Lt. Gov. Sheehy Invites Businesses Leaders to Infrastructure Protection Conference

(Lincoln, Neb.) Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy extended an invitation for Nebraskans to participate in the 2009 Nebraska Infrastructure Protection Conference, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, March 10 -11 at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Kearney, located at 110 Second Ave.

The Lt. Governor serves as director of Nebraska’s homeland security efforts. Now in its fifth year, the conference provides businesses and organizations with information aimed at protecting critical infrastructure.

“The conference brings together government and industry representatives to provide an update on Nebraska’s homeland security initiatives,” Lt. Gov. Sheehy said. “We want to help Nebraska’s business community to prepare before a crisis occurs. At this conference, we will share information that helps businesses and organizations across Nebraska be better prepared to protect assets in an emergency. Bringing the public and private sectors together for this event also helps us strengthen our homeland security response plans.”

The program features case studies presented by business, education, military, law enforcement, and government leaders, and includes training session on cyber security for industrial control systems offered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Speakers include Jennifer Hesterman, a professor at the American Military University and contributing editor to The Counter Terrorist Magazine, discussing emerging foreign and domestic threats; Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanke sharing insights from the response to Minnesota’s I-35 bridge collapse in 2007; and Brig. Gen. Michael Carey with USSTRATCOM, discussing the rapid planning that helped military leaders successfully bring down a satellite last year.

Other sessions highlight a response network helping utilities develop mutual aid agreements, a discussion on the partnership between food and agricultural producers, an update on CDC guidance on stockpiling antivirals, the role of GPS and other advanced technology in critical infrastructure protection, and preparedness for large events such as the College World Series.

The conference is open to anyone interested in the issues facing organizations preparing for large scale emergencies. A $95 registration fee covers participation in the conference and DHS training. A detailed schedule and registration is available online at http://www.nipc.us.