TISPCast

Retired LTG Robert B. Flowers, P.E., Chief Executive Officer, HNTB International, addressed TISP members at a breakfast on June 19, 2008. His presentation focused on the importance of an all-hazards approach in addressing critical infrastructure resilience and the key role that TISP and other public-private partnerships must play.

Chris T. Geldart, Director, National Capital Region Coordination, FEMA, addressed TISP members at a breakfast in Washington, DC on April 24, 2008. His presentation focused reviewed the strategic, operational, and tactical objectives of the NCR critical infrastructure protection program and highlighted the importance performing regional continuity analyses to address critical infrastructure interdependencies.

Commissioner Joseph F. Bruno, New York City Office of Emergency Management (NYC OEM), addressed TISP members at a regional breakfast in New York, NY on April 3, 2008. His presentation included an overview of NYC OEM activities with an emphasis on emergency response planning, interagency coordination, and public communications. In addition, Commissioner Bruno stressed the importance of regional and operational planning.

Dennis R. Schrader, P.E., Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Deputy Administrator for National Preparedness, addressed TISP members at a breakfast on February 21, 2008. His presentation focused on FEMA’s efforts to integrate preparedness, including the National Response Framework (NRF) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS). He also highlighted 4 key focus areas of the National Preparedness Directorate (NPD) including: 1) quality career staff; 2) regionalization; 3) Integrated Planning System (IPS) set-up and operation; and 4) training & exercise program analysis and improvement.

MG Don T. Riley, Director of Civil Works, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), addressed TISP members at a breakfast on January 24, 2008. His presentation focused on specific USACE actions that impact critical infrastructure, including the focus on sustainability, review and inspection of completed works, effective communication of risk, and public involvement in risk reduction strategies. Riley also discussed USACE levee safety and flood risk management initiatives and the importance of public/private and interagency partnerships in developing resilient infrastructure systems.

Dr. Stephen E. Flynn, Author and Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow for National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, addressed TISP members at a breakfast on December 13, 2007. His presentation focused on the case for resilience as an open, inclusive, and pragmatic process, and a key solution to safeguarding the nation. Flynn highlighted the need to reinvest in the nation’s infrastructure, as a means to maintain U.S. competitiveness.

Peter Verga, U. S. Department of Defense, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense, addressed TISP members at a breakfast on October 18, 2007, focusing on DoD initiatives related to critical infrastructure resilience. His presentation highlighted the differences between “Homeland Security” and “Homeland Defense” and outlined future DoD plans including the importance of identifying and eliminating single points of failure.

Admiral Thad W. Allen, Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard, addressed TISP members at a breakfast on June 21, 2007, focusing on U.S. Coast Guard initiatives related to critical infrastructure resilience and disaster recovery. His presentation featured an overview of post-Katrina activities, with an emphasis on the criticality of leadership and the need for a National Response Framework, addressing hybrid events.

RADM W. Craig Vanderwagen, M.D., U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response and Chief Preparedness Officer, addressed TISP members at a breakfast on May 10, 2007, focusing on HHS activities related to critical infrastructure resilience. He emphasized the importance of local level involvement in preparedness and response and spoke about the need to develop ‘emotional and intellectual resilience’ as well as infrastructure resilience.

Marko G. Bourne, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Director of Policy and Program Analysis, addressed TISP members on April 19, 2007 with an overview of current and future initiatives for the “new FEMA” and its plans for preparedness and response/recovery activities.