Fortifying Critical Infrastructure in a Digital World

PCAST Recommendations on Improving Cyber-Physical Resilience

View this session of our Security and Emerging Technology Seminar Series on August 1 at 12 p.m. ET. This session featured a discussion on the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) Report on Strategy for Cyber-Physical Resilience.

In February 2024, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) issued a report with recommendations for bolstering the resiliency of critical infrastructure, specifically cyber-physical systems. These systems are at the core of the services that underpin our lives—our water, electricity, banking, communications, air traffic control, and much more. However, they are increasingly vulnerable to threats from nation-states, terror groups and other bad actors, natural disasters, accidents, and failures. 

To meet this challenge, the PCAST report provides recommendations to the President to improve the resilience of critical infrastructure. CSET hosted this discussion with PCAST members who helped produce the report and who descripted these recommendations in more detail.

Webinar Highlight

Recording

Participants

Eric Horvitz

Eric Horvitz, PhD, is a computer scientist and a leading researcher in artificial intelligence (AI). Beyond principles and applications of AI, he has studied rising opportunities and challenges at the intersection of technology, people, and society – including the promise of AI in the sciences and national security issues presented by AI’s uses.

  • Served as President of the American Association for the Advancement of Intelligence (AAAI) and on advisory committees for the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, DARPA, Office of Naval Research, and Allen Institute for AI.
  • Awarded the Feigenbaum Prize and the Allen Newell Award for advances in AI.
  • Influential contributions and leadership with fielding frontier technologies in biomedicine, transportation, aerospace, and computing systems and services.
  • Served as Commissioner on the National Security Commission on AI (NSCAI).
  • Member of U.S. National Academy Engineering, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
  • Fellow of AAAI, American Philosophical Society, American College of Medical Informatics.

Phil Venables, MSc, is a computer scientist, software engineer, and expert in technology, security, and enterprise risk who has co-founded and led multiple corporate and industry-wide cybersecurity initiatives focused on safeguarding critical infrastructure in the financial sector.

  • Serves on several non-profit boards, including as Distinguished Expert for the NSA Science of Security Program, member of the Information Security and Privacy Advisory Board of NIST, board member of the New York University Tandon School of Engineering, and board member of the Volatility and Risk Institute of the New York University Stern School of Business.
  • Served as Chief Information Security Officer and Chief Operational Risk Officer at Goldman Sachs for 20 years and was a Board Director at Goldman Sachs Bank.
  • Co-founded and directed many of the U.S. Financial Services Sector critical infrastructure protection initiatives such as the FS-ISAC, FS-ARC and Sheltered Harbor.
  • Managed security at several major global banks, including Deutsche Bank, Barclays, and Standard Chartered.
  • Co-founded the non-profit Center for Internet Security and served on its Board from 2014-2020.
  • Winner of multiple awards from the RSA Conference in 2008, FS-ISAC Critical Infrastructure Award in 2017, ISACA Wasserman Award, and the SINET Innovation Award in 2019.
  • Served on multiple National Academies committees and workshops including Foundational Cybersecurity Research and Implications of Artificial Intelligence for Cybersecurity.
Georgianna Shea

Georgianna Shea, DCS,is a highly respected computer scientist and cybersecurity leader with a remarkable history of leading national security initiatives within the Department of Defense (DoD) and across the federal government. Her deep expertise has played a critical role in strengthening critical infrastructure against cyberattacks, protecting vital systems, and ultimately bolstering national security.

  • Currently serves as the chief technologist for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation and Transformative Cyber Innovation Lab demonstrating feasible technology and non-tech solutions that, if scaled, could move the needle in defending U.S. prosperity, security, and innovation.
  • Contributing member of the Global Resilience Federation’s Operational Resilience Framework
  • Served as Chief Engineer at MITRE and adviser to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Research and Engineering, contributing author to the DoD’s Cybersecurity Test and Evaluation Guidebook.
  • Operationalized cyber programs within the Intelligence Community, Army, Department of Justice, and Department of Energy
John Bansemer

John Bansemer is the Director of the CyberAI Project and Senior Fellow at Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET). In addition to his work at CSET, he is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. Prior to joining CSET, John served in the U.S Air Force, retiring as a Lieutenant General.

  • Held the role of Assistant Director for National Intelligence, Partner Engagement, within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
  • Served as the Deputy Chief, Central Security Service at the National Security Agency.
  • Served as the Director of Intelligence at European Command.
  • Held a variety of staff positions including on the Air Staff and the National Security Council staff.
  • Served as a national defense fellow at Harvard University.