Presidential Panels
The following infrastructure-focused Presidential Panels will features from across government and academia, looking at three of our most critical areas of infrastructure challenges: cybersecurity, our watershed and transportation.
Cybersecurity: “Infrastructure” and So Much More
Sunday, March 10 | 8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
The federal Cybersecurity Framework, developed by the National Institute
of Standards and Technology in the U.S. Department of Commerce, was
originally launched by President Obama and has been continued by
President Trump. Applicable infrastructure within the Framework includes
utilities providing energy and water, as well as sectors covering
transportation, financial services, communication, health care and
public health, dams, key manufacturers, emergency services and more. In
fact, cybersecurity itself encompasses all that we consider under the
topic of “infrastructure.” This panel will look at the state of our
nation’s cyber infrastructure and offer attendees a profound
appreciation for its complexity. You’ll also walk away with a sense of
the urgency associated with actions that must be taken to prevent
multi-dimensional threats we invite if we fail to address cybersecurity
challenges.
Moderator
Wendy Haynes, Special Assistant to the Vice President for University Advancement, Bridgewater State University
Presenters (more to come)
Camille Stewart, Cybersecurity Policy Fellow, New America
Amelia Estwick, Program Manager, National Cybersecurity Institute, Excelsior College
Gary Evee, CEO, Evee Security Group
Ron Ford, Regional Cybersecurity Advisor, New England Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
Managing Our Country’s Watershed Infrastructure
Monday, March 11 | 8:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.
Many communities in the United States are dependent on human management
of large natural watersheds. The Mississippi River drainage basin
encompasses lands in 32 states. The Colorado and Columbia Rivers each
drain parts of seven states. The Chesapeake Bay watershed encompasses
parts of six states. The infrastructure projects that altered and now
manage these watersheds include dredging, dams, levees and more with a
variety of policy goals including flood control, irrigation, power
generation, navigation and recreation. In addition, climate change is
projected to include severe rainfall, “flashier” floods, and sea level
rise in coastal areas, which will only increase today’s current
challenges. This panel will examine the range of policy goals affecting
our nation’s watersheds, including federal, state and local roles.
Moderator
John Kirlin, Distinguished Professor of Public Policy, University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law
Presenters
Carin Bisland, Associate Director, Office of Partnerships and Accountability, EPA, Chesapeake Bay Program Office
James Davis Martin, VaDEQ and Chair, Chesapeake Bay Program’s Water Quality Goal Implementation Team
Mary Gattis, Local Engagement and Environmental Policy Strategist
America’s Infrastructure: Is a D+ Acceptable?
Monday, March 11 | 12:45 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Every four years, the American Society for Civil Engineers (ASCE) issues
an Infrastructure Report Card. According to the most recent scores,
America’s infrastructure scored a D+ overall, an alarmingly substandard
grade for structures that undergird the economic health of the nation,
domestically and globally. ASCE contends that the nation’s
infrastructure problems are solvable with sufficient investment,
leadership and planning—and a clear vision for the future. But those
elements are the crux of the matter, aren’t they? Who pays and who
benefits? And who is in charge, anyhow? Join us for a conversation with
experts in in infrastructure investment, system safety and leadership
and planning, and where we go from here.
Moderator
Wendy Haynes, Special Assistant to the Vice President for University Advancement, Bridgewater State University
Presenters
Casey Dinges, Senior Managing Director, Infrastructure Initiatives, American Society of Civil Engineers
Derrell Turner, Acting Associate Administrator for Infrastructure, U.S. Department of Transportation
Paul Wiedefeld, CEO, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority