Abstract:
America's economic vitality and national security are dependent upon a vast network of highly complex critical infrastructures and key resources (CIKR). These infrastructures support supply chains that produce and distribute energy, enable communications, control transportation, ensure the availability of food and water, and service and support every activity that has come to define and empower the Nation.

The private sector owns and operates 85% of the Nation's CIKR and drives more than 90% of its supply chains. However, the public sector, which does not have a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of these CIKR and the intricacies of these supply chains, is responsible for homeland security and minimizing the loss of life and property during disasters. Businesses have little voice in decisions made by the public sector in times of crisis; information is available but rarely shared systematically between these sectors. As collaboration remains limited, neither sector's emergency plans draw upon the strength and systems of the other.

Based on the lessons learned from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, and more recently during hurricanes Gustav and Ike, the NIMSAT Institute seeks to advance the essential role of the private sector, across the disaster lifecycle, in enhancing national resiliency. The Institute aims to support and strengthen strategic partnerships between key public and private entities, at all levels, leveraging national assets and partners for action and support throughout the country.

Biography:
Dr. Ramesh Kolluru is the Executive Director of the National Incident Management Systems and Advanced Technologies (NIMSAT) Institute at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Established based on the lessons learned from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, the NIMSAT Institute is a national-scale partnership that comprises over 30 organizations from across 16 states in the U.S. The Institute seeks to enhance national resiliency to a full range of potential disasters by conducting research leading to cutting edge tools and applications that empower the homeland security and emergency management (HSEM) community through education, training, and operational support. Dr. Kolluru and the NIMSAT team supported the State of Louisiana during Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008 by strengthening and facilitating the response and relationship between the private and public sectors, coordinating and expediting the delivery of services and goods to affected communities, and analyzing and capturing the post storm economic impact to Louisiana.s critical infrastructure and key resources.

His research has resulted in 14 technology licenses and has generated more than $35M in research funding from federal and states agencies and the private sector. He is the recipient of the Governor.s Technology Leader of the Year Award for 2007 and has been instrumental in the development of various technology-based economic development initiatives, working across multiple administrations in the State of Louisiana. In addition to making presentations at various regional and national forums, he has authored 50 papers in journals, transactions, and conferences. His additional responsibilities at the University include serving as the Director of the Center for Business and Information Technologies and the Assistant Vice-President for Research and Graduate Studies at UL Lafayette, leading the university.s technology transfer and commercialization efforts.