CISA at the 2024 Preparedness Summit

If Not Today, then Someday: Preparing and Resourcing Responders for the Inevitable

Nation-state hackers, natural disasters, and accidents abound—emergencies are persistent. Preparing for these incidents take preparedness as well as a plan to mitigate any successful disruptions so your organization can return to normal—or new normal—operations as quickly as possible.

Organizations that have planned, exercised and prepared for all possibilities will have higher levels of resilience and dramatically decrease their recovery time, in turn, reducing the negative and potentially catastrophic effects to their operations. As we collectively work towards a more resilient infrastructure, we all have a role to play.

Join the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Deputy Director Nitin Natarajan as he discusses what steps CISA has taken to help partners prepare for better outcomes in any eventuality. Joining him is Director in the Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection CDR Thomas “TJ” Christl (ASPR/HHS), Regional Administrator for Region 5 CAPT Todd Stankewicz (ASPR/HHS), Deputy Associate Director of Strategic Integration Mark Carmel (CISA – Emergency Communications Division), CISA Cyber Security Advisor for Ohio Terin Williams and CISA Protective Security Advisor Jon Richeson,as they delineate resources that CISA and HHS have to offer – highlighting how these resources have been used and improved and how attendees can access them to respond to a variety of threats we all face.

• Tuesday, March 26

  • 10:00 am – 11:30 am EST
• Schedule:
  • 10 – 10:10 a.m. – DDIR Natarajan Opening Keynote Remarks
  • 10:10 – 11 a.m. – Panel
    • Director, Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection CDR TJ Christl - Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
    • Regional Administrator for Region 5 CAPTTodd Stankewicz - Office of Regional Response, Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
    • Deputy Associate Director of Strategic Integration Mark Carmel – CISA, Emergency Communications Division
    • CISA Cyber Security Advisor – Ohio, Terin Williams
    • CISA Protective Security Advisor – Jon Richeson
    • Moderator: CISA Deputy Director Nitin Natarajan
  • 11 – 11:30 AM – Audience Q&A – Townhall Style

Testing the Limitless Possibilities of Artificial Intelligence in Emergency Preparedness and Response: How to Be Smart About It

The potential emergency response capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI), including chatbots, drones, and deep learning, are exciting and nearly limitless. However, how much do we know about how AI is currently being used in emergency preparedness and response and how it can be used to enhance our work? This highly interactive and engaging session will provide a glimpse into some of AI's applications using a real-world response scenario. Panelists will provide examples of AI uses, reflect on challenges and risks, and provide guidance to enable participants to ask critical questions around potential use and adoption of new technologies in their communities.

• Thursday, March 28

  • 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
• Schedule: 
  • 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM - Plenary Session 
  • Speakers: 
    • Public Health Division at MITRE Health FFRDC Managing Director Oscar E. Alleyne
    • CISA ISD AI Capabilities Analyst Krystal Jackson
    • Deloitte Managing Director Brian Kamoie