Jim Willis, M.Sc, CMAS, CHS-V

For those tasked with securing and protecting utility assets, the most formidable adversaries aren’t always external. While threat actors, cybercrime and infrastructure sabotage are real and constant threats, internal biases and resistance to change are some of the most challenging security obstacles. If not overcome, three specific challenges – complacency, misconceptions and parochialism – will […]

I’m a panelist on an online monthly forum that is focused on safety—and sometimes security—in the utility industry. During the July session, someone asked what utilities are doing to prevent employees from being identified and harassed through trolling tactics such as stalking, swatting and doxing. The discussion offered few effective methods for minimizing threats and […]

Although the framework of operational competence had been in place for decades, its use as a gauge of organizational strength in the utility sector began to gain traction in the 1970s. Over the decades, the focus and benchmarks of operational competence have changed dramatically, but it’s still missing one core element: utility security. So, what […]

President Eisenhower, the five-star general who commanded the largest invasion in history during World War II, stated, “In preparing for battle, I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is essential.” This philosophy directly relates to utility security for two reasons:  Establishing a robust security posture is a complex issue that requires planning […]

Jim Willis Shares Three Steps to Better Equip You for the Increasingly Complex Challenges that Utility Security Professionals Face “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.” ~ Mark Twain.  Mr. Twain’s statement reflects the understanding of the utility security dynamic of […]

There is an old axiom that goes, “When seconds count, the police are just minutes away.” Today, this is an understatement. Law enforcement departments across the nation are understaffed and underfunded at unprecedented levels, leaving responding officers overwhelmed, physically overtaxed and overstressed, and exiting the profession at astonishing rates of attrition. So, what does this […]

The Greek historian and general Thucydides stated, “Hope is an expensive commodity. It makes better sense to be prepared.” This statement is as true today as it was 2,500 years ago. For utility security professionals, this maxim speaks to the nonchalant attitude toward substation and infrastructure security that many of us have or face from […]

As the Assassination Attempt that happened on July 13th Demonstrated, a Failure of Clarity, Communication and/or Consistency Can Lead to Devastating Consequences. It’s Vital that Your Substation Security Strategy Offers Certainty in All Three Areas. Albert Einstein once said, “Any fool can know. The point is to understand.” I often refer to this quote in […]

In utility physical security practice, professionalism comes from knowing what to do, why it needs to be done and how to do it. Sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? However, gaining and maintaining true professional competency, or edge, requires continual effort. In our quest for professionalism we have to overcome a plethora of obstacles to success, […]