North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) on Tuesday announced that Bill Lawrence has been named vice president and chief security officer (CSO), and will officially step into the lead security role on August 16, 2018.

In his new role, Lawrence will be tasked with heading NERC's security programs executed through the Electricity Information Sharing and Analysis Center (E-ISAC), where he currently serves as senior director. He will also be responsible for directing security risk assessments and mitigation initiatives to protect critical electricity infrastructure across North America, the regulatory authority said. 

As VP and CSO, Lawrence will also lead coordination efforts with government agencies and stakeholders on cyber and physical security matters, including analysis, response and sharing of critical sector information, NERC said.

Lawrence joined NERC in July 2012 and has directed the development of NERC’s grid security exercise, GridEx.

A not-for-profit international regulatory authority formed to reduce risks to the reliability and security of the grid, NERC's jurisdiction includes owners and operators that serve more than 334 million people.

Lawrence is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, and flew F-14 Tomcats and F/A-18F Super Hornets for the U.S. Navy prior to joining NERC. He holds a master’s degree in International Relations from Auburn Montgomery and a master’s degree in Military Operational Art and Science from the Air Command and Staff College. 

NERC is subject to oversight by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and governmental authorities in Canada.

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