FERC’s failure to protect America’s electric grid: A national security blind spot
On October 1, 2024, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) delivered its long-awaited decision: it denied the complaint that was...
Douglas Ellsworth
Senior Fellow, Co-Director of the Secure the Grid (STG) Coalition
As a Senior Fellow at the Center for Security Policy, Douglas Ellsworth serves as the Co-Director of the Center-sponsored Secure the Grid (STG) Coalition - an ad hoc group of policy, energy, and national security experts, legislators, and industry insiders who are dedicated to strengthening the resilience of America’s electrical grid.
Through the support of the Center for Security Policy, the STG Coalition aims to raise awareness about the national security threat of grid vulnerability, and encourage the steps needed to neutralize it. The STG Coalition brings a wide variety of expertise in cybersecurity, physical security, public policy and expressly serves the public interest. Doug’s most recent work as the Co-Director of STG Coalition includes drafting formal comments for the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board (SEAB) and formal motions to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), including a notable “Petition for Rulemaking” that was solely responsible for opening federal docket number EL23-69, which addressed the insufficiency of physical security at keystone electric utility substations.
Professional Background:
In 1974, Doug began his career in finance, diving into the highly leveraged world of exchange-traded stock options at a time when they were a groundbreaking trading vehicle. However, Doug soon pivoted towards a value-oriented investment strategy, influenced by the principles of Benjamin Graham. Using a modified quantitative approach, Doug's investments and speculations became his sole source of income. By the mid-1980s, his successes had garnered a measure of national recognition, leading to numerous appearances on prominent financial media outlets, including the Financial News Network (now CNBC).
By the 1990s, Doug’s entrepreneurial ventures had taken a turn toward business leadership. An investment in a private enterprise presented challenges, prompting Doug to take control of the company to stem losses and curb excessive spending. Under his direction, the business returned to profitability and secured small defense contracts. Notably, Doug administered the maintenance and repair of TEMPEST-certified microcomputer systems at the renowned underground headquarters of the Strategic Air Command (later transitioning to U.S. Strategic Command).
Following the sale of certain assets from this enterprise, Doug retained a division which he renamed Secure Communications Corporation. The company secured an exclusive nationwide contract from a major defense contractor to develop a commercial market for a cutting-edge network security system used by the National Security Agency and other federal agencies. Doug’s expertise was further solidified during this time through his writings on Intrusion Detection Systems, which have been cited as authority internationally by esteemed academic institutions such as Columbia University and the University of Sheffield (UK), as well as major corporations like ING Group, N.V., and in peer-reviewed IEEE presentations by faculty of an Asian aeronautical university.
Throughout the 1990s, Doug continued to make his mark as a private consultant, conducting in-depth corporate financial examinations for private enterprises and even a federal housing authority. His meticulous analysis combined with “street savvy” led to the identification of fraudulent activities, resulting in guilty verdicts in financial fraud cases adjudicated in state and federal courts. He also directed efforts to enhance the security of sensitive information, focusing on the physical layer of data protection.
The events of September 11, 2001, marked a pivotal shift in Doug’s career focus. Along with colleagues from his defense contracting days, he co-founded an educational organization, USAPACT, though only the domain name survives today. In 2015, Doug became actively involved as a volunteer with the Secure the Grid Coalition, an initiative of the Center for Security Policy. He initially provided backup support to the Coalition's director, Tommy Waller, and later served as Acting Director for nine months. Following Waller’s promotion to President and CEO of the Center for Security Policy, Doug was appointed as a Co-Director of the Coalition. Among other responsibilities, Doug compiles a comprehensive “Rollup” summary of the Coalition’s Membership’s weekly teleconferences and curates topically relevant studies and news items.
As a Senior Fellow at the Center for Security Policy, Douglas Ellsworth serves as the Co-Director of the Center-sponsored Secure the Grid (STG) Coalition - an ad hoc group of policy, energy, and national security experts, legislators, and industry insiders who are dedicated to strengthening the resilience of America’s electrical grid.
Through the support of the Center for Security Policy, the STG Coalition aims to raise awareness about the national security threat of grid vulnerability, and encourage the steps needed to neutralize it. The STG Coalition brings a wide variety of expertise in cybersecurity, physical security, public policy and expressly serves the public interest. Doug’s most recent work as the Co-Director of STG Coalition includes drafting formal comments for the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board (SEAB) and formal motions to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), including a notable “Petition for Rulemaking” that was solely responsible for opening federal docket number EL23-69, which addressed the insufficiency of physical security at keystone electric utility substations.
Professional Background:
In 1974, Doug began his career in finance, diving into the highly leveraged world of exchange-traded stock options at a time when they were a groundbreaking trading vehicle. However, Doug soon pivoted towards a value-oriented investment strategy, influenced by the principles of Benjamin Graham. Using a modified quantitative approach, Doug's investments and speculations became his sole source of income. By the mid-1980s, his successes had garnered a measure of national recognition, leading to numerous appearances on prominent financial media outlets, including the Financial News Network (now CNBC).
By the 1990s, Doug’s entrepreneurial ventures had taken a turn toward business leadership. An investment in a private enterprise presented challenges, prompting Doug to take control of the company to stem losses and curb excessive spending. Under his direction, the business returned to profitability and secured small defense contracts. Notably, Doug administered the maintenance and repair of TEMPEST-certified microcomputer systems at the renowned underground headquarters of the Strategic Air Command (later transitioning to U.S. Strategic Command).
Following the sale of certain assets from this enterprise, Doug retained a division which he renamed Secure Communications Corporation. The company secured an exclusive nationwide contract from a major defense contractor to develop a commercial market for a cutting-edge network security system used by the National Security Agency and other federal agencies. Doug’s expertise was further solidified during this time through his writings on Intrusion Detection Systems, which have been cited as authority internationally by esteemed academic institutions such as Columbia University and the University of Sheffield (UK), as well as major corporations like ING Group, N.V., and in peer-reviewed IEEE presentations by faculty of an Asian aeronautical university.
Throughout the 1990s, Doug continued to make his mark as a private consultant, conducting in-depth corporate financial examinations for private enterprises and even a federal housing authority. His meticulous analysis combined with “street savvy” led to the identification of fraudulent activities, resulting in guilty verdicts in financial fraud cases adjudicated in state and federal courts. He also directed efforts to enhance the security of sensitive information, focusing on the physical layer of data protection.
The events of September 11, 2001, marked a pivotal shift in Doug’s career focus. Along with colleagues from his defense contracting days, he co-founded an educational organization, USAPACT, though only the domain name survives today. In 2015, Doug became actively involved as a volunteer with the Secure the Grid Coalition, an initiative of the Center for Security Policy. He initially provided backup support to the Coalition's director, Tommy Waller, and later served as Acting Director for nine months. Following Waller’s promotion to President and CEO of the Center for Security Policy, Doug was appointed as a Co-Director of the Coalition. Among other responsibilities, Doug compiles a comprehensive “Rollup” summary of the Coalition’s Membership’s weekly teleconferences and curates topically relevant studies and news items.
Chain of command, meet supply chain
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Secure the Grid Coalition, along with former Speaker Gingrich, urge federal government to enhance grid security
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