Aug. 22, 2025:
South Dakota’s Governor’s Resilience and Infrastructure– or GRIT– task force has held it’s initial meeting to work through specific goals and duties….but it’s not likely that the public will know much about what the group does as they work toward their mission to keep South Dakota strong, safe and free.
The GRIT task force, which was established by Governor Larry Rhoden earlier this summer, serves as a strategic advisory body to develop policy recommendations, assess risks and vulnerabilities and support long-term planning and investment in critical infrastructure systems across South Dakota.
Information from Rhoden’s Office says because of the sensitive and secure nature of GRIT, the meetings are not open to the public. However, “information that will not inhibit public safety will be shared when appropriate.”
Rhoden’s Office says additional stakeholders will be brought in to assist the GRIT task force’s efforts through work groups, which, going forward, will continue to meet informally. These working groups include telecommunications, energy, water and wastewater, transportation, policy and framework development and federal coordination.
Members of GRIT include:
- Tony Venhuizen, Lieutenant Governor;
- Mark Morrell, Adjutant General of South Dakota;
- Bob Perry, Secretary of the Department of Public Safety;
- Joel Jundt, Secretary of the Department of Transportation;
- Mark Wixon, Commissioner of the Bureau of Information and Technology;
- Andy Bruels, Financial and Technical Assistance Director, Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources;
- Rick Miller, Protective Security Advisor, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA);
- John Jorgensen, VP Chief Security Officer, Black Hills Energy;
- Steve Kolbeck, Director of Business Affairs and State Relations, Xcel Energy;
- Mark Hoffman, Chief Operations Officer, East River Electric;
- Mark Cotter, Public Works Director, City of Sioux Falls;
- Greg Powell, Engineer, Brosz Engineering;
- Jake Vandewater, Communications VP Engineering, Operations, and IT, SDN Communications;
- Mike Nelson, Lead Client Solutions Executive for the Public Sector, FirstNet;
- Paul Niedringhaus, Director, South Dakota Fusion Center;
- Ashley Podhradsky, Vice President of Research and Economic Development, Dakota State University; and
- Randy Hoover, Professor and Assistant Department Head for Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, SD School of Mines and Technology.
This task force supports President Trump’s Executive Order 14239, “Achieving Efficiency Through State and Local Preparedness,” which empowers state and local governments to play a more active role in national resilience and preparedness.
June 3, 2025:
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden has signed an executive order (Executive Order 2025-06) establishing the Governor’s Resilience and Infrastructure Task Force (GRIT).
Rhoden says the GRIT task force will serve as a strategic advisory body to develop policy recommendations, assess risks and vulnerabilities and support long-term planning and investment in critical infrastructure systems across the state. He says the people he appoints to the task force will be:
- Representatives from state agencies for public safety, military, cybersecurity, water and wastewater, transportation or other agencies as designated by the Governor;
- Members from industry, utilities, the private sector and academia; and
- Subject matter experts in cybersecurity, emergency management and critical infrastructure.
The task force will be chaired by Lieutenant Governor Tony Venhuizen, and Adjutant General Mark Morrell will serve as vice chair.
Morrell says protecting the people of South Dakota is of utmost importance. He says due to the sensitive and secure nature of GRIT, careful thought will be given to the details the task force is able to share with the public.
This task force supports President Trump’s Executive Order 14239, “Achieving Efficiency Through State and Local Preparedness,” which empowers state and local governments to play a more active role in national resilience and preparedness.
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