Protecting Critical Energy Infrastructure from All Hazards
October 30, 2017
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As we wrap up this year’s National Cybersecurity Awareness Month blog series, I hope you now have a better understanding of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) commitment to protect the Nation’s power grid and oil and natural gas infrastructure from the cyber threat – a rapidly-evolving challenge that requires strong partnerships and a sustained focus on preparedness, cyber incident response and recovery, and innovative research, development, and demonstration of resilient energy delivery systems.
Next month, we will join our partners from industry and the public sector at GridEx IV, the exercise hosted every two years by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). These exercises, which simulate scenarios of cyber and physical attacks on the grid, are designed to test and improve the electricity sector’s ability to respond. Participants at GridEx IV will include representatives from electric utilities, Federal and regional government agencies, critical infrastructure cross-sector organizations such as Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs), and supply chain stakeholders. My colleagues and I look forward to again participating in this important activity.
Exercises such as GridEx are a critical component of our collaborative efforts with industry and government partners and provide an important opportunity to test frameworks and how they will function in real time. In the event of an incident, DOE would be responsible for collecting, evaluating, and sharing information on our energy infrastructure, and working with Federal, state, and local entities and industry to ensure robust response and recovery efforts.
Just as the focus on cybersecurity awareness in October encourages Americans to learn more about how to better protect themselves in the cyber world, November’s Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month is intended to generate greater awareness of the Nation’s commitment to strengthen and maintain secure and resilient critical infrastructure sectors. As the Department of Homeland Security notes, critical infrastructure, including the Nation’s power grid and oil and natural gas infrastructure, is vital to the safety, prosperity, and well-being of our communities and businesses.
As threats evolve, we will continue working closely with our private and public partners to protect against all hazards – both manmade and natural – and help ensure the secure, reliable and resilient flow of electricity needed for the vital services that Americans rely on every day.
To learn more about the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability’s efforts to drive electric grid modernization and resiliency in the energy infrastructure, visit the OE website.
National Cybersecurity Awareness Month Blog Series
You can read the entire series of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month blog posts by clicking on the individual blog titles below.
Working with Partners to Prepare for and Respond to the Cyber Threat
Pursuing Innovation to Improve the Cybersecurity of the Nation’s Critical Energy Infrastructure
Patricia A. Hoffman
Acting Assistant Secretary, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Electricity
Former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Electricity (OE) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Ms. Patricia A. Hoffman also served as Acting Under Secretary for Science and Energy from January 2017 until November 2017 when the U.S. Senate confirmed Mark Menezes as Under Secretary of Energy. Ms. Hoffman served as Acting Assistant Secretary for OE from January 2017 until October 2017 when the OE Assistant Secretary was confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
Ms. Hoffman was named Assistant Secretary for OE from June 2010 to January 2017, after serving as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary since November 2007. The focus of her responsibility was to provide leadership on a national level to modernize the electric grid, enhance the security and reliability of the energy infrastructure and facilitate recovery from disruptions to the energy supply both domestically and internationally. This is critical to meeting the Nation’s growing demand for reliable electricity by overcoming the challenges of our Nation’s aging electricity transmission and distribution system and addressing the vulnerabilities in our energy supply chain.
Prior to her this position, Ms. Hoffman served in a dual capacity as Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for Research and Development (R&D) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) within OE. During her tenure as the DAS for R&D, she developed the long-term research strategy and improved the management portfolio of research programs for modernizing and improving the resiliency of the electric grid. This included developing and implementing sensors and operational tools for wide-area monitoring, energy storage research and demonstration, and the development of advanced conductors to increase the capacity and flexibility of the grid. She also initiated a new research effort focused on integrating and distributing renewable energy through the electric grid, such as promoting plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and implementing smart grid technologies to maintain system reliability. As COO, she managed the OE business operations, including human resources, budget development, financial execution, and performance management.
Prior to joining OE, she was the Program Manager for the Federal Energy Management Program within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at DOE. This program guides the Federal government to “lead by example” promoting energy efficiency, renewable energy, and smart energy management. Complementing her building energy efficiency experience, she also was the Program Manager for the Distributed Energy Program, which conducted research on advanced natural gas power generation and combined heat and power systems. Her accomplishments included the successful completion of the Advanced Turbine System program resulting in a high-efficiency industrial gas turbine power generation product.
Ms. Hoffman holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Ceramic Science and Engineering from Pennsylvania State University.