Speaker: David E. Kepler, Corporate Vice President and CIO
Event: The National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace Rollout Event
Location:
Date: 09/18/2002

Good morning. I'm David Kepler, and I thank you for inviting me to participate in this significant event, as you release the National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace for public comment. On behalf of the entire chemical industry, I thank you for your leadership in taking on this important initiative; it is truly a privilege to be here.

In more ways than most people realize, this sector represents an enabling industry that improves modern life. A $450 billion industry, chemicals and plastics are used to make more than 70,000 consumer and industrial products that surround us everyday. They save lives in the healthcare industry. They enrich our lives in the consumer electronics industry. They give us shelter and style in the home and building products industry. And they entertain, educate and communicate through a broad range of high technology innovations, from optical networking to powerful new microprocessors. It is chemistry in its many forms that enables American business to improve the lives of people.

Technology pervades nearly every aspect of life. As husband and father, I know the benefits of technology and information for my family must be balanced against its safe and secure use. As the CIO of The Dow Chemical Company, I have seen how technology can transform the way people work and live, enable business success and advance human progress. And as one of the leaders within the Chemical Sector, I am working with our industry experts in information and process control to redefine and enhance cybersecurity throughout the sector.

Ours is a spirit of collaboration. Together we can accomplish truly great things. That is why senior-level company officials from 12 trade associations representing more than 2,000 companies came together to enable secure business operations within the industry.

As we move into Strategy implementation, we will rely on this spirit that has allowed us to address so many important issues in the past.

Together, we are developing a program to foster involvement and commitment across our sector.

We will further establish industry-wide practices and standards to support overall sector cybersecurity.

We will drive adoption throughout the R&D pipeline and we have established an information-sharing network.

And, we will develop a program to advocate the establishment of sector practices and policies, encompassing the common and unique needs of all companies, from the largest to the smallest chemical producers and the markets they serve.

Our industry, like so many others, has embraced electronic technology for information and business transactions. The synergy between the chemical and IT industries will be even more important to the future, as we continue to rely on best-in-class technology to optimize plant operations, and enhance the depth and breadth of service we offer customers. We have already taken many strides to protect our information and keep our operations safe. The Chemical Sector Cybersecurity Program is a continuation of these efforts, one that is certain to benefit chemical companies, their employees, their communities and America as a whole.

As an integral part of overall security, cybersecurity will work hand in hand with the many other initiatives currently in development within the sector to protect not only our information and process control systems, but our physical assets as well.

We thank you for the opportunity to contribute to this very important initiative, one that will certainly improve the quality of life for Americans and our neighbors around the globe.