"What are America’s Critical Infrastructure Sectors – and, why are they so important?"

Beverly A. Scott, Ph.D., Founder, Introducing Youth to American Infrastructure+ (Iyai+)

As I speak about the critical importance of collective interest, active participation, and increased investment in our nation’s critical infrastructure sectors, I am frequently asked: What are the nation’s critical infrastructure sectors? They are defined in Presidential Policy Directive 21, PPD-21; www.dhs.gov/cisa/critical-infrastructure-sectors, and listed below.

“There are 16 critical infrastructure sectors whose assets, systems, and networks, whether physical or virtual are considered so vital to the United States that their incapacitation or destruction would have a debilitating effect on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination thereof.”

ALL are important!

The nation’s Transportation, Energy, Water/Wastewater, and Communications Sectors (* below) have been identified as the critical lifeline sectors.   For starters, iyai+ is placing  its programming emphasis in these key areas and the closely associated critical manufacturing sector  – moving forward to include the food/agriculture, healthcare/public health, and financial services  sectors – all of which directly impact people and communities of all sizes on a daily basis.   Coupled with supporting every aspect of overall tech-readiness, the importance of which cannot be overstated.

Transportation Systems Sector*

Critical Manufacturing Sector

Information Technology Sector

Defense Industrial Base Sector

Energy Sector*

Food and Agriculture Sector

Chemical Sector

Emergency Services Sector

Water and Wastewater Systems*

Healthcare and Public Health Sector

Commercial Facilities Sector

Government Facilities Sector

Communications Sector*

Financial Services Sectors

Dams Sector

Our nation’s critical infrastructure sectors directly impact both our personal and collective quality of life and overall national security.  All of us have a role and a stake in ensuring that we have the very “best in class” infrastructure and services – physical/cyber and people-readiness – across ALL of our communities – regardless of size or geography.

At iyai+, we believe that nation and community-building is lifetime work – and, that our critical infrastructure sectors are vitally important to real-world outcomes for people and communities that matter to their daily lives.

In our work, we are committed to do all that we can to help leave a better and brighter future for all Americans, focus on inclusion for those people and communities that have been historically under-represented and marginalized; and sowing the seeds of personal responsibility and the importance of civic participation for future generations.

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