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Press Release: Transportation Security Research

Press Release: Transportation Security Research

Mar. 18, 2020

Critical Ops LLC announces the award of a $700,000 contract under the National Academies of Science, National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) – Transportation Research Board (TRB) titled Deploying Transportation Security Practices in the State’s Department of Transportation.

The objective of the research is to develop and support the implementation of a comprehensive deployment and change management strategy for transportation security practices in State Departments of Transportation (DOTs).

Westlake, OH – March 18, 2020 – Critical Ops LLC, led by Mrs. Chelsea Treboniak together with Dr. Jenni Hesterman, an International Security Expert and Author, Dr. Silvana Croope from the Alabama Transportation Institute, Dr. Gary Ackerman from the University at Albany, State University of New York’s, College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity, and Mr. Michael Audino from the University of South Florida’s Center for Urban Transportation Research is proud to announce the award of research to develop and support the implementation of a comprehensive deployment and change management strategy for transportation security practices in State DOTs. The research is being conducted over the next two years, with publication in 2023. Later phases of the project will include workshops, webinars, and a national-level training class for State DOTs and key stakeholders.

Security violations permeate many aspects of our lives. Throughout the DOT, there has been an increased emphasis placed on security as transportation systems are easily accessible to large numbers of people, and public networks are susceptible to cybersecurity attacks. Analyzing 2017 DOT attacks, researchers determined that an average data breach costs $3.86 million or $148 per violated record. Furthermore, negative reputation impacts led to long-term, detrimental effects that are nearly immeasurable. Concerns have caused organizations such as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to address security and preparedness with a renewed focus on leveraging and maximizing security authorities, capabilities, and resources in an integrated and coordinated manner.

This contract award has created an excellent opportunity for Critical Ops, and our research team to prepare the State DOTs for future security challenges. “We are very excited to apply the talents and expertise of our team to such an essential critical infrastructure function,” says Chelsea Treboniak, President of Critical Ops. “Our risk management experience and expertise within the larger security industry and organizations around the nation has uniquely positioned us for success.”

Our team intends to focus on the creation of a security-based culture by blending our training and educational materials with change management in the strategic deployment guidelines. This approach creates an opportunity to transition the institutional framework into a security-based system. The resulting system is capable of using previous challenges to generate success by nurturing effective and organization strategies tailored to this new culture. This process is intended to foster a more objective, forthright, and detailed individual self-assessment while minimizing apprehension associated with shortcomings in existing environments.

About Critical Ops, LLC

Critical Ops is a business modernization company focused on transforming the people, processes and technology that help you build a flexible, modern business. It is a service-disabled veteran-owned and woman-owned business based in Westlake, Ohio. Critical Ops is led by Chelsea Treboniak, a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. The company has conducted a variety of projects across the country for organizations in the financial, healthcare, transportation, and government sectors. Most recently, Critical Ops was voted 2019’s Veteran Small Business of the Year by the Cleveland Small Business Administration, and Chelsea was named a 2019 Notable Woman Veteran in the Workforce by the Crain’s Cleveland Business Newspaper. For more information, visit www.criticalops.com.