In this presentation of the forum, Director Phil Kirk will lead a discussion on the mission of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in Region 7 (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. As the nation’s cyber defense agency, CISA stands ready to help organizations prepare for, respond to, and mitigate the impact of cyberattacks. Kirk will discuss how every organization—large and small—should adopt a heightened posture when it comes to cybersecurity and protect their most critical assets against disruptive cyber incidents. He will also address some of the resources CISA offers to organizations to protect against cybersecurity threats and destructive exploits against critical infrastructure.

This event is only open to members of the ARNSF. If you are not a member but are interested in joining, contact Bob Ulin at rulin@cgscf.org.

Phil Kirk is the Region 7 Director for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). He was selected as Regional Director of the Office of Infrastructure Protection in the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) of DHS in 2016, prior to the creation of CISA through the Cyber Security and Infrastructure Security Act of 2018. He then served as the Acting Director of CISA Region 7 for two years until his appointment to the Senior Executive Service in January 2021. He is the senior CISA official in the region and is accountable for the successful execution of the numerous and varied CISA programs across the Region 7 area of responsibility.

Prior to his tenure with CISA, Kirk spent more than 20 years in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in Region 7, most recently as the Federal Preparedness Coordinator and National Preparedness Division Director. In 1998-1999, Kirk left FEMA and moved to Washington, D.C., where he helped stand-up the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, before returning to Kansas City and FEMA. He began his federal career in 1989 on the staff of a Kansas member of Congress before joining FEMA in 1994.

Kirk earned a Master of Arts in Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from Kansas State University. Kirk and his spouse, Shelly, reside in Oak Grove, Missouri.

Questions about registration? – Contact Lora Morgan, lora@cgscf.org or call 913-651-0624.

For questions about the ARNSF contact Col. (Ret.) Robert Ulin, Simons Center Director, at rulin@cgscf.org or call 913-240-1495.

Please register below.

The Arter-Rowland National Security Forum is an exclusive professional information sharing and networking event exclusively for members of the forum and select invitees of the CGSC Foundation’s Simons Center and the Kansas City Chapter of the Association of the United States Army (KCAUSA), the co-hosts of the Forum.

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