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Ohio Homeland Security (OHS) is a collaborative team of cohesive units who share the goal of protecting against acts of extremism, violence, and terrorism. Each OHS unit has specific expertise and resources, ensuring partners receive the most effective coordination towards the unified goal of protecting Ohioans, critical infrastructure, and other key resources. Ben’s presentation will provide an overview of the role of the Critical Infrastructure Program, security and vulnerability assessments, suspicious activity reports and active shooter response.
Ben Weisbrod is the Critical Infrastructure Protection Specialist for Northeast Ohio with Ohio Homeland Security, where he leads efforts to protect and enhance the resilience of critical infrastructure across the region. In his role, Ben coordinates vulnerability assessments, conducts security surveys, and provides expert consultation to government and private sector partners. He is also actively involved in outreach and training initiatives aimed at strengthening security measures for vulnerable sectors.
Ben’s career spans a wide range of public safety and emergency management roles. He began his law enforcement career with the United States Capitol Police, protecting the U.S. Capitol Complex during major events such as the 58th Presidential Inauguration, Joint Sessions of Congress, foreign dignitary visits, and instances of civil unrest. Following his service with the US Capitol Police, he transitioned to local law enforcement and later served as Director of a non-profit that provided essential resources to those in need.
Before his current role, Ben served as the Training Coordinator for the Ohio Emergency Management Agency, where he oversaw statewide training for emergency responders and helped coordinate high-profile exercises. He has also been a key contributor to the development of Ohio’s Integrated Preparedness Plan, significantly increasing training participation across the state.
Ben holds a Master of Science in Emergency Management from Jacksonville State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from The Ohio State University. He is a certified instructor for several FEMA and state emergency management courses and holds multiple certifications in infrastructure protection, homeland security, and crisis leadership.
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