Chass Jones

Since early 2017, Chass Jones has served Oregon as the Protective Security Advisor (PSA), for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). In this capacity, Chass serves as a critical infrastructure security and resiliency subject matter expert and is the Department’s liaison with private, federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial organizations as well as other infrastructure mission partners. Additionally, Chass is responsible for the identification of critical infrastructure, analysis of interdependencies, and mitigation of consequences from potential all-hazards or man-made threats. PSAs perform vulnerability and security assessments on a variety of critical infrastructure to identify security gaps and vulnerabilities while coordinating training and mitigation techniques in support of special evexnts and during incidents. 

Prior to becoming a PSA, Chass served for over 4 years as a Department of Defense (DoD) technical expert on the Defense Critical Infrastructure Program (DCIP). Within that capacity, he supported the SecDef, NASA, & Joint Chiefs of Staff, leading DoD Mission Assurance (MA) Assessment Teams on assessments around the world analyzing critical missions and assessing reliance on infrastructure, such as electric power, petroleum/fuels, telecommunications, industrial systems, chemical, water and transportation.

In addition, in 2013 Chass deployed as a civilian with the Joint Program Office (JPO), Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) to Afghanistan serving as the J6 Information Technology/Information Assurance/ Communications Security Lead (IT/IA/COMSEC), and Information Management Officer Forward. In this role, Chass directed 53 DoD contractors located in Afghanistan, Kuwait, and the United States and was responsible for providing telecommunications and information technology support to JPO MRAP at 16 separate Forward Operating Bases in Afghanistan serving over 4500 DoD personnel. Prior to becoming, a MA Team Lead Chass served for over 2 years as a DoD Critical Infrastructure Sector Program Manager. Coordinating sector vulnerability assessments across 60 separate DoD components”to identify critical infrastructure, analyze interdependencies, capability gaps, and mission dependence on external non-DoD critical infrastructure.

Lastly, Chass served 22 years in the United States Army and the National Guard primarily as a US Army Scout and Pathfinder with an overseas tour supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Chass is the recipient of the Bronze Star and US Army Combat Infantry Badge for his combat experience and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his distinguished career upon his retirement in 2009.

Chass earned a Master’s Degree in Strategic Planning for Critical Infrastructures (MSPCI) from the University of Washington and Bachelor’s Degree in Management Information Systems from Eastern Washington University.

Presentation: Opening Remarks