The tip of the spear is more than just saying. For Guam, it’s a way of life.

But, is Guam prepared for potential attacks from outside enemy forces?

“Are we prepared? I think we still have a long way to go,” said freshman Senator Shawn Gumataotao, who is the Emergency Management Oversight Chairman.

He toured the Agana Heights facility today.

“I am here to listen. I am here to understand the concerns that they have and what I can do as a policymaker to support. I was part of the original team almost 20 years ago running the response plan. Do we need to update? Do we need to do other things to support what’s happening here at Homeland Security and Civil Defense,” said Sen. Gumataotao.

Our cameras were not allowed inside.

Guam Homeland Security Advisor Esther Aguigui and Civil Defense Administrator Charles Esteves said they are excited to get to work with their new oversight chair.

“We are very confident that now we have a chair very versed in emergency management and homeland security knows what the issues are and we just look forward to working with him,” said Esteves.

It’s work that includes updating the emergency response plan that was last updated in 2016.

Aguigui added the updates needed to include addressing missile and cyber attacks and now artificial intelligence..

She hopes to set up a cyber security cadre with local experts.

“Because if you haven’t lived on Guam, you don’t know what our unique challenges are and we have many just being an island and the administrator would tell anyone – If you’ve seen one disaster, you’ve seen one disaster,” said Aguigui.

Sen. Gumataotao is expected to host an oversight hearing for the agency.

His visit comes just days after the Public Auditor released a report finding $2.8 million in questionable overtime.

“I think we as a government have to do a better job at spending money that’s given to us by the federal government responsibly,” said Gumataotao.

“We are working very hard with our team to ensure that we follow the rules and we address every single finding that was there. But we are committed not only to this agency but to the people of Guam to make sure that we maintain and become better stewards of federal dollars,” said Aguigui.

The agency confirmed they did address some of the issues noted in the audit.

No word yet how soon they could take the hot seat in the legislature.