{"id":422809,"date":"2025-04-22T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-22T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=422809"},"modified":"2025-04-23T06:43:10","modified_gmt":"2025-04-23T06:43:10","slug":"west-virginia-guard-hosts-workshop-to-address-potential-infrastructure-threats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=422809","title":{"rendered":"West Virginia Guard Hosts Workshop to Address Potential Infrastructure Threats"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n The West Virginia National Guard\u2019s Army Interagency Training and Education Center Critical Infrastructure Protection Battalion stepped into the national spotlight by hosting its first-ever Critical Infrastructure Protection Workshop, April 8-9 at Camp Dawson, in Kingwood, West Virginia The event brought together representatives from over 37 states and territories, numerous federal agencies, and all levels of the Department of Defense to address the escalating threats facing essential U.S. public utilities, resources, and cybersecurity systems our country now faces.
\n (Photo Credit: Edwin Wriston WVNG)<\/span>
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CHARLESTON, W.V. \u2013 The West Virginia Army National Guard recently hosted its first workshop to address possible threats to the country\u2019s public utilities, resources and cybersecurity systems.<\/p>\n

The Guard\u2019s Army Interagency Training and Education Center Critical Infrastructure Protection Battalion held the April 8-9 event at Camp Dawson in Kingwood, W.Va. Representatives from more than 37 states and territories, federal agencies, and the Department of Defense attended the Critical Infrastructure Protection Workshop.<\/p>\n

The vulnerability of critical infrastructure is a threat the Guard\u2019s AITEC CIP Battalion takes seriously. The workshop facilitated dialogue and cooperation among state and federal partners, including the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Northern Command, the National Guard Bureau, National Laboratories and other states\u2019 National Guard units.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are witnessing a concerning rise in attacks targeting essential services like power grids and water systems,\u201d said Col. Gina Nichols, WVNG\u2019s AITEC brigade commander. \u201cAn adversary targeting our infrastructure doesn\u2019t need conventional military force; disruption of these systems could cripple our nation from within.\u201d<\/p>\n

The workshop, which began as a Guard-focused exercise, brought together agencies that have previously worked separately to ensure a unified response during a national emergency. These efforts help secure the safety of systems such as the power that keeps hospitals operational and the water that sustains cities.<\/p>\n

\u201cCritical infrastructure encompasses all the essential elements of modern life, including telecommunications, water, and power,\u201d Nichols said. \u201cA significant disruption in any of these areas could have cascading consequences across our entire society.\u201d<\/p>\n

The participation of West Virginia Emergency Management personnel highlighted the critical civilian-military partnerships needed for swift and effective emergency responses.<\/p>\n

Workshop sessions focused on prioritizing continuity of operations and addressing potential scenarios.<\/p>\n

For years, the WVNG\u2019s AITEC CIP Battalion focused on securing military installations. Its mission has expanded to address broader civilian dependencies, including power grids and water supplies.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis workshop highlighted West Virginia\u2019s significant role in national security,\u201d Nichols said. \u201cBy convening these key stakeholders, we aim to cultivate sustained collaboration and ultimately strengthen our collective ability to protect our communities and critical resources.\u201d<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.nationalguard.mil<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TheNationalGuard<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/x.com\/USNationalGuard<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The West Virginia National Guard\u2019s Army Interagency Training and Education Center Critical Infrastructure Protection Battalion stepped into the national spotlight by hosting its first-ever Critical Infrastructure Protection Workshop, April 8-9 at Camp Dawson, in Kingwood, West Virginia The event brought together representatives from over 37 states and territories, numerous federal agencies, and all levels of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":422811,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-422809","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/422809","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=422809"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/422809\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":422812,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/422809\/revisions\/422812"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/422811"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=422809"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=422809"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=422809"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}