The US energy landscape has changed dramatically in the last 5 years. Almost all sectors of the energy system are becoming increasingly reliant on the use of advanced information and communications technologies to optimize performance and provide value-added services to consumers. The critical infrastructure sectors are also becoming more interdependent. At the same time, cyber threats are increasing and energy systems have been disrupted by a targeted cyber-attack for the first time. We need a new approach.

About the speaker: Hank Kenchington is Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for Advanced Grid Integration in the Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE).  Hank currently leads OE’s responsibilities in the management of the $3.4 billion Smart Grid Investment Grant program funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to upgrade the nation’s power grid with advanced digital technologies to improve system reliability, security, and efficiency. Previously, Hank served as DAS for R&D with responsibility for development of advanced power technologies in power electronics, energy storage, cyber security, smart grid, modeling and visualization, and synchrophasor technologies. Hank has a BS in mechanical and nuclear engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and a master’s degree in engineering administration from the George Washington University.