Brian Harrell is a nationally recognized expert on critical infrastructure protection, continuity of operations, and cybersecurity risk management. Harrell is the President and Chief Security Officer at The Cutlass Security Group, where he provides critical infrastructure companies with consultation on risk mitigation, protective measures, and compliance guidance. In his current role, he has been instrumental in providing strategic counsel and thought leadership for the security and resilience of the power grid and has helped companies identify and understand emerging threats. Advising corporations throughout North America, Harrell has worked to increase physical and cybersecurity mitigation measures designed to deter, detect, and defend critical systems. Harrell is also a Senior Fellow at The George Washington University, Center for Cyber and Homeland Security (CCHS) where he serves as an expert on infrastructure protection and cybersecurity policy initiatives.
Prior to starting his own firm, Harrell was the Director of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s (NERC) Electricity Information Sharing and Analysis Center (E-ISAC) and was charged with leading NERC’s efforts to provide timely threat information to over 1900 bulk power system owners, operators, and government stakeholders. During his time at NERC, Harrell was also the Director of Critical Infrastructure Protection Programs, where he led the creation of the Grid Security Exercise, provided leadership to Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) staff, and initiated security training and outreach designed to help utilities “harden” their infrastructure from attack.
Prior to coming to the electricity sector, Harrell was a program manager with the Infrastructure Security Compliance Division at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) where he specialized in securing high risk chemical facilities and providing compliance guidance for the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS). For nearly a decade of world-wide service, Harrell served in the US Marine Corps as an Infantryman and Anti-Terrorism and Force Protection Instructor, where he conducted threat and vulnerability assessments for Department of Defense installations.
Harrell has received many accolades for his work in critical infrastructure protection and power grid security, including awards from Security Magazine, CSO, AFCEA and GovSec. Harrell maintains the Certified Protection Professional (CPP) certification and holds a bachelor’s degree from Hawaii Pacific University, a master of education degree from Central Michigan University, and a master of homeland security degree from Pennsylvania State University.
The opinions expressed in this blog are those of Brian Harrell and do not necessarily represent those of IDG Communications, Inc., its parent, subsidiary or affiliated companies.
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