Smart Grid Security Lead at FERC
Utilities | Washington D.C. Metro Area, US
MR. JASON D. CHRISTOPHER is the Technical Lead for Smart Grid Security at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). He is a representative on the Federal Smart Grid Task Force (SGTF) and the Smart Grid Interoperability Panel-Cyber Security Working Group (SGIP-CSWG). Independent of his work at the Commission, Jason is a member on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE-USA) Energy Policy, Communications Policy, and Research & Development Policy Committees. For nearly four years, Jason has focused on the development of reliability and cyber security standards for the nation's power grid. His responsibilities at the Commission include providing technical leadership on reliability and security issues relevant to smart grid systems.
Prior to FERC, Mr. Christopher worked on a variety of infrastructure projects, particularly in the field of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) design and implementation. He has also researched and designed power systems focusing on delivering renewable energy on both distribution and transmission networks utilizing energy storage, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and microgrid technology.
Outside of the workplace, Jason focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education issues. He has lectured at several universities across the country and developed cross-disciplinary courses focusing on sustainable energy and community design.
Specialties: FERC-approved Reliability Standards, control system cyber security, smart grid concept, renewable energy, sustainable community development, energy conservation, STEM education
2008 - Present
Electrical Engineer, Technical Lead for Smart Grid Security / FERC
I currently have multiple responsibilities at FERC focusing on electrical reliability. I have been involved in various mission-critical assignments for the Commission, including the development of NERC reliability and cyber security standards on both the national and regional levels.
I am also a technical lead for FERC's Smart Grid initiative, the ultimate goal of which is to provide the nation with direction on advanced power grid technologies-- combining current information technology (broadband communications, smart controls and automation, and more end-user participation) with existing legacy systems. As a technical lead, I manage the smart grid security team, which consists of engineers, cyber security specialists, and energy industry analysts. The team's primary objective is to provide guidance to the Commission on various cyber security concerns as they pertain smart grid systems.
2007 -
2008
Research and Project Manager / Cornell University
Linked to my work in Hawaii, I created and managed the CU Green Sustainability Group, consisting of over 20 students and professors from 9 different fields of study, to research green technologies as integrated products for new business ventures. The primary goal of this group was to create a sustainable development on the Big Island of Hawaii utilizing smart grid technologies, such as Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), solar and wind generation, and advanced energy storage techniques. These engineering practices had to be seamlessly combined with sustainable architecture and landscape architecture practices, as well as green community planning and urban design. As project manager, I had to manage daily operations for the team—including lab supervision, budgeting, research direction, and recruitment. Due to the complex nature of working within academia on a private consulting project, I also lectured for several Cornell University courses regarding a multitude of research topics within sustainability.
2007 -
2008
Technical Lead, Independent Contractor / The Kohala Center
In order to bridge the research in academia to real-life problems faced on Hawaii, I managed and conducted the technical research with academic partners and merged it with business projects on the Big Island. This resulted in a series of designs for a "bleeding edge" smart grid mixed-use (residential and industrial) community. The project linked multiple universities and government agencies to socioeconomic and environmental issues in Hawaii.
2007 -
2007
Engineer / Taitem Engineering
As an engineer specializing in energy systems, I performed energy audits for homes and businesses in Upstate New York. I also aided in the design options of LEED certified buildings (a Buddhist monastery, child day care center, and brewery company, to name a few) and created software models for solar energy usage and passive heating. Other projects included research into biofuel solutions for local governments, high efficiency hydronic systems, and distributed power generation.
2004 -
2007
Engineer / New York City Department of Enivormental Protection
During my time at the New York City DEP, I managed multiple tasks and programs pertaining to the city's wastewater infrastructure and associated supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system. Tasks included monitoring the data acquisition system and inspecting and repairing logic controllers and their corresponding CDMA or GPRS modems at various sites. I also contributed to the various contracts in place for implementing new SCADA system technology. Other responsibilities included creating pilot programs to ensure the success of the Federal Clean Water Act of 1972 within New York City.
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2006
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2007
Cornell University
Master of Engineering
in
Electrical Engineering, Power Systems, Renewable Energy
Activities: IEEE
State University of New York at Binghamton
Bachelor of Science
in
Computer Engineering
Activities: IEEE, SHPE, SWE