Robert Lang, former Director of Homeland Security – Georgia Institute of Technology, leads this online session on “The Virtual Command Center” and Emergency Operation. This session provides a hands-on description of an emergency action plan utilizing a “virtual emergency operations center” in lieu of a “hardened” and cost prohibitive center for the National Incident Management System (NIMS). A detailed approach on how Georgia Tech created a virtual “Emergency Operations Center” utilizing existing resources as well being able to relocate the base of operations to respond. Conceptually, if the hardened command center is targeted, the response is nullified. Having a “virtual” operation means any location with either an internet connection or wireless connection to your IT backbone will enable the center. This can also be used in a satellite mode if all hardened internet infrastructure is taken out.
Robert Lang was the Director of Homeland Security at Georgia Tech University since 2003 but was responsible for this function since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. He was the Director of Research Security for Georgia Tech since 1988. Bob’s 30+ years in security has taken him from the FBI in Fort Lauderdale and Miami, Florida to the Lockheed Corporation in Marietta, Georgia, where he was the Plant Protection Manager, prior to going to Georgia Tech.
Bob has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Criminal Justice, is a graduate of the Lockheed-Emory University Management Institute, the Georgia Tech Management Institute, and has been a member of ASIS, International since 1981. For ASIS, he has been the Atlanta Chapter chair and has held numerous ASIS National positions including Standing Committee Chair for the Government Security Committee and member of the Standing Committee for Educational Institutions.
Bob was the responsible security person for all security planning at Georgia Tech for the 1996 Olympic Games and was a permanent member of the Olympic Security Support Group (OSSG) for the Games. He was awarded the runner-up for “Security Director of the Year from Access Control and Security Systems Magazine in 1998. He is a technical editor for Security Technology and Design Magazine having written many articles on emergency planning, access control, biometric access control and other security topics. He has also written for Building Operating Management magazine, where he is also a Contributing Editor, as well as the Journal of the National Association of College Auxiliary Services magazine. His latest article is “The Process of Developing a Disaster Resistant Facilityâ€, published in August, 2004, for Building Operating Management magazine.
Bob is also a member of Atlanta Metropol, Inc., a senior law enforcement management organization comprised of local, state and federal law enforcement officials, as well as senior private security directors and managers. Bob is Georgia Tech’s representative for the Infragard group, another FBI sponsored and directed security awareness group developed in support of anti-terrorist security prevention and response activities. He is also listed in Strathmore’s “Who’s Who†for 2004-2005.
