Overview[]
The National Infrastructure Assurance Council (NIAC) was created by Executive Order 13231 of October 16, 2001 and amended by Executive Order 13286 of February 28, 2003, Executive Order 13385 of September 29, 2005, Executive Order 13446 of September 28, 2007, and Executive Order 13511 of September 29, 2009. The Council is composed of not more than 30 members, appointed by the President, who are selected from the private sector, academia, and state and local government, representing senior executive leadership expertise from the critical infrastructure and key resource areas as delineated in Homeland Security Presidential Directive 7.
The NIAC provides the President, through the Secretary of Homeland Security, with advice on the security of critical infrastructures, both physical and cyber, supporting sectors of the economy. It also has the authority to provide advice directly to the heads of other agencies that have shared responsibility for critical infrastructure protection, including the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Transportation, and Department of Energy. The NIAC is charged to improve the cooperation and partnership between the public and private sectors in securing the critical infrastructures and advises on policies and strategies that range from risk assessment and management to information sharing to protective strategies and clarification on roles and responsibilities between public and private sectors.