The Infrastructure Modernization Initiative: Homeland Security Implications and Challenges

Monterey, CA                    16-17 March 2009

The new Administration is devoting billions of dollars for national and state infrastructure projects with the goal of stimulating the economy and creating jobs. However, some are concerned that projects associated with this Initiative - shoring up of existing sectors or undertaking new projects - may exacerbate known security vulnerabilities or introduce new risks into the nation’s networked infrastructure. This NPS-CHDS hosted workshop will discuss the objectives of the new Administration’s initiative and the possible homeland security implications and challenges that may accompany efforts focused on rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure.

Workshop objectives

Topics addressed included:

• Prioritizing improvements to the infrastructure: Is there a logical way to proceed;
• Upgrading the critical infrastructure network: Interdependency and creating strains on the system;
• Unintended consequences: Balancing public safety and homeland security considerations; and
• Considerations prior to funds being allocated: Strategy, planning, and implementation.

With respect to critical infrastructure modernization efforts, lively and thought provoking discussions ensued as the workshop was attended by individuals with a great deal of expertise representing a wide range of views. Attendees included senior representatives from federal, state, local, and private sector organizations responsible for overseeing the security and safety aspects of the Nation’s critical infrastructure. Participants with homeland security responsibilities or expertise ranged from a firefighter, nuclear physicist, structural engineer, state homeland security advisors, cyber security and control systems experts, and academicians.

The majority of participants agreed that while the recently passed stimulus bill does nominally address infrastructure related issues, generally little funding is directed toward shoring up known national critical infrastructure deficiencies and it appears no thought was given to the security or safety implications of the new projects being proposed.