Structurally Sound - Institute for Homeland Security

Structurally Sound - Institute for Homeland Security

Structurally Sound is a podcast produced by the Institute for Homeland Security (IHS) at Sam Houston State University. The podcast will be a game-changer for small to medium-sized businesses looking for the latest best practices in security and resilience. We want to inspire professionals like you to help you achieve your goals. New episodes are available on first and third Wednesdays each month!

Episodes

Trust & Crisis Communication in Agriculture with Blair Fannin

March 18, 2026 • 56 mins
Effective communication is all about cutting through the noise and providing accurate information - especially during a crisis. This week, we chat about agricultural crises, trust networks and a bit of farm economics with Blair Fannin, the media relations manager and disaster assessment and recovery public information officer for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
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Internet Infrastructure & Disconnecting Dissent

March 4, 2026 • 47 mins
A few months ago, when the Iranian government faced major nationwide protests, they turned off the internet for most of the population. Could that happen in the United States? This week, we chat with Dr. Karpoor Shashidhar and Dr. Cihan Varol of the computer science department at Sam Houston State about internet infrastructure at home and abroad. We also talk with Scott McHugh, program executive for the private sector at the I...
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Resilient Planning & The El Paso Airport Shutdown

February 16, 2026 • 51 mins
Let's imagine your company relies on a major transportation hub or port of entry. You get a call in the middle of the night - that hub is shut down for ten days. Do you know who to call? Do you have a plan?

Those aren't hypothetical questions for anyone in El Paso, where the airport was suddenly closed last week. It reopened after a few hours but it's a good example of the need for diversification and trust in your supp...
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AM Radio & Communication Resiliency with Oscar Rodriguez

February 4, 2026 • 30 mins
In a crisis, reliable and direct communication strategies are key - and sometimes old technology is the most robust. This week, we chat with Texas Association of Broadcasters President Oscar Rodriguez about AM radio's resiliency during disasters, and why Congress is interested in preserving car radios.
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Bridging the Gap Between IT & OT with Joe Weiss

January 28, 2026 • 50 mins
How secure are your physical devices? Are they engineered to be cyber-secure overall, or is the focus on protecting data? This week, we chat with Joe Weiss, a managing partner at Applied Control Solutions, about building inroads and translations between the different worlds of IT, OT and engineering.
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Risk-Based Wildfire Preparation with Joel Hambright

January 21, 2026 • 45 mins
Fighting wildfires is all about risk management - weather patterns, wind strength, fuel conditions and equipment locations all play a role in planning and prevention. AI and emerging technology could make a big difference, too. This week, we chat with Joel Hambright, the longtime Regional Operations Chief for region four of the Texas A&M Forest service, about forestry management and risk mitigation.
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Metrics & Communication with Dave Komendat

January 14, 2026 • 43 mins
It's tough to measure things that don't happen, especially in dollars and cents, but a quantitative approach and well-honed communication skills go a long way. This week, we chat with Dave Komendat, a retired vice president and chief security officer for Boeing and a member of the inaugural Hall of Fame Speaker series at our Thought Leaders Conference last fall. We're also joined by IHS Program Executive Scott McHugh...
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Sovereign AI & Emerging Critical Infrastructure with Dr. Jason Davis

January 7, 2026 • 46 mins
We're accustomed to prioritizing energy independence as a national security concern. Is the infrastructure for artificial intelligence also becoming critical? This week, we chat with Jason Davis, a research professor and co-director of the Emerging Insights Lab at Syracuse University, about sovereign AI and the broad infrastructure it requires. We also touch on articles about data centers and related power plants and water con...
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Communication & Critical Storytelling with Kirsten Meskill

December 3, 2025 • 43 mins
Exemplary corporate security begins with effective communication - knowing your audience, knowing when to be direct and when to tell a compelling story. This week, we chat with Kirsten Meskill, the Chief Security Officer at Solventum and the second in our Hall of Fame Speaker Series following our Thought Leaders Conference in October.
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Considering the Ceasefire in Gaza with Dr. Nadav Morag

November 25, 2025 • 51 mins
How has the war between Israel and Hamas affected the Middle East and the United States? What's next for Gaza, and what can the conflict teach us about intelligence and critical infrastructure? This week, we chat with Dr. Nadav Morag, a professor and chair of the Security Studies department at Sam Houston State as well as a former senior director for Israel's National Security Council, about the war and what might come next.
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Intentionality, Stretching & Bringing the Outside In with Jim Hutton

November 12, 2025 • 37 mins
What makes a great chief security officer, or chief information security officer? It's not only about security knowledge - intentionality, agility and personnel development all play a big role. This week, we chat with Jim Hutton, a former CSO for Procter & Gamble and other major companies as well as a member of the inaugural Hall of Fame Speaker series at our recent Thought Leaders conference. We're also joined by IHS Prog...
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Modern Drones - UASs, UAPs & TLAs with Art Wolfskill

November 4, 2025 • 44 mins
If you put the right camera on a drone, it can spot cracks in a rooftop or nitrogen levels in crops, among other versatile and positive uses. If you're up to no good, though, the same drone could cause plenty of problems for public- and private-sector critical infrastructure operators. This week, we chat with Dr. Art Wolfskill, professor and head of the agribusiness program at Sam Houston State, about the benefits and risks of...
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Reslient Planning and Foresight with Julio Gonzalez

October 21, 2025 • 47 mins
Safety, security and resilience require planning and agility. They also require partnerships both within a company and between private and public groups - especially in critical infrastructure. This week, we chat with Julio Gonzalez, the CEO of Sentinel Resilience Group, about building resilient frameworks and avoiding silos.
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Introducing the 2025 Thought Leaders Conference

October 1, 2025 • 32 mins
Most critical infrastructure is operated by private companies, not the government - and those corporations are facing existential threats emerging from cybersecurity, social media and international adversaries. This week, IHS Program Executive Scott McHugh and IHS Coordinator Shelby Payne introduce our upcoming Thought Leaders Conference featuring seasoned leaders innovating solutions and strategies for those threats. More inf...
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Embracing the Nuclear Renaissance with Robin Gaster & Rob Crane

September 17, 2025 • 41 mins
Historically, nuclear energy has faced two major obstacles - it's expensive and scary. Both may be changing rapidly. This week, we chat with Robin Gaster, the research director for the Center for Clean Energy Innovation at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, about how small modular reactors could make nuclear power more affordable and accessible at home and abroad. We also talk about shifting public opinion a...
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Before, During and After a Crisis, with Justen Noakes

August 3, 2025 • 38 mins
All disasters are local. Disaster preparation often comes down to reliable information and accessible routine. This week, we chat with Justen Noakes, the Executive Director of Before/During/After and HEB's former "hurricane guy," about how an accessible and localized information hub can help small business plan, react and recover from crises. Noakes has also written a research paper for IHS on supply chain management and problem so...
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Avoiding Freight Fraud with Matthew Wood

July 20, 2025 • 56 mins
We all depend on products delivered by trucks. Shipping industries are a vital part of critical infrastructure at risk of unique scams and fraud - even when goods themselves make it from Point A to Point B just fine. This week, we chat with Matthew Wood, vice president of strategic relationships and general manager of Cedar Bluff Companies, about proactive steps to detect and avoid freight fraud. You can also learn more f...
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Farewell Grant

July 14, 2025 • 30 mins
This week, we give a fond send off to Grant Threat, transportation project manager and podcast co-host extraordinaire, who is moving to a new role in critical infrastructure. We also chat a bit about the devastating flooding in Kerrville, Texas. Here's a list of charities collecting donations: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/where-to-donate-help-central-texas-flood-recovery/
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Monitoring, Measuring & Regulating AI in Critical Infrastructure with Michael Echols

June 16, 2025 • 44 mins
Artificial intelligence is evolving rapidly, emerging in a variety of programs and technologies in critical infrastructure. Michael Echols from MAX Cybersecurity argues that adoption needs to be measurable and intentional - not surprising or under the radar. We also touch on news that AI programs can decline instructions to shut down and Echol's book on cybersecurity and his new book on AI.
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Digital Transformation & Innovation Strategy with Nadia Vincent

June 2, 2025 • 42 mins
Embracing new technology brings risks and rewards. On the one hand, adopting the right emerging tech and tools can enhance, elevate and streamline your business. On the other hand, adopting the wrong new tools can be expensive and burdensome for employees or customers. The key is strategy - planning deliberately, not hopping on a bandwagon. This week, we explore that strategy in the transportation sector with digital transform...
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