Stephan Honored for His Legacy in Infrastructure Protection

On January 12, 2009, over 250 guests gathered at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for a farewell reception honoring U.S. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection Robert B. Stephan.

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff led a host of well-wishers who commended Stephan for his vision and leadership. He referred to Stephan as the architect of infrastructure protection in the 21st century.

Ann M. Beauchesne, Executive Director of the Homeland Security Division of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, acknowledged Stephan’s leadership in developing the public private framework as part of the NIPP. Tributes followed from DHS’ Under Secretary for National Protection & Programs, Robert D. Jamison; the Vice-Chair of the Partnership for Critical Infrastructure Security, Turner Madden; the Chair of the State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Government Coordinating Council, Brigadier General Michael McDaniel; the Vice Chair of Constellation Energy and member of the National Infrastructure Advisory Council, Mike Wallace; and Governmental Affairs Advisor with the Governmental Relations Team, Adams and Reese LLP, David M. Barron.

Noting Stephan’s passion for Civil War history, Jim Caverly, Director of the Office of Infrastructure Protection’s (IP) Partnership and Outreach Division, presented Stephan with a print by Dale Gallon entitled “Buying Time” that depicts General John Buford and his dismounted cavalry holding off Confederate infantry on the morning of July 1, 1863 – the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg. IP Chief of Staff Jock Bond pledged to Stephan that the IP team will continue to carry his vision forward.

Stephan praised IP and its public and private sector partners. “You got the mission done from scratch,” he said. Not many people over the history of the country can say they got an opportunity to build something out of whole cloth [that is] focused every day on trying to figure out creative ways to save people’s lives and perhaps millions of dollars to the U.S. and international economy.”

He described IP as the first and last line of defense of the United States against threats posed by terrorists and Mother Nature. “If they get by you, there’s nobody else; you are the best. You are the envy of the world.”

Stephan’s new position in the private sector will continue his service to the country’s homeland security and infrastructure protection mission through public-private partnerships.