Minimizing the Air Force Vulnerability During Smart Grid Upgrades to Ensure Sustainment

Minimizing the Air Force Vulnerability During Smart Grid Upgrades to Ensure Sustainment

NCMS Project #: 140853

Problem: The Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment, & Energy (SAF IE) is committed to increasing the energy assurance of Air Force installations. One of the critical threats to energy systems and energy assurance is malicious cyber-activities that have in the past denied energy to critical missions. Therefore, the Air Force requires a strategic approach and guidance on how to reduce the risk from cyber-attacks on energy infrastructure.

Benefit: Prevention of hacker-induced blackouts and theft of financial, identity, and intellectual property information, will benefit both the energy provider and the public good. The Air Force’s intent is to develop the knowledge and processes to address the growing concern of cyber-threats to critical missions.

Solution/Approach: The aim of this project is to achieve improved performance, reliability, and controllability of the electrical grid. A new, smarter grid will offer improved methods for gauging risks and the security posture of real‐time distributed control systems, advancing the development and standardization of cybersecurity, including privacy, policies, measures, procedures, and resiliency, in the smart electric grid.

Impact on Warfighter:

  • Protected energy supply
  • Increased cyber-security defenses

DoD Participation:

  • Assistant Secretary Air Force – Installations Environment and Logistics
  • Air Force Civil Engineering Center
  • Air National Guard

Industry Participation:

  • Booz Allen Hamilton
  • NCMS

Technology Focus Area(s):

  • Maintenance avoidance & reliability
  • Safety
  • Improved readiness