Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month

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November is Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience (CISR) Month. CISA’s annual campaign emphasizes the need to enhance our nation’s critical infrastructure through secure and resilient practices. Team IEM is proud to recognize CISR Month and promote CISA’s 2024 campaign theme: “Resolve to be Resilient.”

Stay tuned for expert insights from IEM leaders throughout the month as we contribute to building stronger, more resilient infrastructure nationwide.

IEM is dedicated to strengthening critical infrastructure in our mission to build a safe, secure, and resilient world. Our nationally recognized leaders lend their expertise to shape resilience and mitigation programs that fortify our nation’s infrastructure and prepare for a stronger future.

Learn more about IEM’s Critical Infrastructure Support

Contact IEM’s Experts Today

Thoughts from Some of IEM’s Infrastructure Experts

Gary Scronce
Senior Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management

Gary Scronce has been a key force on the IEM team for over 25 years. His deep insight, three decades of experience, and incredible familiarity with IEM’s services have guided numerous homeland security and emergency preparedness initiatives across the nation. Gary’s dedication to our mission, clients, and colleagues distinguishes him as a leader on our team and in the industry. We are proud to have Gary’s experience on the team, bolstering our project work to best support our clients.

Can you tell us about your role in IEM’s critical infrastructure sector and how your work helps drive the success of our programs and projects?

Having worked at a nuclear power plant (Entergy’s River Bend Nuclear Station) for over 12 years, the first critical infrastructure projects I managed for IEM were nuclear plant evacuation time estimate (ETE) studies. I have also used my background in nuclear engineering to inform IEM’s hazard and threat assessment work in the radiological and nuclear hazards area. I’ve served as a Program Manager and Director for our support to risk management/mitigation and trade resumption/resiliency plans for large U.S. ports as well as several large mass transit agency preparedness projects.
In your view, what are the most pressing threats facing critical infrastructure today and in the near future?

The threat environment for critical infrastructure is always evolving. The three biggest drivers of that evolution are currently climate change/sea level rise, cyber threats, and increasing nation state actor-related threats. There is renewed concern at the national level about nuclear and radiological threats from the latter.
What steps can we take to build stronger, more resilient infrastructure?

We must constantly reevaluate the threats and hazards posed to individual infrastructure elements and systems based on the best, most current information and intelligence. With that knowledge in hand, infrastructure groups and stakeholders must be willing to invest in preparing for, protecting, and mitigating against those threats and hazards. It is vital to implement preventive measures where possible to reduce the frequency and severity of impact. It is also really important to look at second and third order effects of infrastructure failures and outages to prioritize investments from a community resilience perspective.
What do you like about IEM or your role on the team?

Together, we are wiser than any one of us alone. Although I am not sure who gets the attribution for that saying, I strongly believe it holds true. What I’ve always liked best about working at IEM is that we hire smart people, and we bring them together in multi-disciplinary teams to develop solutions for our clients’ challenges or problems. I still learn something new from a colleague every day! I enjoy the collaborative atmosphere, where we each do our part to form cohesive strategies that have meaningful impacts for our clients and communities.

Sydney Gilliam
Energy Practice Lead

Sydney Gilliam is a recognized expert in energy efficiency and resiliency. Her informed perspective is instrumental in our program planning and management as she skillfully guides energy projects to ensure compliance and measurable success. Sydney showcases her dedication to the communities we serve every day, and we are honored to have her knowledge on the team leading our energy sector support.

Can you tell us about your role in IEM’s critical infrastructure sector and how your work helps drive the success of our programs and projects?

As Practice Lead for IEM’s Energy programs, I interact across the IEM sectors to coordinate our efforts and develop best practices to support our clients and their constituents. I work with states and other entities, both public and private, to support their energy efficiency and resiliency goals. This includes planning, designing, and managing compliant and successful programs, leveraging funds into existing programs, and researching and applying for additional funds.
In your view, what are the most pressing threats facing critical infrastructure today and in the near future?

An urgent concern is the unsuccessful use of recently allocated energy funds. These crucial funds are at risk of being reduced, reallocated, or even repealed entirely. The federal funding for energy upgrades and resiliency projects created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) are the first of their kind. The funds allocated for these programs include investments to improve America’s energy grid and make American homes more energy efficient and resilient in response to disasters or other grid disruptions. If these programs are not successful in delivering measurable results, it is unlikely that we will see this type of funding again.
What steps can we take to build stronger, more resilient infrastructure?

We can work to set stronger standards in terms of building codes, construction quality, and resilient materials that create infrastructure that withstands daily use, severe weather, and other disasters more effectively. IEM supports guidance and regulations at the federal level to promote better outcomes with infrastructure and resiliency programs. We help our clients tell their resiliency stories and regularly publicize their successes to ensure that decision-makers and their stakeholders can see clear examples of what is possible when we work together to build a stronger and more resilient future for our communities.
What do you like about IEM or your role on the team?

I appreciate the flexibility and freedom that IEM has given me to support clients and programs across a myriad of subject matters, funding sources, and sectors. Being able to use my law degree and past work at the federal and state levels, as well as my undergraduate degree in Biology and Environmental Science has been amazing. The future holds so many great things for IEM and the clients we support now and in the future! I wholeheartedly look forward to continuing my growth here at IEM, while doing work that truly matters and helping to further our firm’s mission of building a safe, secure and resilient world.

Nathalie Dalmau
Director of Critical Infrastructure

Nathalie Dalmau is a powerful force on our team, dedicated to helping communities strengthen their infrastructure. As a Puerto Rican native, her first-hand experience with the island’s infrastructure gives her an informed perspective that is instrumental in our project work. Nathalie’s expertise shapes infrastructure rebuilding and resiliency initiatives to create a safer, more secure future for our communities.

Can you tell us about your role in IEM’s critical infrastructure sector and how your work helps drive the success of our programs and projects?

As a native of Puerto Rico, I am deeply familiar with the infrastructure challenges we face on the island. In my role, I use this knowledge to guide our programs and projects to best assist the communities we serve. Leveraging my background in Puerto Rico’s rebuilding efforts, I am proud to continue this work at IEM, supporting our partners on the island by delivering expert technical assistance on grants management and compliance services. I build relationships with our clients, ensuring the partnerships thrive through our joint efforts on successful infrastructure programs. I am proud to be able to help my community in this way and help make sure that our infrastructure is stronger and more resilient.
In your view, what are the most pressing threats facing critical infrastructure today and in the near future?

Leadership changes and shifting government priorities may disrupt long-term planning and investment in critical infrastructure projects. When projects lack continuity, it can lead to unfinished upgrades, incomplete rebuilds, insufficient maintenance, and an overall decline in service reliability. We must set clear priorities and establish long-term goals that remain consistent despite changes in political leadership and speak to the benefit of all citizens.
What steps can we take to build stronger, more resilient infrastructure?

Investing the time to develop long-term plans is critical. By planning and developing contingencies, we can ensure that our infrastructure is ready to withstand any future challenges. Equally as important, we must maximize the available infrastructure funding to best support communities, particularly those that are most at-risk. Preparedness and infrastructure resiliency are shared responsibilities. Together, we can build stronger communities.
What do you like about IEM or your role on the team?

I appreciate working with diverse and skilled professionals. IEM team members bring unique perspectives shaped by their backgrounds, leading to creative problem-solving. Working with individuals with such varied skill sets helps create an environment where team members complement each other’s strengths. The diversity of IEM’s personnel enriches my professional experience and creates a dynamic work environment that I look forward to contributing to every day.

Dominique Rojas
Director of Critical Infrastructure

With a deep familiarity of Puerto Rico’s infrastructure and disaster recovery, Dominique Rojas guides one of IEM’s most expansive critical infrastructure programs. As a Puerto Rican, building a strong and resilient island is a deeply personal endeavor for Dominique. Her commitment to the island’s recovery and progress is evident in her everyday work to lead her team, and we are honored to have her expertise and passion on the IEM Puerto Rico team.

Can you tell us about your role in IEM’s critical infrastructure sector and how your work helps drive the success of our programs and projects?

As a Director with IEM’s largest critical infrastructure project to date, I am deeply driven by my commitment to rebuilding and strengthening my island. This responsibility is more than a role—it’s a personal mission that I approach with unwavering dedication.

I have been involved in Puerto Rico’s critical infrastructure recovery since day one following Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. Seven years later, I remain determined to be a part of our island’s rebuilding and growth to create a stronger, more resilient future.

Every day I aim to add just one more grain of sand to the landscape of our recovery. This is by far the most challenging project I have ever supported and often, it is hard to enjoy the small wins when there is still so much more to accomplish.

Every morning, I remind myself that there are over 200 local IEM employees who share this same level of commitment. I go to work for them. I build them up and support them in any way a leader and supervisor can. In return, we learn together, and they keep me inspired and focused on our shared mission to resiliently rebuild Puerto Rico.

That’s what I would identify as my method of driving success. That and my daily cup of very, very strong café con leche.
What steps can we take to build stronger, more resilient infrastructure?

Many believe that the secret to building more resilient infrastructure lies in cutting-edge technology or unlimited funding.

As a huge advocate for teamwork, I firmly believe that well-designed, purpose-driven products developed by cohesive teams are the key to delivering sound and holistic solutions. In this scenario, having the right type of people at both the strategic and tactical level is what will result in the successful design and implementation of resilient infrastructure.

When you build the right team — dedicated, mission-oriented subject matter experts — there is no limit to what can be achieved together.
What do you like about IEM or your role on the team?

Since joining IEM earlier this year, I can truly say that what I appreciate most about the company and my current role as Director is the trust that has been placed in me.

I am empowered to bring my style of leadership, strategizing, and coaching, embracing my unique battle rhythm to get things done. It is important to feel valued and I truly appreciate that.

At IEM, I am encouraged to be myself. And for that, my commitment to the mission and loyalty to the company is that much greater.

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