Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany -- The Marine Corps Critical Infrastructure Program Pilot Critical Asset Risk Assessment, part of a Department of Defense-wide focus, is in the initial phase and a team of eight inspectors and three observers completed their review of critical Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany infrastructure recently
“Its purpose is to review and evaluate those mission-critical assets and supporting infrastructure that have been identified and the risks to them from all hazards and threats. This is not just anti-terrorism related,” said George Wolski, manager, Anti-terrorism Force Protection, Public Service Division, MCLB Albany.
The program consists of, among other items, a vulnerability and risk assessment of certain assets that have been identified as critical for the effective operation of MCLB Albany and Marine Corps Logistics Command. Other services within DoD are conducting similar assessments.
“We certainly have a history and tradition of conducting vulnerability-based assessments, but the move, at least in the terms of Department of Defense critical infrastructure program, has been to do a risk-based assessment to ultimately support efforts to manage risks to our critical assets and infrastructure,” said Jim Maxfield, critical infrastructure contract manager, Headquarters, Marine Corps.
The program considers hurricanes, tornados, fires, floods and earthquakes, commonly referred to as the “all hazards approach.” During the assessment, the team coordinates directly with those affected installation and tenant activities to discuss their missions and to identify impacts on the execution of those missions caused by loss or unavailability of those assets.
“There really is an operational focus on how operations are impacted by the loss of these things we call critical assets,” Maxfield explained.
Information gathered from the inspections will be reviewed to establish practices and procedures to better protect critical assets.
“The end result is to support the development process for the long-term management of risks to Marine Corps critical assets,” said Wolski.
“The pilot assessment does not require a report of corrective or remedial action during the pilot phase, but it does provide an awareness and understanding of risks to mission execution, and what to expect when it is no longer a pilot,” he added.