of HHS with international, federal, state and local public health authorities. Since its establishment, the Command Center's innovative design, information architecture and business plan have become the benchmarks for similar operations centers being developed for international and federal agencies.

Funding: The Command Center was constructed on time and under budget -- in 59 days at a cost of $3.7 million. In FY 2002, Congress gave HHS $13 million to improve its communications and command systems, with $4.5 million originally set aside for the Command Center. The remaining money is being used to add and improve additional crisis communications systems throughout the department.

Communications: The Command Center combines various forms of communications; including terrestrial as well as satellite communications. Multiple systems provide critical redundancy and ensure the Secretary and HHS officials can reliably communicate with international, federal, state and local officials in the event of an emergency.

HHS uses the Command Center as the department's focal point for a new, improved coordinated communication system with all international, federal, state and local agencies.
Using data and information technology systems, audio and videoconferencing, advanced telephony and other forms of communication, HHS officials can now communicate with command centers anywhere in the field, as well as those at CDC, NIH, FDA and other federal partners, such as the Department of Homeland Security and FBI -- allowing all involved to share critical information in real time.
The Command Center provides HHS Senior Staff with up-to-the minute information 24 hours/day year-round. The Secretary and his senior managers can now make informed decisions based on the most current information available.

Computers: The Command Center has more than thirty state-of-the-art workstations. There are positions dedicated for the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Assistant Secretary for Public Health Preparedness, the Surgeon General, other division leaders and liaisons from other agencies.

The use of the Internet Protocol system creates a system of computers, radios and telephones that are interoperable, which means they can all talk to each other. The system covers gaps in communications that would otherwise exist. It also corrects communications problems encountered by many federal, state, and local agencies during the terrorist attacks of 2001.
The network is expanding to include international, federal, state, and local partners so everyone will have the best and most efficient communications possible.

Videoconferencing: The Command Center provides videoconferencing capability for up to10 participants, allowing HHS to link federal partners, local officials and teams in the field for a videoconference.

Tracking: Geospatial Systems allow tracking and plotting of events and incidents and relating them to HHS preparedness and response activities.

Technology: Nine 60"- wide plasma screens allow HHS to monitor developing public health emergencies through as many as 4,000 news media outlets across North, Central and South America and Europe and the Middle East. The Command Center also can monitor local television stations from up to 10 cities at a time to observe how breaking events are being reported across the country.

Video: The 10-screen video wall creates a virtual image 7 feet high and 24 feet wide. Images from computers, video systems, and conferencing systems connected to the Command Center can be displayed on the wall. Up to 12 different images can be displayed on the screen simultaneously.

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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.

Last Revised: March 3, 2004

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