Pittsburgh, PA
Federal agencies have a unique opportunity to work in community partnerships to enhance resilience across their campuses, installations, buildings, and surrounding regions. Many federal agencies are engaging in joint resilience planning with state and local partners and, in some cases, providing funding directly to communities for resilience planning and projects. This session will provide attendees with an overview of how federal agencies and communities are jointly dependent on critical infrastructure and highlight case studies of active partnerships investing in mutually beneficial resilience efforts. The workshop will allow attendees to participate while thinking "outside the fence line" about regional resilience vulnerabilities and project opportunities using the Idaho National Laboratory All Hazards Analysis (AHA) tool in an interactive brainstorming activity.
Instructors
Owen Silbaugh, Chief Engineer and Director of Airport Engineering, MassDOT Aeronautics Division, MassDOT Read Bio
Owen Silbaugh is the Chief Engineer and Director of Airport Engineering for the MassDOT Aeronautics Division. A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh. Since moving to the greater Boston area, he has worked solely on aviation design, construction, and permitting projects in the New England region. At the MassDOT Aeronautics Division, Owen leads the engineering department and manages the capital improvement program, yearly pavement maintenance program, pavement condition index program, and design reviews for all construction projects. With MassDOT Aeronautics Division latest grant award from USDOT SMART Grant Program, Owen is the project lead and principal investigator for the smart microgrid project at the Cape Cod Gateway Airport.
Ariel Horowitz, Deputy Director, Grid Deployment Office, Department of Energy Read Bio
Ariel Horowitz is the Deputy Director for Grid Modernization at the Grid Deployment Office (GDO). Prior to joining GDO, Ariel was a Senior Program Director at the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), where she directed their market development work related to grid modernization, energy storage, resiliency, and clean transportation. She also oversaw much of MassCEC's work supporting the tech-to-market transition of new energy innovations by researchers and early-stage companies. Ariel joined MassCEC from Synapse Energy Economics, where she provided expert witnessing services and analytical support to clients including U.S. EPA and state regulators. She holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Tufts University and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Swarthmore College.
Jennifer DeHart Hass, Director, Environmental Planning & Historic Preservation Program, Office of the Chief Readiness Support Officer, Department of Homeland Security Read Bio
Jennifer DeHart Hass is the Director of the Environmental Planning & Historic Preservation Program at the Office of the Chief Readiness Support Officer, Department of Homeland Security.
William Van Houten, Senior Project Manager, Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation Read Bio
Mr. William (Bill) Van Houten has been with the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC) since 2019 and currently serves as a Senior Project Manager, concentrating efforts within the Installation Resiliency and Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Programs, with a lead in climate resiliency efforts. He previously acted as Associate Director and performed extensive procurement work, especially in the Information Technology area. Prior to joining OLDCC, Mr. Van Houten had a 35-year career with the Department of Defense. He also served as the Department's Liaison to the Department of Interior. Mr. Van Houten holds a BS from Carnegie-Mellon, a JD from William and Mary, an MPP from Harvard, and an MS (Distinguished Graduate) from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. In 2019, he also received the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, attendees will be able to:
- Recognize aspects of regional resilience;
- Identify federal funding opportunities for regional resilience;
- Recognize correct description of the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation;
- Recognize an example use of SMART grant funds. 5. Identify how to collaborate with stakeholders to address regional resilience.
