U.S. Rep. Vince Fong (R-CA) and U.S. House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) hosted a cybersecurity roundtable on April 10 with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), area military installations, local officials, and infrastructure sectors focused on the current, existing, and future cybersecurity challenges facing California.
“Cybersecurity is national security. As threats grow and evolve, we must constantly be at the ready,” Rep. Fong said. “That means bringing together leaders from every level of government and the private sector to strengthen our defenses and stay ahead of emerging risks.”
The congressman is particularly concerned with the state’s Central Valley, which he represents, an area that he said “is home to vital infrastructure, agriculture, energy, transportation, and military assets that must be protected.”
The roundtable, he added, will enhance strategies, ensuring the region is prepared to respond to emerging threats while building a strong cybersecurity workforce for the future.
Held at Cerro Coso Community College in Ridgecrest, Calif., the roundtable discussion covered such topics as developing a local workforce ready to combat cybersecurity threats, and protecting utility providers and local governments and their infrastructure from cyberattacks.
“The cyber threats facing critical infrastructure that Americans rely on have evolved dramatically in recent years, with our adversaries growing increasingly sophisticated,” Rep. Garbarino said. “Attacks targeting sectors like telecommunications, energy, water, and transportation systems require a proactive, whole-of-society response.
“I appreciate Congressman Fong bringing together such an extraordinary group of public and private sector leaders who are on the frontlines of protecting these systems and know the challenges we face firsthand,” he added on Friday. “From bolstering the cyber workforce and information sharing, to ensuring our state and local partners have the tools and resources from CISA to defend our communities, today’s discussions were invaluable as we work together to strengthen our cybersecurity posture.”
Participants also discussed the increasing sophistication of cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure, as well as the need for improved information sharing and rapid response capabilities.
Among the attendees were: Cerro Coso Community College President Sean Hancock; Chris Butera, acting executive assistant director for cybersecurity at CISA; Ridgecrest Mayor Travis Endicott, City Manager Travis Reed, and Chief of Police Mario Ysit; Mojave Air and Space Port CEO David Smith; Jay Schlosser, KernCOG executive director of Kings County, Calif.; numerous military base leaders; and representatives from PG&E, SoCal Edison, and SoCal Gas, among many others.