UT Dallas Syllabus For Crim5359.501.09f Taught by Nicolas Valcik (Nvalcik)

PA 5359 – 501: Protecting Critical Resources and
Infrastructure
Program in Public Affairs School of Economic, Fall 2009
Political & Policy Sciences
Nicolas A. Valcik, Ph.D. Office: MP 2.234

972-883-6190 Office Hours: By Appointment
nvalcik@utdallas.edu Course Room: GR 3.604
Day and Time of Course: Thursday 7:00 P.M. –
9:45 P.M.
Course Prerequisites: None
Course Summary
Since 2001 there has been a large amount of interest in the subject of homeland security
for public organizations due to recent world events (i.e. 9/11, U.S. Embassy attack in
Turkey etc.). However homeland security issues have been known long before 9/11 and
infrastructure and asset protection is not a new concept. There has been a long history of
infrastructure and asset protection that dates back to the beginning of human civilization
(i.e. the Greeks, Romans, Middle Ages etc.) Protecting one’s civilization is dependent on
how a civilization protects infrastructure and its assets from being damaged,
compromised or destroyed. Infrastructure and assets can consist of physical attributes (i.e.
roads, bridges and factories) or intellectual attributes (i.e. secret technology such as
atomic power). This course will require students to learn various theories of how to
respond to potential threats to a public organizations infrastructure and assets as well as
take preventative steps that can potentially mitigate damage and/or destruction to critical
infrastructure or assets.
Course Description
This course will focus on realistic situations that a manager could very well face in the
workplace. While some situations presented to the students may seem extreme, the case
studies will be representative of a situation that a manager would be required to make a
set of decisions on an issue an implement a solution. The students will be required to
work on case studies (10 of them) presented and offer a viable and realistic solution to the
problems that are in the projects. There will also be a mid term project and a final project
that the students will be expected to complete during the course of study. Students will be
expected to present documents that are coherent to the instructor using proper English
and spellings. Students are expected to actively participate in class, completed assigned
readings before class and have assignments to the instructor by the assigned date. The
instructor will contact students by UT-Dallas email, so students are expected to check
their official email on a regular basis.
Student Learning Objectives/Outcomes
In this course the students will obtain the following objectives to receive a passing grade
for PA 5359.
1. Have an understanding of homeland security issues for public organizations;
2. Be able to analyze and resolve applied issues in public organizations for protecting
infrastructure and assets;
3. Have the ability to communicate effectively resolutions of homeland security issues to

other employees and managers.
Course Conduct
Students will be expected to abide in a professional manner towards the professor and
fellow students. Any student that does not act in a professional manner will be asked to
leave and can receive a zero on a mini project grade for each infraction. Please keep
your laptops and cell phones out of sight and turned off. These devices tend to be
disruptive in a classroom and are not needed for PA 5359.
Required Texts
1. Macaulay, Tyson, 2009. Critical Infrastructure: Understanding Its Component Parts,

Vulnerabilities, Operating Risks, and Interdependencies, ISBN978-1-4200-6835-1,
Taylor & Francis, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. (MT = in syllabus)
2. Valcik, Nicolas, 2009. “Emergency Management Case Study” copy packet at The
University of Texas at Dallas Bookstore. (VN = in syllabus)
3. Perrow, Charles, . The Next Catastrophe, ISBN: 0691004129, Princeton University

Press, Princeton, NJ. (PC = in syllabus)
4. Lesser, Ian O., Hoffman, Bruce, Arquilla, John, Ronfeldt, David, Zanini, Michelle,
1999. Countering the New Terrorism. ISBN: 0-8330-2667-4, RAND Project Air
Force, Santa Monica, California. (LI – in syllabus)
5. Falkenrath, Richard A., Newman, Robert D., and Thayer, Bradley A., 1998. America’s
Achilles Heel: Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Terrorism and Covert Attack, ISBN:
0-262-56118-2, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, John F. Kennedy
School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. (FR-In
syllabus)
Recommended Texts
1. Strunk, William Jr., and White, E.B. 1979. Elements of Style. Third Edition. ISBN 0-
02-418190-0, Macmillian Publishing Co., Inc. New York, New York.
2. Webb, Eugene J., Campbell, Donald T., Schwartz, Richard D., and Sechrest, Lee,
1971. Unobtrusive Measures: Nonreactive Research in the Social Sciences. Library of
Congress Card Number: 66-10806, Rand McNally, Chicago, Illinois. (WE = in
syllabus)
Grades
A = 100 – 90 B = 89 – 80 C = 79 – 70 F = below 60
Grade Breakdown
Case Studies - 30% Mid Term Project – 30%

Final Research Project – 30% Participation – 10%
If the student is going to be absent when an assignment is due, the student must
make contact with the instructor prior to when the assignment is due to receive any
potential consideration for a late assignment. Assignments that are turned in late will
be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the instructor to determine if the reason merits
flexibility for acceptance of the assignment. The students will receive a zero for any work
not turned in by the due date that has not been cleared by the instructor. Think about this
clause of the syllabus in terms of what an employer would view your output or effort. It is
highly advised that students meet the deadlines as assigned. The printer ran out of ink or
MS Word was down are not valid reasons.
Remember this is your grade and it is your responsibility to ensure assignments are
turned into the instructor by the assigned date. No one is entitled to a particular grade.
Your grade is determined by your work output.
Case Studies
Each student will be required to work on 10 case studies on selected issues taken from the
case studies provided. These projects should be around two pages each. An example of a
memo is at the end of the syllabus. Please make sure to answer the questions thoroughly.
The solutions to the case study memos should be comprehensive and should
communicate the issue and resolution (or answer) effectively to the instructor.
If it is obvious reading assignments are not being completed a pop quiz may be
substituted in place of any mini project!
Mid Term Research Project
This is a 10 page assignment. You must use a situation that has occurred to a public
organization in regard to infrastructure and/or assets being damaged, destroyed or
compromised. The first page should describe the public organization and a summary of
the incident that occurred.
The next three pages should have a risk assessment on additional potential vulnerabilities
that may exist with your chosen organization. The other six pages should be used to
develop a plan to protect the additional vulnerabilities that you have previously discussed
as well as discuss the type of threats that could exist to threaten those vulnerabilities.
The assignment needs to be well written and your answers need to be supported with
either assigned readings or external support. The questions need to be answered
completely.
Final Research Project
This is a 10 page assignment. The final project will build upon what you have already
completed at the midterm. You must use the same organization that you used for your
midterm project. This time you must develop a mitigation plan to help limit or prevent
the initial vulnerability in the infrastructure or assets that actually occurred. How would
you have prevented or mitigated this issue from occurring in the first place if you were in
charge of securing infrastructure and assets? You are encouraged to use innovative and
practical ideas to “fix” any vulnerability that your organization may have.
The assignment needs to be well written and your answers need to be supported with
either assigned readings or external support. The questions need to be answered
completely.
Work Cited
All references should be cited appropriately and preferably in Turabian standards in

accordance with the Public Affairs program.
Academic Integrity
No cheating or plagiarism will be tolerated. Any student that is suspected of cheating or

plagiarism will be turned over to the Dean of Students for disciplinary proceedings in
accordance with UTD’s policies and the Texas Board of Regents’ Rules and Regulations,
Part One, Chapter VI, Section 3, Subsection 3.2, Subdivision 3.22.
Calendar of Assignments
Note: This Schedule can change at the Discretion of the Professor
Class 1 – 8/20/2009
Discussion Topics
a) Course Introduction
b) Critical Infrastructure: What, Who Cares, and Why
c) Changing Terrorism in a Changing World
Reading Assignments Due: MT Chapter 1, LI Chapter 1

Case Study Memo: Group Project VN Chapter 6
Class 2 – 8/27/2009
Discussion Topics
a) Econometrics and Critical Infrastructure Interdependency
b) Terrorism Trends and Prospects

Project Assignment: VN Chapter 17 - Assignment #1 Due
Class 3 – 9/3/2009
Discussion Topics
a) Information and Data Dependency Analysis
b) Networks, Netwar, and Information-Age Terrorism

Project Assignment: VN Chapter 20 -Assignment #2 Due
Class 4– 9/10/2009
Discussion Topics
a) Correlation, Dependency Latency, and Vulnerabilities of Critical Infrastructure
b) Countering the New Terrorism: Implications for Strategy

Project Assignment: VN Chapter 23 - Assignment #3 Due
Class 5 – 9/17/2009
Discussion Topics
a) Critical Infrastructure Threat - Risk
b) Shrink the Targets
Reading Assignments Due: MT Chapter 5, PC Chapter 1

Guest Speaker:
Project Assignment: VN Chapter 28 Assignment #4 Due
Class 6 – 9/24/2009
Discussion Topics
a) Critical Infrastructure Interdependency Case Studies
b) “Natural” Disasters?
Reading Assignments Due: MT Chapter 6, PC Chapter 2

Project Assignment: Midterm Project Due
Class 7 – 10/1/2009
Discussion Topics
a) The Government Response: The First FEMA
Reading Assignments Due: PC Chapter 3

Guest Speaker: Officer Kanvin Ravin, Plano Police Department
Class 8 – 10/8/2009
Discussion Topics
a) The Disaster after 9/11: The Department of Homeland Security and a New FEMA
b) The Covert NBC Threat in Historical Perspective
Reading Assignments Due: PC Chapter 4, FR Chapter 1

Class 9 – 10/15/2009
Discussion Topics
a) Are Terrorists as Dangerous as Management?
b) NBC Acquisition and Covert Delivery: Technical Possibilities and Technical
Constraints

Case Study Memo: Group Project VN Chapter 35 and 16
Class 10 – 10/22/2009 - No Class Scheduled.
Class 11 – 10/29/2009
Discussion Topics
a) Better Vulnerability through Chemistry
b) The Threat of Nuclear, Biological, or Chemical Attack by Non-State Actors

Class 12 – 11/5/2009
Discussion Topics
a) Disastrous Concentration in the National Power Grid
b) The Threat of Nuclear, Biological, or Chemical Attack by States

Class 13 – 11/12/2009
Discussion Topics
a) Concentration and Terror on the Internet
b) Recommendations: An Agenda for the American Government

Guest Speaker:
Class 14 – 11/19/2009
Discussion Topics
a) The Enduring Sources of Failure: Organizational, Executive and Regulatory

b) Conclusion for FR

Class 15 – 11/26/2009 – Thanksgiving – No Class
Class 16 – 12/3/2009
Project Assignment: Final Project Due

Memo
To: Klink, City Manager of Badlands, TX
From: Dr. Hartley, Assistant City Manager of Badlands, TX
Subject: Episode of misconduct by Attila the Hun
Date: 1/16/2007
Case Study: Example
On December 10, 2006 Attila the Hun, Director of Public Safety for the City of
Badlands, TX, pillaged the neighboring City of Alligator, TX with three other deputies
that are employed by the City of Badlands, TX. Besides the issue of pillaging, there are
also issues of Mr. Attila’s inappropriate dress code, intimidation of fellow employees,
sexual harassment and being heavily intoxicated on the job. Mr. Attila has already been
verbally warned and had an official written reprimand for previous rampages on other
cities that have occurred on October, 25, 2006 at the City of Cottonmouth, TX and
November 3, 2006 at the City of Atlas, TX.
In the verbal and written documentation it has been communicated to Mr. Attila
that city policies does not allow for the private raising of funds by ransacking other
municipalities. Not only is the City of Badlands responsible for repayment of funds to
those respective municipalities but the city is also liable for damages and injuries that
were incurred by Mr. Attila when he and the three deputies rode through all three towns
on horseback swinging their swords. The damages to the three municipalities are as
follows:
The City of Alligator, TX - $3,000 of damage, $100,000 appropriated from the local bank
The City of Cottonmouth, TX – 3 people trampled by horses, $200,000 appropriated from
local banks
The City of Atlas, TX – 4 horses stolen from local farms, $300,000 appropriated from
local banks and four people injured by swords
While I appreciate the efforts of Mr. Attila in these lean times of revenue
gathering from local property taxes and fees, I would like to point out that he has violated
several city policies and has been placed on probation one of his previous actions.
Additionally by agreeing to carry out illegal actions, the three deputies should also be
subject to disciplinary action. Mr. Attila’s proactive actions has in fact cost the City of
Badlands valuable funds for reparations to other municipalities, payment to a consultant
to battle bad public relations and payment to defend against civil litigation.
To resolve this issue I recommend that Mr. Attila be terminated along with the
three deputies whenever they are finally found. At this point the criminal justice system
has an all points bulletin to arrest the four city employees. In my opinion the previous
attempts to send Mr. Attila to anger management and retraining have had limited or no
success. In addition I recommend that when you do notify Mr. Attila of his termination
that it be in a neutral conference room with plenty of police officers in the room to give
you added protection. The last person to give Mr. Attila a written reprimand was hit over
the head with a slab of beef and dragged from Mr. Attila’s horse for 100 yards.

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PA 5359 – 501: Protecting Critical Resources and

Nicolas A. Valcik, Ph.D. Office: MP 2.234

Course Prerequisites: None

1. Have an understanding of homeland security issues for public organizations;

3. Have the ability to communicate effectively resolutions of homeland security issues to

1. Macaulay, Tyson, 2009. Critical Infrastructure: Understanding Its Component Parts,

3. Perrow, Charles, . The Next Catastrophe, ISBN: 0691004129, Princeton University

Case Studies - 30% Mid Term Project – 30%

Mid Term Research Project

Final Research Project

All references should be cited appropriately and preferably in Turabian standards in

No cheating or plagiarism will be tolerated. Any student that is suspected of cheating or

Note: This Schedule can change at the Discretion of the Professor

Reading Assignments Due: MT Chapter 1, LI Chapter 1

Reading Assignments Due: MT Chapter 2, LI Chapter 2

Reading Assignments Due: MT Chapter 3, LI Chapter 3

Reading Assignments Due: MT Chapter 4, LI Chapter 4

Reading Assignments Due: MT Chapter 5, PC Chapter 1

Reading Assignments Due: MT Chapter 6, PC Chapter 2

Project Assignment: Midterm Project Due

Reading Assignments Due: PC Chapter 3

Reading Assignments Due: PC Chapter 4, FR Chapter 1

Reading Assignments Due: PC Chapter 5, FR Chapter 2

Class 10 – 10/22/2009 - No Class Scheduled.

Reading Assignments Due: PC Chapter 6, FR Chapter 3

Reading Assignments Due: PC Chapter 7, FR Chapter 4

Reading Assignments Due: PC Chapter 8, FR Chapter 5

a) The Enduring Sources of Failure: Organizational, Executive and Regulatory

Reading Assignments Due: PC Chapter 9, FR Chapter 6

Class 15 – 11/26/2009 – Thanksgiving – No Class

Project Assignment: Final Project Due

From: Dr. Hartley, Assistant City Manager of Badlands, TX

Subject: Episode of misconduct by Attila the Hun

Case Study: Example

November 3, 2006 at the City of Atlas, TX.

The City of Cottonmouth, TX – 3 people trampled by horses, $200,000 appropriated from

local banks and four people injured by swords

Badlands valuable funds for reparations to other municipalities, payment to a consultant

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