Office of Cyber Security & Critical Infrastructure Coordination
The New York State Office of Cyber Security and Critical Infrastructure Coordination (CSCIC) chairs the activities of the Public/Private Sector Cyber Security Workgroup, which is taking proactive steps to foster collaborative partnerships and information sharing across critical infrastructure sectors and organizations. The Workgroup comprises high-level private sector executives and State agency commissioners to represent critical industry sectors, including telecommunications, financial and economic, utilities, public safety, health, food and education/awareness.

About the Public/Private Sector Cyber Security Workgroup

Because an estimated 80 - 85% of critical infrastructure is owned or operated by the private sector, addressing cyber security and critical infrastructure readiness in collaboration with the private sector is crucial. In recognition of the need for and benefit of engaging the private sector, the Public/Private Sector Cyber Security Workgroup (Workgroup) was established in April 2002 and is chaired by William Pelgrin, Director of the NYS CSCIC. In 2008, the Workgroup expanded its reach to include representatives from the public and private sectors in New Jersey in order to take advantage of cross-state collaboration and foster enhanced information sharing.

The Workgroup is examining the current state of cyber readiness within and across the sectors, working to identify and assess vulnerabilities and determine appropriate mitigation strategies. The diversified skills and knowledge embodied in the Workgroup, encompassing State agencies, the private sector and academia, is enabling both New York and New Jersey to assess and prioritize the protection of the critical cyber infrastructure of greatest concern.  

One of the Workgroup's initial tasks was to develop and determine from a list of critical industry sectors those that would be its immediate focus. The Workgroup identified thirteen critical sectors and from that list prioritized its initial efforts on the following sectors: Chemical, Education and Awareness, Financial and Economic, Food, Health, Public Safety, Telecommunications, and Utilities. Executives and State agency commissioners have been identified to serve as leads for the Sectors (see list below). Each sector subgroup meets monthly via conference call to share information regarding the cyber security status of the sector, and representatives across all sectors convene bimonthly via an interactive webcast.

List of Participating Organizations by Sector

Chemical Sector Leads:
Thomas Donlon, Director, New York State Office of Homeland Security
Additional Representative: George Estel
Stephen Rosario, New York State Chemical Alliance

Education and Awareness Sector Leads:
John Clark, Interim Chancellor, State University of New York
Ted Phelps, Information Security Officer, State University of New York
Peter Bloniarz, Dean, College of Computing and Information, University at Albany/State University of New York
John Otero, Assistant Professor, St. John's University
Edward Reinfurt, Executive Director, New York State Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation
Additional Representative: Mike Ridley

Financial and Economic Sector Leads:
Richard Neiman, Superintendent, New York State Banking Department
Additional Representatives: David Fredsall, Cathy Weintraub
James J. Wrynn, Superintendent, New York State Insurance Department
Additional Representative: Phyllis Linker
Eric Guerrino, Senior Vice President, The Bank of New York Mellon; Chairperson, Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FS-ISAC)

Food Sector Leads:
Patrick Hooker, Commissioner, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets
Alan Aront, Vice President, Communications and Information Services Division, Wakefern Food Corp.

Health Sector Leads:
Richard Daines, Commissioner, New York State Department of Health
Additional Representatives: Lori Evans, Wendy Saunders
Ray Sweeney, Executive Vice President, Health Care Association of New York State
Additional Representatives: Chris Smith, Pete Poleto
Susan Waltman, General Counsel, Greater New York Hospital Association
Additional Representative: Zeynep Sumer

Public Safety Sector Leads:
To Be Identified

Telecommunications Sector Leads:
Garry Brown, Chairman, New York State Public Service Commission
Additional Representatives: Dennis Taratus, John Sennett
Edward Amoroso, Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer, AT&T Network Services
Additional Representative: Jeffrey Kipnis

Utilities Sector Leads:
Garry Brown, Chairman, New York State Public Service Commission
Additional Representatives: John Sennett, Tammy Mitchell
Dennis Eccleston, Chief Information Officer, New York Power Authority
Bob Mullen, Con Edison
Michael Calimano, Vice President, Operations, New York Independent System Operator (NYISO)
Additional Representative: Karl Janice

Outreach to Other Entities within the Sectors

The vision for the Workgroup is to greatly expand the participation of entities vital to the functioning of each sector. This expanded level of outreach to additional major entities within the sectors is underway and has been very successful. The workgroup has met with several of these entities, which have a major presence in New York State and New Jersey, to solicit their participation in this effort. This represents a significant milestone in the efforts to increase the level of participation in the Workgroup and sharing of information. It also establishes a strong model for enhancing cyber security cooperation and collaboration across infrastructure sectors in New York and New Jersey.

Additional organizations participating in the Education and Awareness Sector:

  • City University of New York
  • Columbia University
  • Cornell University
  • New York University
  • Pace University
  • Polytechnic Institute of New York University
  • Rochester Institute of Technology
  • Rutgers University
  • State University of New York at Buffalo
  • State University of New York at Stony Brook
  • Syracuse University

Additional organizations participating in the Financial and Economic Sector:  

Banking Institutions

  • American Express
  • Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi
  • Bank of New York
  • Credit Suisse
  • Depository Trust Company
  • JPM Chase
  • Mizuho Corporate Bank, LTD
  • Societe Generale

Insurance Institutions

  • Life Insurance Council of New York
  • MetLife
  • New York Central Mutual
  • State Farm Insurance Company
  • Teachers Insurance and Annuity
  • Travelers Insurance Company

Additional organizations participating in the Telecommunications Sector:

  • Frontier
  • MCI
  • Verizon

Additional organizations participating in the Health Sector:

  • Beth Abraham Health Services, Inc
  • Catholic Health Services of Long Island
  • Health Quest Systems
  • Hospital for Special Surgery
  • Isabella Geriatric Center
  • Jamaica Hospital
  • Lenox Hill
  • Lincoln Hospital Center
  • Maimonides Medical Center
  • NY Hospital, Queens
  • NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation
  • NY Presbyterian Hospital
  • Olean General Hospital
  • United Memorial Medical Center

Additional organizations participating in the Utilities Sector:

  • Central Hudson Gas & Electric
  • Con Edison
  • Constellation Energy
  • Dynegy
  • Energy East
  • Entergy
  • Independent Power Producers of NY
  • KeySpan Energy
  • NYS Electric & Gas
  • National Grid
  • National Fuel Gas Distribution Corp
  • NY Municipal Power Agency
  • PSEG Fossil, LLC
  • Rochester Gas and Electric
  • United Water