August 21, 2008

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Rep. Lamar Smith to speak at security symposium

(Aug. 4, 2004)--The UTSA Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security (CIAS) hosts the Texas Infrastructure Protection Symposium Aug. 5-6 at the University Center on the 1604 Campus.

The Aug. 5 keynote speech is by Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, who also will lead a panel discussion on security issues following the speech. The speech and panel discussion, free and open to the public, are from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the University Center Retama Auditorium (2.02.02).

Participants from government, industry and education will attend the national symposium to discuss communication and information-sharing issues involved in protecting the nation's critical infrastructure. The symposium includes breakout sessions on intrusion detection, wireless security, information hiding, information sharing, national guidance resources, and legal and policy issues.

Smith is a member of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security and the Judiciary Committee, both of which recently approved the proposed Faster and Smarter Funding for First Responders Act. The legislation would authorize more than $3 billion annually to aid first responders with improved planning, equipment, training and exercises.

"I hope the bill will be considered on the House floor this fall," said Smith. "I believe it is an immediate priority. Scenario-based training is critical for the future success of our counter-terrorism programs."

The symposium features presentations by Robert Liscouski, assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security; Suzanne Gorman, chair of the Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center; Maj. Gen. Paul Lebras, commander of the Air Intelligence Agency and Joint Information Operations Center; Art Fierro, Homeland Security Information Network - Critical Infrastructure (HSIN-CI) and Ron Newman, South West Emergency Response Network.

For more information, visit the CIAS Web site or call 210-458-6302.

--Tim Brownlee