ANNUAL MISSION FOCUS

Greetings and happy holidays to our members, sector chiefs, sponsors, and partners throughout the State of New Hampshire.  As we approach the end of the year, I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for your contributions to New Hampshire as a member of our chapter and in your professional work throughout the state.  Your dedication and continued belief in the value of information and intelligence sharing have imbued InfraGard with the talent and energy required to sustain our mission of collaboration through public-private partnerships for over two decades.

Since 2019, InfraGard NH’s new membership ranks have grown 43%, expanding our network and intelligence-gathering capabilities throughout New Hampshire.  Our chapter now represents businesses, academic institutions, state and local law enforcement agencies, and other participants dedicated to gathering and sharing information and intelligence to prevent hostile acts against the citizens of our region and the United States of America.

This year we plan to continue expanding our membership and deepen our cooperation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and state information-sharing agencies.  To accomplish this, we have formally kicked off our 2023 Sector Chief’s Program to focus our outreach within the critical infrastructure sectors more actively. We are also supported by our first Platinum Sponsor, Right Networks, and have continued to add talent and leadership capabilities to our board of directors.

In alignment with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, I am privileged to announce our 2023 mission areas to focus your data collection and sharing efforts as we enter the new year.  Our mission will consist of the following four areas:

1.     Cybersecurity Attacks, Disruption, and Cyber-Terrorism against U.S. and New Hampshire critical infrastructure.  InfraGard NH represents a potent tool in the data collection and sharing regarding cyber-attacks, including tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), and specialized preventative engineering that, when combined with our federal partners, can make a significant impact on both the residents and the institutions we protect. In partnership with the FBI and local law enforcement, it is a core part of our mission in 2023 to help reduce cyber disruption, fraud, and extortion within our state.

2.     Human Trafficking within our state and online.  Because many of the signs of human trafficking include both real-world and electronic elements, InfraGard NH will focus on enhancing our data-sharing network for physical and electronic signs of human trafficking throughout New Hampshire.  In partnership with the FBI and local law enforcement, it is now a core part of our mission in 2023 to help reduce human trafficking within our state.

3.     Homemade explosive devices, including 3D printed devices capable of delivering lethal payloads.  Advancements in 3D printing technology aiding in manufacturing homemade explosive devices and ghost firearms remain a priority for our federal law enforcement partners. InfraGard NH has deep capabilities throughout our membership to monitor sources of 3D printing files and communications about the user and advancement of such devices.  In 2023 we will aim to provide this intelligence to our federal law enforcement partners efficiently.

4.     Drug Trafficking, including the distribution and use of controlled substances. It should not come as a surprise to read the announcement of a mission focus area aiding our law enforcement partners in reducing the distribution, manufacture, and use of illegal substances in New Hampshire.  With NH-based drug-related and overdose deaths on the rise, it is critical that we turn our attention to this threat.

For members new to InfraGard or who have not previously read our yearly mission focus statement, please consider that these four areas of focus are your opportunity to collect and share critical data and be part of the intelligence process.  We have established channels of communication for receiving raw intelligence from you and your companies and will work to bring that intelligence to state and federal-level briefings where it can be vetted and actioned.

As a member of InfraGard, you represent one of the largest and most capable data-sharing networks in New Hampshire.  Thanks to your continued dedication, the opportunity to participate in our intelligence network and help protect the state is once again renewed for a new year.  I look forward to communicating with you often and working with you in the months ahead to deliver on our mission for 2023.

Very Respectfully,

Jason J. Sgro
President, InfraGard NH