Capitol Hill Symposium on Perimeter Security

About the Event

Join the Security Industry Association (SIA) for this free one-day symposium on perimeter security with a focus on preventing vehicular terrorism, presented by SIA's Perimeter Security Subcommittee. This symposium is meant to gather policymakers, federal agency personnel, architects and engineers, security industry solution providers and more in one room to examine and discuss current needs and threats to safety and security at facilities and public spaces.

Morning sessions will share government agency presentations on the need for updating standards and innovation in the areas of ballistic windows, blast doors and materials and perimeter security and access control. Afternoon sessions will focus on standards and guidelines for threat assessments and physical security measures, available funding from state and federal grant programs and the impacts to federal procurement strategies seen as a result of the Jan. 6, 2021, events at the U.S. Capitol. Additionally, attendees will receive updates on the latest activities and offerings from the SIA Perimeter Security Subcommittee working groups.

Breakfast and lunch are included in your complimentary registration.

Agenda (All Times EDT)

8:00-9:00 a.m.: Breakfast

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Morning Sessions – Perspectives From Government Agencies

9:00-10:30 a.m.: Perspectives From the Architect of the Capitol and U.S. Department of State

Speakers:
- Russell "Russ" Norris, former security research and development (R&D) program manager, U.S. Department of State
- Joe Okes, assistant director of resilience and security, Architect of the Capitol

This presentation will open the discussion on the problems and possible solutions to address the ongoing demand of perimeter security at government facilities. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and engage with other government agencies at the event.

10:30-11:00 a.m.: Networking Break

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Building Partnerships and Managing Risks

Speaker: Dan Genua, protective security advisor, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

Securing our nation's critical infrastructure is a shared responsibility. The heart of the CISA mission is partnership and collaboration. This presentation will focus on lessons learned from CISA’s efforts to work with partners to develop innovative risk management solutions.

Speakers:

Dan Genua, Protective Security Advisor, CISA

Russ Norris, Former Security R&D Program Manager, U.S. Department of State

Joe Okes, Assistant Director of Resilience and Security, Architect of the Capitol

12:00-1:00 p.m.: Lunch

1:00-4:00 p.m.: Afternoon Sessions – Industry Responses and Threat, Vulnerability & Risk Assessment (TRVA) Discussions

1:00-1:45 p.m.: Security Mitigation Assessment of Risks and Threats (SMART) Software for Soft Targets and Crowded Places

Speakers:
- Tomas Diaz, senior engineer, Karagozian & Case
- Pedram Hesam, Ph.D., senior engineer, Karagozian & Case

This session will review the scope and objective of the SMART software, the development process and methodology and a demonstration of the application using a real location as an example.

1:45-2:30 p.m.: Trends in Threats From the United Kingdom

Speaker: Ben Hawkins, partner and director of advisory, CHC Global

In this session, Mr. Hawkins will review the TVRA process and speak to emerging threats and trends seen from the U.K.

2:30-3:00 p.m.: Networking Break

3:00-4:00 p.m.: SIA Perimeter Security Town Hall

Moderator: Rob Reiter, chair, SIA Perimeter Security Subcommittee

In this session, Mr. Reiter will engage both speakers and attendees on various topics related to perimeter security including the need for innovation in perimeter security, the new requirements specified by designers and requested by end-users, bridging public private partnerships and collaboration and emerging issues with climate, civil unrest and threats.

Speakers:

Tomas Diaz, Senior Engineer, Karagozian & Case

Ben Hawkins, Partner & Director of Advisory, CHC Global

Pedram Hesam, Ph.D., Senior Engineer, Karagozian & Case

Rob Reiter, Chair, SIA Perimeter Security Subcommittee

Key Topics to Be Covered

Protecting public spaces
Effective use of perimeter security for public events and gatherings
Trends in hostile vehicle attacks and vehicular terrorism
How business and government can work together to protect the public
Progress on federal and industry guidelines and best practices for threat, risk and vulnerability assessments by SIA working groups
Procurement strategies and funding opportunities for 2022-2023