Less than one week after the horrific tragedy on September 11th 2001, U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft directed every U.S. Attorney's Office to start an Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council (ATAC). Shortly thereafter, the Maryland Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council formed one of the first Fusion Centers in the United States to combine information sharing and analysis. That center became known as the Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center (MCAC). Today, the Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center coordinates the efforts of federal, state and local agencies to gather, analyze, and share intelligence information with law enforcement, public health, and emergency responder personnel.