Planned and Past InfraGard Meetings
InfraGard General meeting was held on August 4, 2010 at noon at the FBI Headquarters. Opening remarks were provided by VP Felix Loicano and SAC David Welker. President Dennis Kelly introduced Mr. Rich Garcia a past FBI ASAC and the current Senior Security Executive at Shell Oil Company in Houston Texas and an INMA Director for InfraGard. Mr. Garcia related the importance of the creating a new Special Interest Group (SIG) for the Houston InfraGard and New Orleans InfraGard chapters since the majority of Oil and Gas operations are based in the Southern part of the U.S. Mr. Kelly then announced that Henry Newton is the new Oil and Gas SIG leader for New Orleans. Ms Lisia Horzelski reported on current events Cyber Security and the Cyber Security SIG. Also SIG leader Captain Ron Branch (retired) reported on activities in the Maritime SIG. Henry Newton reported on the successful 6 hour CFATS class that 75 people signed up for at the Chalmette Oil Refinery. Mr. Kelly reported that he was to attend the annual INMA Congress in August and a San Diego IMA meeting in September. (updated 8/30/10)
A second successful informational seminar on Chemical Facility Anti-terrorism Standards (CFATS) was held on July 27, 2010 A lunch was provided during this 6 hour event which was held in the Chalmette Refining Safety Orientation Building. Over 75 people signed up for the event. The Sponsors of the Event were: The New Orleans InfraGard Chapter, St. Bernard Port, Port of South Louisiana, Day & Zimmerman, the 4 Louisiana Parishes of UASI Region One, Vanguard Technologies, Louisiana Chemical Association, Chalmette Refining, LLC, and Fisher Safety.
The New Orleans Infragard Chapter met at the FBI HQ in New Orleans on May 26, 2010.
New Orleans Field Office Special Agent in Charge David Welker spoke about Field Office focus on countering: a) Violent Crime in New Orleans, b) Public Corruption, c) Cybercrime, especially through Cybersecurity awareness, and d) Terrorism.
Chapter Member Billy Booth of DHS/TSA and MSY provided a presentation on the TSA Bomb Appraisal Officer Program, focusing on: a) the 311 explosive rule, b) density of known explosives, c) false reads on checked-on luggage, d) body imaging equipment, and e) the TSA Surface Inspection Program.
Chapter Membership and Cybersecurity SIG Coordinator Lydia Lourbacos reported on Cybersecurity SIG opportunities and the Chapter’s lead role in submitting a proposal to partner with DHS, along with other InfraGard Chapters from Hawaii to NY Metro to Mobile, and ASIS, ISSA, ISACA, ISECOM and OSWAP, in response to DHS’ National Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign Challenge. She also announced a free Upcoming Cybersecurity Class for Small Business.
Capt. Ron Branch, the Chapter’s Blue Water Maritime SIG Coordinator, discussed Deepwater Horizon Response efforts. Capt. Branch reported that: there have been no restrictions thus far on vessel movements; 70% of all Booms are presently located in Louisiana; only one vessel decontamination has occurred; in situ burning has been very successful and booming not as successful; and on the use of dispersants.
Chapter Member Thaddeus Fricke alerted us as to possible phishing schemes involving fake Deepwater Horizon Links.
Dennis Kelly, Chapter President spoke and
- provided an after action report on the very successful INMA-sponsored Gulf South Crisis Reentry Exercise on April 6-7, 2010, in which the New Orleans, Houston, Acadiana and Mobile Chapters participated;
- commended Cybersecurity SIG Coordinator Lydia Lourbacos for the great job she is doing with the Cybersecurity SIG;
- stated that DDD Public Safety Manager Patrick Thompson, on behalf of the CBD Security Association, has taken on the role of Chapter Special Event Security SIG Coordinator and has set up a Twitter account for use of the CBD Security Association and Special Event Security SIG; and
- that the Houston Chapter has set up a Regional InfraGard Facebook account to communicate between the different InfraGard Chapters between Houston and Mobile; and that the Chapter has a new P.O. Box.
Our Chapter InfraGard Coordinator, SA Ron Reed, also spoke and urged members to contact him to pick up their new InfraGard Card.
InfraGard Leads Four State Public/Private Full Scale Exercise (FSE) Aimed at Expediting Hurricane Recovery.
For accompanying information please click here
On Tuesday, April 6 and Wednesday, April 7, 2010, the InfraGard National Members Alliance (INMA) and the Houston, Acadiana, New Orleans, and Mobile InfraGard Members Alliance (IMA) Chapters led a multi-state Full Scale Exercise in collaboration with law enforcement agencies and critical infrastructure firms from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. More than 150 persons from more than 70 different public and private sector organizations participated in the FSE. This was one of the few crisis exercises where both members of law enforcement and critical infrastructure private sector responders have participated together.
“This (FSE) is critical: Too many times we plan an exercise after a crisis. This time we are working together before a crisis takes place so we can respond more efficiently with law enforcement and private sector companies,” said Richard T. Garcia, Chairperson of the INMA ‘Crisis and Exercise Committee’. The InfraGard-led Exercise evaluated processes used by law enforcement agencies and critical infrastructure firms to control reentry after a hurricane and to assure that the right essential personnel are allowed reentry at the right time. The participating law enforcement agencies included Galveston County, TX Sheriff’s Office, Galveston, TX Police Department, Lafourche Parish, LA Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana State Police, Harrison County, MS Sheriff’s Office, Gulfport, MS Police Department, and Calhoun County, AL Sheriff’s Office. The New Orleans and Houston FBI Field Offices participated as observers, as did a Emergency Managers from Galveston County, Lafourche Parish, Harrison County, and Calhoun County, as well as the State of Texas and the State of Mississippi, and DHS.
In addition, representatives from private critical infrastructure firms participated, including Bunge North America, Chevron, Global Emergency Management/Global Security Associates, J. Ray McDermott, Nord-Sud Shipping, Securitas USA, Shell Oil Company, and Waste Management. Voluntary organizations, including Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service (MCVS) and Mississippi Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), also participated. Key stakeholders included the Energy Security Council and the Association of Contingency Planners, the Port of South Louisiana, the Port of St. Bernard, the Port of Gulfport, and the Mississippi River Maritime Association.
CFATS training class completed on 19 January 2010. During the last 2 months of 2009 and January 2010 a planning team consisting of Gil Boudreaux the District Manager of Security Services Division of Day & Zimmerman, Tim W. Thomasson and Dylan J. Tete of the UASI office of NOLA Homeland Security, New Orleans InfraGard Chapter Vice President Felix Loicano, Tommy Hutto of Shell Oil Co., Lester J. Millet the Policy and Planning Director for the Port of South Louisiana and past New Orleans InfraGard President Henry Newton arranged for a Chemical Facility Anti-terrorism Standards (CFATS) seminar/class to review DHS regulations intended to enhance the security of over 7000 U.S. chemical plants against terrorist attacks.
Federal requirements for company registration, company questionnaires, tiering requirements and Chemical-Terrorism Vulnerability Information (CVI) and other security requirements were handled by Mr. Steven Roberts a well trained Houston Lawyer with very impressive credentials. The event was held on Jan 19th 2010 at the Shell Recreation Bldg. on Wesco Road, Norco LA with a free lunch and a 4 hour intensive class for the 65 people in the audience.
A certificate of attendance with the logos of St. Bernard Port, Port of South Louisiana, InfraGard, Day & Zimmerman, and the 4 parishes of UASI Region One was presented to all of the persons completing the CFATS training.
InfraGard General meeting was held on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010 at the FBI Headquarters. Opening remarks were provided by VP Felix Loicano and President Dennis Kelly. FBI SSA Natalie Phelan and our new Special Event Security SIG leader Patrick Thompson the Public Safety the Special Projects Manager for the NOLA Downtown Development District discussed Special Event Security and the process of how major events are planned.
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