Cyber defense focus of latest ARNSF

Phil Kirk, Region 7 Director for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), delivers a presentation on the mission of Region 7 of CISA on May 18, 2023, at the Carriage Club in downtown Kansas City. The CGSC Foundation’s Simons Center hosted an Arter-Rowland National Security Forum (ARNSF) luncheon event on May 18, 2023, at the Carriage Club in Kansas City.

Phil Kirk, Region 7 Director for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), delivers a presentation on the mission of Region 7 of CISA on May 18, 2023, at the Carriage Club in downtown Kansas City.

(Top photo and above) Phil Kirk, Region 7 Director for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), delivers a presentation on the mission of Region 7 of CISA on May 18, 2023, at the Carriage Club in downtown Kansas City.

At the opening of the Forum Simons Center Director Bob Ulin welcomed the ARNSF members and recognized new guests. After lunch Ulin introduced the guest speaker, Phil Kirk, Region 7 Director for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

In this presentation of the forum, Kirk led 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 discussed 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 also addressed some of the resources CISA offers to organizations to protect against cybersecurity threats and destructive exploits against critical infrastructure.

After the presentation and a question and answer period, Ulin presented Kirk with a new CGSC/Simons Center coffee mug and Simons Center coin in appreciation for his time with the Forum. Ulin closed out the luncheon with a short brief about the schedule for future gatherings of the Forum.

For more photos see the CGSC Foundation Flickr album

 


Phil KirkPhil 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.


The Arter-Rowland National Security Forum (ARNSF) is led by the CGSC Foundation’s Simons Center and is an exclusive professional information sharing and networking forum for senior executives.

Members of the Forum and their guests meet periodically at guest speaker events in downtown Kansas City. National and regional guest speakers representing all elements of national power (Diplomatic, Informational, Military and Economic) highlight the meetings. The Forum is nonpartisan, but elected government officials may present from time to time.

The Forum is named after Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Robert Arter, Founding Chairman of the CGSC Foundation, and Mr. Landon Rowland, the Foundation’s first major donor who was well-known in Kansas City for his keen interest in national security issues and his leadership in business and philanthropy.

ARNSF events are only open to ARNSF members and their guests. If you are not a member but are interested in joining, contact Bob Ulin at rulin@cgscf.org or visit the Forum page on the Simons Center website for more information.


The Arter-Rowland National Security Forum is cohosted by the CGSC Foundation’s Simons Center and the Kansas City Chapter of the Association of the United States Army (KCAUSA).

ARNSF sponsor logos


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