CISA, Washington Commanders Hold Safety Exercise Ahead of NFL Season
The NFL season is right around the corner and that means law enforcement personnel will be charged with keeping athletes, fans, and employees safe at stadiums around the country.
To make sure everyone is prepared, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) recently held a tabletop training exercise with the Washington Commanders, FedEx Field staff, and Maryland state and local first responders, simulating a real incident. The exercise was for training purposes and was not in response to a real threat.
The four-hour exercise prioritized information sharing before and during the incident, as well as emergency response and immediate recovery operations.
CISA Executive Assistant Director for Infrastructure Security David Mussington explained that information sharing is critical. “If a real-world emergency happens, no single agency is going to respond alone. Now more than ever, we need strong, trusted, reliable relationships with partners who know how to communicate and work together effectively,” said Mussington.
After the exercise, participants shared best practices to keep everyone safe during highly attended events.
“Tabletop exercises, in partnership with CISA, are crucial in reinforcing our preparedness for safety incidents and updating our approaches to response and recovery plans in a rapidly evolving environment,” said Washington Commanders Senior Vice President of Operations and Guest Experience Trista Langdon.
CISA reminds the public to follow state and local guidance, remain vigilant, and report any suspicious activity to personnel or law enforcement.
The Commanders’ exercise was one of over 150 that CISA conducts each year with sports leagues, stadiums, arenas, and other large venues around the country.
"This exercise was just one of the many examples of the planning and coordination that takes place long before game days to keep fans and athletes safe,” said CISA Regional Director Bill Ryan.
Agency staff also advises venues on how to improve their security and resiliency. More information on CISA’s physical security programs can be found on the CISA website.