Cybersecurity

A primary concern of the Federal government is to safeguard our citizens from cyber crime attacks. Today, the Federal government is ill-prepared to deal with cyber attacks on our banking system, government information systems and critical infrastructure from energy to transportation. The possibility of future infiltrations into our nation's cyber security infrastructure have had both economic and security consequences.

In an effort to address these problems, President Barack Obama recently released a Cyberspace Policy Review (http://www.whitehouse.gov/cybersecurity) and named Howard A. Schmidt "cyber czar" to coordinate these efforts.

On July 2, 2010, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) appealed to President Obama for his support to pass comprehensive cybersecurity legislation. Reid was joined by the six Senate committee chairs with jurisdiction over cybersecurity: Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI), Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein, (D-CA), Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA), Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), and Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT).

As those Senators wrote, "Executive branch leadership is key to the nation's cybersecurity and we are eager to hear your views on the optimal organizational structure, necessary updates and reforms to legislation and regulations governing communications networks and information systems, and additional authorities needed to facilitate effective government leadership and response to cyber threats and vulnerabilities."

The Livingston Group’s (TLG) Cybersecurity practice area addresses the myriad vulnerabilities that, if not addressed, will adversely affect key cornerstones to our economy. The practice area focuses on working with policy makers to enact strong new laws aimed at addressing this problem. The TLG team engages business entities, utilities, financial institutions and educational institutions, among others, to secure cyberspace.

One of TLG’s strengths is our working relationship with security policy makers in Congress and the executive branch. We are well positioned to help shape cybersecurity policy. Our team offers its considerable understanding and experience to our clients, ranging from intellectual property to weapons systems to infrastructure protection. TLG brings to this effort professionals with substantive knowledge and expertise in the areas of homeland security and cybersecurity

Lead Partner and Director

Bernie Robinson - served on Illinois Governor George Ryan's cabinet with responsibility for all federal affairs.  Mr. Robinson also served as Chief of Staff to Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA).  He established and led a 50 state government affairs program for Philip Morris USA from 1978 to 1984 and, from 1984 to 1990, Mr. Robinson was based in Lausanne, Switzerland as a member of a 13 person Philip Morris management team, with activities in 86 countries.
(info@livingstongroupdc.com)

TLG Team

Adam Eisgrau - is a leading Washington expert in intellectual property issues with more than two decades of wide-ranging experience in the private, public, and government sectors.  Mr. Eisgrau began his public policy career in 1992 as a fellow with Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ).   In 1993, he became Senator Dianne Feinstein’s (D-CA) chief Judiciary Committee Counsel, advising the Senator on issues such as intellectual property protec­tion, privacy, data security, product liability, bankruptcy reform, and immigration.

Stacie Walters Fujii - joined The Livingston Group from Congressman Vic Snyder’s (D-AR) office.  Ms. Fujii was a senior staffer for the Congressman and handled issues regarding the judiciary, banking, commerce, energy, homeland security, housing, science, Social Security, and telecommunications.

Geoff Gleason - has twenty-five years of congressional experience. Most recently, Mr. Gleason served as Appropriations Associate to Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA), then Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and State. Mr. Gleason spent ten years as Chief of Staff for Congressman Jerry Solomon (R-NY), former chairman of the House Rules Committee.  He also served as Chief of Staff to Congressman John Sweeney (R-NY), and on President Reagan's transition team.

Steven L. Kreseski - served as Chief of Staff to Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. during three successful legislative sessions.  He helped craft major policy and budgetary reforms for the state. Mr. Kreseski directed the creation of Maryland’s Office of Homeland Security, working closely with federal law enforcement, the state police and military unit, as well as local subdivisions.  He also was Chief of Staff and Legislative Director to then-Congressman Ehrlich (R-MD), during which he developed significant policy expertise with the committees on Commerce, Budget, Financial Services, and Government Reform - in particular with Government Reform's National Security subcommittee.

Richard L. Rodgers - coordinated the U.S. Navy's liaison effort with Senate and House Appropriations committees on the funding requirements for all Navy operations and procurement activities. Previously as Deputy Executive Secretary for the Secretary of Defense, Mr. Rodgers facilitated the coordination of positions and agenda for the Department of Defense.  During his 29 years of military service, Mr. Rodgers served in a wide variety of other leadership and command positions as a naval officer.

George P. Sigalos - handled government affairs for a top five U.S. defense contractor and represented over 500 small, medium, and large defense and other federal contractors at a prominent national trade association. Mr. Sigalos has extensive experience working with the congressional oversight committees related to defense and procurement in both the House and Senate.

Sharon Spigelmyer - joined the Livingston Group in 2010 after serving as a senior executive in the Office of Government Affairs for Accenture for 22 years.  She managed the company’s government affairs activities for its USA Federal Client Group, leading strategic efforts on a wide range of issues including homeland security, education, appropriations, defense, census, health care, and procurement.  Prior to joining Accenture, she served as Director of Risk Management and Human Resources for the National Association of Manufacturers and, before that, as a journalist and public relations executive.  She recently served as Chair of the Government Affairs Committee and the Procurement Policy Committee of TechAmerica. 

Dr. Anthony J. Tether - was the Director at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), responsible for management of the Agency's projects for high-payoff, innovative research and development.  Prior to DARPA, Dr. Tether founded The Sequoia Group, a firm that provided program management and strategy development services to government and industry.  He served as Chief Executive Officer for Dynamics Technology Inc.; Vice President of the Advanced Technology Sector for Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC); and as Vice President and General Manager for Range Systems.  Dr. Tether also spent six years as Vice President for Technology and Advanced Development at Ford Aerospace Corporation.  At the Department of Defense, he served as Director of National Intelligence in the Office of the Secretary of Defense.