Insights for Systems Security Engineering from Multilayer Network Models

ABSTRACT

Next-generation systems security engineering approaches for high consequence facilities (HCF) need to address challenges stemming from complex risk environments, innovative adversaries, and disruptive technologies. Key insights from complexity, systems, and network theories--and support from subject matter expert (SME) elicited empirical data--support using a multilayer network model for HCF security to address these challenges. Early results of modeling HCF security system performance in terms of multilayer network characteristics seemed to meet the needs expressed in the SME data, provide a suite of mathematically tractable metrics to describe more complex security behaviors, and align with characteristics related to incorporating systems security engineering into the future of systems engineering.

BIO

Adam D. Williams is a Principal R&D System Engineer in the Center for Global Security and Cooperation at Sandia National Laboratories. There, Dr. Williams serves as the Asia/East Asia Lab Regional Coordinator for the National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) Office of International Nuclear Security (INS), as well as principal investigator and subject matter expert on research projects for evaluating vulnerabilities in cyber-physical nuclear systems, managing complex risk in the nuclear fuel cycle, and exploring alternatives for the future of the U.S. Cooperative Threat Reduction program. Dr. Williams is also a systems-theoretic analysis expert supporting various projects, including for Laboratory Directed R&D (LDRD), Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and NNSA initiatives. His areas of expertise includes system-theoretic approaches to managing complex risk, nuclear security, physical protection system development/analysis, global security engagement and nuclear nonproliferation. His work has been published by IEEE, INCOSE, the Journal of Nuclear Materials Management, and the Nonproliferation Review.

During his time at Sandia, Dr. Williams has been involved in numerous nuclear security-related projects, including conducting vulnerability assessments, designing physical protection systems and planning other international security engagement projects across programs within the NNSA and U.S. Department of State. He also served as project manager for the Gulf Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Institute in Abu Dhabi and was the Physical Protection lead for the US delegation charged with assisting in the development of the "Joint China/US Center of Excellence in Nonproliferation and Nuclear Security."

Dr. Williams earned his PhD in the Engineering Systems: Human-Systems Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2018. He also has an M.A. in international affairs the George Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University (TAMU) in 2007 and graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from TAMU in 2004. He and his wife, Emily, have three sons and welcomed their first daughter at the end of 2020.