Kevin P. Meenan

2001 - 2002: A Year of Challenge

My Final Thoughts

To appreciate the vitality of NDAA, one has only to review this past year of my presidency to appreciate both our strength and our flexibility in responding to the challenges of our day. That capability is only possible for two reasons: first, the hard work and professionalism of our staff at NDAA led by Newman Flanagan; second, the absolute commitment and efforts of NDAA’s Board of Directors for the cause of America’s prosecutors. If I have enjoyed any success as NDAA’s president, it is thanks to both groups.

I look back on my year as president of this great association and am well pleased at the work and change accomplished. Following a successful summer conference in Boston, the year started in tragedy and loss: personally for me in the death of my father, Patrick, and for all of us with the shocking violence of September 11. We prosecutors had plenty to do even before our country faced the merciless violence of terrorism. Yet, NDAA and its members rose to the challenge magnificently by continuing our traditional work while we developed and began implementing the role of the local prosecutor in Homeland Security. That is work that will continue into the term of my successor, Dan Alsobrooks.

Executive Committee - 2001-2002
Robert M. A. Johnson	Anoka, MN
Dan Alsobrooks	Charlotte, TN
Suzanne McClain Atwood	Oklahoma City, OK
James C. Backstrom	Hastings, MN
Thomas J. Esch	Kalispell, MT
Mathias H. Heck, Jr.	Dayton, OH
Robert Honecker	Freehold, NJ
William L. Murphy	Staten Island, NY
J. Tom Morgan	Decatur, GA
John M. Bailey	Rocky Hill, CT

I am grateful to Attorney General Ashcroft for his commitment to justice and for his recognition of the importance of the local prosecutor in DOJ’s strategies in anti-terrorism and in stopping violent crime. We have begun a vital partnership in many areas that will continue through the revitalized Executive Working Group (EWG) and through joint training and task forces around the country.

Thanks to the efforts of Executive Director Newman Flanagan, Dean Bob Fertitta, Chief Administrator Steve Dillingham and Director of Education Tom Charron, our training and research arms—NCDA, APRI and the NAC—work more effectively than ever with NDAA to meet the needs for training America’s prosecutors. Improved coordination, cooperation and communication make for prosecutor training that is the best in the world.

We have continued to raise our influence with Congress and the executive branch. Thanks to our focused media efforts, I believe we have improved prosecutors’ visibility and are restoring the public’s trust in our abilities. A new Web site and research capability helps NDAA members across the country.

I have called on our members to help address issues that arise through working groups that allow for a quicker NDAA response to issues. Following the model of the DNA group established by my predecessor, Bob Johnson, we have devised strategic responses to death penalty issues, the war on terrorism and cybercrime. Our revised committee structure ensures that issues are fully researched and discussed and that NDAA’s responses are properly strategized. Our ability to respond to the changing issues of our time will only improve.

I want to express my gratitude to the staff at NDAA, APRI, NCDA and the NAC for their innovation, hard work and dedication to our organization. They have been wonderful to work with and serve us better than most of us know. Like my staff in Wyoming, they get the job done.

My Executive Committee is listed in the table above. They have done an outstanding job of providing leadership to me and to NDAA. I can’t begin to thank them for their friendship and invaluable service.

Finally, I want to thank my wife Deann for her patience, support and love through a demanding year as NDAA’s president. I couldn’t have done it without her.

God Bless all of you and God Bless America.