Think your city is ready for a cyber-attack? Think again according to our experts
There is no way around it; every day there are new cybersecurity threats to not only individuals, but governments at all levels as well. There have been some high-profile breeches that involve major cities like Atlanta and Baltimore.But those attacks are going to all levels, and recent research has shown most municipalities and cities are ill-prepared for cyberattacks.Research conducted by Donald Norris, PhD, and Laura Mateczun, JD, of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County along with William Hatcher, PhD, Wesley Meares, PhD, and John Heslen, PhD, of Augusta University, found various reasons why local governments struggle with cybersecurity.The research shows local governments recognize the need for cybersecurity but are not taking crucial next steps to ensure cybersecurity by integrating policies into daily management practices. Not just that, some local governments were unaware how often they were under cyberattack.Throw in budgetary constraints, and it leads local governments to be in a tough situation. That, unto itself, is a major sticking point, but the burden could be lessened.“Effective cybersecurity is expensive and too much of a strain on the budgets of many cities and counties,” said Hatcher, chair of the Department of Social Sciences in Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at Augusta University. “This is why we suggest regional solutions to the program, so multiple governments carry the cost.” Meares, associate professor and MPA director in Pamplin College, added it’s not just the financial aspect, but said there’s a shortage of cybersecurity talent nationwide, which compounded with limited budgets, makes it tough to compete.In the quest for talent between private and public sector, usually the private sector can offer more to entice a cybersecurity expert to come work for them.There’s also an issue of many local governments using dated technologies, which may be easier for cyber criminals to attack.“Local government is increasingly being more digitally connected, with vital infrastructure, data and services connected which creates more opportunities for cyber-attacks. Additionally, local governments tend to lag in updating critical technology due to limited resources (both human and financial resources),” added Meares.None of this comes as a surprise in the lack of cybersecurity training.“It’s an expensive service for local governments to provide. This is why we suggest more budgetary support for the training,” said Heslen, assistant professor in Pamplin College. “We’re also unsurprised because local governments often struggle to fund professional training in other areas.”But researchers say there are ways to improve upon safety of critical data most notably adopting dedicated cybersecurity budgets funded at an appropriate level in all local governments. Those resources can help address many limitations in local government cybersecurity programs, from staffing and hardware and software deficiencies to awareness training for all parties in local governments.They also recommend the adoption and implementation of cybersecurity policies to manage and regulate actions taken by all that affect the organization’s cybersecurity.By taking the recommended actions, local governments will have a better chance to provide high levels of cybersecurity and protect their information assets more effectively.This is an important topic and if you are a journalist looking to know more about the importance of being ready and able to react if and when a municipality comes under threat from a cyber-attack then let us help/.William Hatcher and John Heslen are both available to speak with media simply contact them now to arrange an interview today.
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With days to go, will politicians force a deal or face a federal shutdown?
Once again, the federal government is facing a shutdown, and it could threaten crucial federal workers and programs. If a new funding agreement is not reached by Sept. 30, numerous agencies could close and many would be forced to work without pay until the funds are appropriated.William Hatcher, PhD, chair of the Department of Social Sciences in Augusta University's Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, said a shutdown would affect all of us. This includes important reviews being done by the federal government, such as the Food and Drug Administration, down to national museums and parks being closed. It would affect a large portion of the population.With the deadline looming, the White House specifically mentioned the numerous agencies that could have services curtailed, and they did this for strategic reasons, according to Hatcher.“They are doing a public service by pointing out all that will be affected via a shutdown,” said Hatcher. “Scholars have said Americans are often theoretical conservatives about the size of government, but when it comes to practice, we support public programs, and many who may say they oppose government, when you start asking them about individual programs, they have a high level of support.”Hatcher added this is partisanship at play.“One party is actually historically the most likely to push these shutdowns, even going back to the federal shutdowns in the mid-1990s. And it has often caused political damage to the party because people really realize how much a shutdown affects them when these things happen,” said Hatcher.He added this hurts the effectiveness of the public sector, our trust in government and the overall condition of our democracy when basic work doesn’t happen.While putting temporary spending plans in place can solve some problems, having a long-term deal in place is ideal.“We should be passing budgets for at least an entire fiscal year, not stopgap measures for weeks or even days. However, there is a logic to this happening. The incentives in the Republican Party reward members of Congress, especially those in the House, from making deals and support the necessity of this government spending, which makes it difficult for agreements to come together.”It's going to be an interesting week, and if you're a journalist covering the looming shutdown, then let us help with your stories.Hatcher is a professor of political science and chair of Augusta University’s Department of Social Sciences. He is an expert in the areas of public administration and social, economic and political institutions.Hatcher is available to speak with media regarding this topic. To arrange an interview today, simply click on his icon now.
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2 min
Politics, policy and public safety: Experts explain why a popular Atlanta festival was canceled
A sad tune is being hummed in Atlanta, where it was announced the popular annual Music Midtown festival is not happening, possibly in part due to the state’s laws surrounding guns in public parks.The event's cancellation, which brought tens of thousands of music lovers to the city -along with the tourism dollars they spend -has caused disappointment and drawn local and national media coverage.Calling it a “sad day” for the city, Atlanta City Council President Doug Shipman wrote on Twitter that: “Public policy has real impacts and, in this case, economic and social implications on a great tradition.”And state Democrats chastised Republicans for adopting a raft of pro-gun legislation, including a 2022 law that allows Georgians to carry concealed handguns without first getting a license from the state.The governor, who is seeking a second term, did not immediately comment on the festival’s decision. But state Rep. Rick Jasperse, a Jasper Republican who sponsored the 2014 law, said the measure is designed with public safety in mind.He said those intent on “causing chaos and crime in Georgia” won’t care if the festival bans firearms and would try to bring them in regardless.“Good Georgians who can qualify for a permit and carry a weapon do so to protect themselves from that element in our society,” he said. -The Atlanta Journal Constitution, Aug. 1, 2022Organizers of events like Music Midtown could look at Georgia’s gun laws and regulation of firearms as a potential legal liability. If there is a firearms incident, organizers may fear being held legally accountable and sued for any potential damages. The companies and their risk management advisors might think twice about holding large events in Georgia. Augusta University's Dr. William Hatcher, an expert when it comes to public administration and social, economic and political institutions in local communities, agrees that event organizers might be rethinking their plans in the state."Yes. I think so. These types of laws have an impact on the economy and the business decisions of firms. We may see future effects on the economic behavior of individuals and firms."This topic could have further economic impact beyond canceled events, including affecting property values and home prices. If you're a journalist looking to know more, then let us help with your stories.Dr. William Hatcher is a professor of political science and chair of Augusta University’s Department of Social Sciences. He is an expert in the areas of public administration and social, economic and political institutions.Hatcher is available to speak with media regarding this topic. To arrange an interview today, simply click on his icon now.
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Biography
An award-winning scholar, Hatcher is the interim chair of the Department of Social Sciences and an associate professor of political science. His research focuses on the connection between public administration and the development of local communities. Through his research, he tries to understand why public administration scholars and practitioners often have different views about the efficacy of certain administrative practices. His research has appeared in journals such as American Journal of Public Health, Journal of Public Affairs Education, Public Administration Quarterly, and The Review of Regional Studies. In the Department of Political Science, topics he teaches include public administration, public policy, public budgeting and finance, and community and economic development. He received his PhD from Mississippi State University in 2010.
Areas of Expertise
Public Administration
Public Policy
Community and Economic Development
Health Policy
Public Budgeting and Finance
Accomplishments
Co-editor-in-chief
Journal of Public Affairs Education
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award
An award presented by the Georgia Political Science Association.
H. George Frederickson PA Times Best Article Award
American Society for Public Administration
Distinguished Education Leader Award, Excellent Student Support
Student Government Association at Eastern Kentucky University
Distinguished Education Leader Award, Outstanding Service
Student Government Association at Eastern Kentucky University
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Education
Mississippi State University
Doctorate
Georgia College & State University
Master's in Public Administration
Public Administration
Georgia College & State University
Bachelor's Degree
Political Science and Government
Affiliations
Phi Kappa Phi, National Honor Society
Pi Alpha Alpha, National Honor Society for Public Administration
Pi Sigma Alpha, National Honor Society for Political Science
Trust in government, and opportunities to rebuild it
Route Fifty online
2024-02-22
"Trust in government is crucial in supporting a society where families and individuals can thrive,” says Justin Brown, former Oklahoma secretary of human services. “It lays the groundwork for effective policies that drive economic success and personal well-being.”
But that trust has been waning at the state and local level in recent years. As previously reported, about 45% of Americans have a less than favorable view of the trustworthiness of local governments. That’s somewhat up from 40% in 2017. But Will Hatcher, chair of the department of social sciences at Augusta University, cautions that relying exclusively on public meetings may not engender universal trust. “It may be difficult for people in lower income groups to participate,” he says, “and that may make them less likely to trust in government. There’s a frustration in not being involved. When you expand public participation but don’t get it to as many people as possible, you’re empowering the people who already have power and potentially losing confidence from the rest.”
Augusta University professor weighs in on S.C. Primary
WRDW tv
2024-02-06
Republican presidential candidates Nikki Haley and Donald Trump are picking up the pace in South Carolina.
Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor, made a stop in Aiken on Monday and has more trips planned leading up to the republican primary, which is a little more than two weeks away.
Former President Donald Trump will be in Conway over the weekend.
Experts say you can’t understate the importance of the Palmetto State in this year’s campaign.
“From a practical standpoint, it would be very difficult in the Republican primary for somebody to beat former President Trump,” said Professor of Public Administration at Augusta University, Dr. William Hatcher.
What does the continuing resolution that the US government keeps open consist of?
Voices of America online
2023-10-05
In a race against time are lawmakers in the United States Congress, who currently have 40 days to approve annual budgets that keep government agencies open.
Last Saturday, with the new fiscal year imminent, the US government was under threat of a shutdown due to lack of funding. However, just hours before midnight, lawmakers reached a bipartisan agreement to enact a continuing resolution that will keep the government open until November 17, 2023.
The continuing resolution was enacted after then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy relented in seeking Democratic support and gave up on demanding deep spending cuts. This move cost McCarthy his position, and he was removed from his position on Tuesday following a historic vote in the legislative body.
Given the vacancy in the presidency of the House of Representatives, and the lack of negotiations on final budget laws, the outlook after November seems to become complicated, according to experts.
Early Voting kicks off: WJCL 22 anchor Olivia Wile interviews Dr. William Hatcher about history
WJCL tv
2023-10-17
Local elections in both Georgia and South Carolina are less than a month away, with early voting underway in the Peach State.
WJCL 22 News Anchor Olivia Wile breaks down the history behind early voting, and how long it lasts in both states.
“I am joined now by Dr. William Hatcher who is the chair of social sciences at Augusta university and a political science professor. Thank you for joining us this morning,” said WJCL 22 News Anchor Olivia Wile.
“Thank you for having me,” said Hatcher. “I’m excited to talk about early voting.”
“Talk me through when early voting started," said Wile.
“It’s an effort to expand democracy in the us compared to others the us has more restrictions on voting, some states have you have to register days or weeks before the election. So it was an effort along with expanding absentee ballots and reforming our system and increasing democracy,” said Hatcher.
William Hatcher, director of the Master of Public Administration program, was featured in a 2016 WalletHub analysis of the best-run cities in America. For the analysis, WalletHub compared 150 of the U.S.’s top cities in areas like financial stability, education, health and safety, then asked Hatcher and other local government, economic and diversity experts how to evaluate how well a city is run.
William Hatcher, director of the Master of Public Administration Program, talks about how diversity makes Augusta University – and the U.S. – a stronger, more inclusive place.
Augusta University’s Master of Public Administration program was recently reaccredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration – a hallmark of excellence in public service education that is earned by only 63 percent of the world’s graduate public administration programs.
What happens when you value diversity? Success, for a start August 15, 2016by Nick Garrett
Jagwire online
2016-08-15
Having a diverse campus is more than just a feather in the cap of a good university. It’s also the best way to bring the world to your own hometown. Watch to hear about some of the ways Augusta University’s various departments are bringing the wide world to classrooms, clinics and offices across the state of Georgia.
William Hatcher, director of the Master of Public Administration program, talks about the feasibility of running a country (or a public institution) like a business.
What will be Mike Johnson's first challenges as president of the US House of Representatives?
Voices of America online
2023-10-27
Republican Representative Mike Johnson began his presidency of the House of Representatives with important pending legislative challenges, such as the approval of aid packages for Israel and Ukraine, and new funds for the southern border, as well as the urgency of passing a new budget governmental.
Although Johnson set out to make up for lost time during the three weeks of chaos that followed Kevin McCarthy's impeachment , experts anticipate that he would face the same negotiating challenges to pass the 12 appropriations bills needed to fund the government.
Congress must approve the new funds before November 17 or the risk of a federal government shutdown would return. President Joe Biden has asked for an additional $106 billion in military and humanitarian aid to Israel and Ukraine. While Republicans hope to resume the investigation with a view to impeaching Biden for his son's business dealings.
The research shows local governments recognize the need for cybersecurity but are not taking crucial next steps to ensure cybersecurity by integrating policies into daily management practices. Not just that, some local governments were unaware how often they were under cyberattack.
We should be passing budgets for at least an entire fiscal year, not stopgap measures for weeks or even days. However, there is a logic to this happening. The incentive in the Republican Party reward members of Congress, especially those in the House, from making deals and support the necessity of this government spending, which makes it difficult for agreements to come together.
They are doing a public service by pointing out all that will be affected via a shutdown. Scholars have said Americans are often theoretical conservatives about the size of government, but when it comes to practice, we support public programs, and many who may say they oppose government, when you start asking them about individual programs, they have a high level of support.
Telework and Work Flexibility in the United States Federal Government Post-Pandemic
Sage Journals
Lance Y. Hunter, Martha Ginn, Wesley L. Meares, William Hatcher
2024-04-11
A decade before the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States (US) federal government was working to create flexible work environments for employees under the 2010 Telework Enhancement Act. Given this reality and the growing desire for greater flexibility of workers inspired by the “Great Resignation” during the pandemic, the US federal government appears to have recovered lost employees faster than other levels of the public sector. Still, given that federal workers skew older with less than a tenth of the workforce being under age 30 years and nearly a third reaching retirement age, a true crisis still looms in our administrative state. Using the 2021 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey Data, we analyze what factors predict turnover intention post-pandemic, focusing the analysis on teleworking and other workplace flexibility policies. We use the findings to make recommendations to help increase employee recruitment and retention within the US federal government.
COVID-19 and 2020 presidential election speeches: A content analysis of pandemic campaign rhetoric
Wiley Online Library
William Hatcher, Martha H. Ginn
2024-01-17
This study examines how public health issues were communicated during the 2020 US presidential campaign, particularly those concerning the global COVID-19 pandemic. Using content analysis, we examined the available campaign speeches of the two major candidates, Donald Trump and Joseph R. Biden. We examined how the candidates discussed the COVID-19 pandemic and vital areas of public health in those speeches. Analysis of these speeches found little discussion on healthcare in general and little to no discussion on the vital areas of public health. We also found that COVID-19 statements were not as prevalent as we anticipated, given the unprecedented scope of the pandemic. Even during a pandemic, public health matters received very little attention during a Presidential campaign. Public health topics accounted for less than 1% of the content in candidates' official speeches. Given that elites help increase knowledge of public health concerns and influence policy, the lack of attention given to the pandemic in the 2020 general election cycle is surprising, if not alarming.
Surveys show US local governments must do more to address their cyber insecurity.
London School of Economics
William Hatcher Donald F. Norris Laura Mateczun Wesley L. Meares John Heslen
2023-12-20
Cyberattacks on organizations and institutions have unfortunately become commonplace, and the 90,000 local governments in the US are often targets for these incidents. Taking data from local government surveys, William Hatcher, Donald F. Norris, Laura Mateczun, Wesley L. Meares, and John Heslen assess the current state of cybersecurity in state and local government, finding that these organizations are in fact practicing cyber insecurity. Considering these findings, they make a number of recommendations, including better funding for cybersecurity measures in local government budgets, and improved staff training and management practices.
During the summer of 2023, New York City’s school system was hit by two successful cyberattacks that left the data of over 45,000 students and their families vulnerable. In response, the NYC Department of Education centralized management of school websites, email systems, and other information technologies. This is one of the hundreds or thousands of examples of cyber-attacks on the public sector. It is telling, though, that the largest city in the US, even with its significant resources, struggles to ensure cybersecurity.
Local Government Cyber Insecurity: Causes and Recommendations for Improvement
Wiley Online Library
Donald Norris, Laura Mateczum, William Hatcher, Wesley Meares, John Heslen
2023-10-02
In this paper, we address several facets of the problem we call local government cyber insecurity – a problem that plagues such governments across the nation, if not the world. We describe this problem and discuss its manifestations in local governments. This is followed by our analysis of why, on average, local government cybersecurity is managed and practiced so poorly. Next, we discuss several constraints on local governments that may help to explain why so many of these governments are not able to provide highly effective cybersecurity. We then discuss steps that local governments can and should take to improve their cybersecurity, including adopting dedicated cybersecurity budgets, adopting several highly recommended cybersecurity policies, and following best cybersecurity practices.
Louis Brownlow, one of public administration's historical thinkers, once argued that “the principal requirement of a good administrator is an insatiable curiosity.” This book is rooted in the notion that public administrators must practice insatiable curiosity to be effective, fair, and democratic. By seeking to uncover how the world works, and therefore practicing curiosity, public administrators may be more likely to move toward evidence-based decisions, improving the efficacy and efficiency of public service. Curiosity encourages public administrators to seek answers in a caring manner, and in doing so empathize with the communities that they serve.
First, the book incorporates the concept of curiosity into the field of public administration. Scholarship in philosophy, business administration, social science, and other scholarly fields address curiosity, but public administration has yet to examine this concept in detail. This book fills that hole in the literature. Second, the book presents novel primary data on curiosity in public agencies by examining curious organizations and surveying local government officers. Third, the book presents novel primary data on how public affairs faculty view curiosity and incorporate the concept in their research and the classroom. Lastly, author William Hatcher integrates this information in the book’s final chapter to present a model of administrative curiosity, focusing on creating a guide for future research and teaching. Thus, this book serves as a roadmap for developing a new doctrine of curiosity in public administration theory and practice, and it will be of enormous interest to students enrolled in public affairs courses as well as practicing public administrators and nonprofit managers.
Using the Asset-Building Model of Development in Teaching the Politics of Community Development in Appalachia
Journal of Appalachian Studies
2016
This teaching note discusses an undergraduate course on the politics of community development in Appalachia. The course teaches students that the economic issues facing Appalachia are the product of not only economics but also social and political factors. The goal of the course is to teach students the role that community development can play in the region...
From Compassionate Conservatism to Obamacare: Funding for the Ryan White Program During the Obama Administration
American Journal of Public Health
2016
Objectives: To examine President Obama's fiscal commitment to the Ryan White Program (formerly Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resource Emergency Act), which provides funding for economically disadvantaged people and families affected by HIV.
The Efficacy of Public Participation in Municipal Budgeting: An Exploratory Survey of Officials in Government Finance Officers Association's Award Winning Cities
Public Administration Quarterly
2015
Municipal reformers often call for more public participation in the budget process. However, few studies have surveyed the viewpoints of budget practitioners on the efficacy of public involvement in municipal budgeting. In this paper, we report a survey administered by e-mail to budget directors in cities that won the Government Finance Officers Association’s (GFOA) distinguished budget presentation award in 2011.
Reflecting on over 100 years of public administration education
Wiley Online Library
William Hatcher, Catherine Farrell, John Diamond
2021-11-16
Public administration education has an interesting history rooted in numerous scholarly disciplines, such as sociology, political science, economics, and engineering. The article reflects on the last 100 years of scholarship on public administration education, starting with an article on the topic in the first issue of Public Administration in 1923. We provide a concise review focused on the development of public administration education over this time. Next, we discuss scholarship in top journals on public administration education, Journal of Public Affairs Education and Teaching Public Administration. We use Denhardt's (2001) big questions in public administration education as a framework to examine this scholarship. We conclude by discussing the future of public administration education and advocating a community-based approach to pedagogy practice and research in the field.
The career paths of the chief administrative officers of U.S. cities: a survey of city managers and content analysis of how they discuss their careers
Taylor & Francis Online
William Hatcher, Beth Rauhaus, Wesley L. Meares
2022-10-08
We expand the research on the career paths of the chief administrative officers managing cities of all sizes in the United States (U.S.) by surveying the chief administrative officers working in the small, medium, and large cities throughout the U.S. We collected 345 surveys from chief administrative officers. The survey included questions on the career paths of managers and asked respondents to discuss factors and challenges that have influenced their career paths. From our analysis, we find that the career path to city management positions often begins with prior experience in local government administration and higher educational attainment, such as an MPA degree.
Introduction to the symposium on international and comparative public administration education
Journal of Public Affairs Education
William Hatcher, Bruce D. McDonald
2022-12-16
We live in a global society. Our countries may maintain their own borders and bureaucratic structures, but the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the problems that arouse out of it have highlighted the intermingled relationship we have with all parts of the globe (McDonald et al., 2022). The interconnectedness of the globe can even be seen from our own experience as co-editors-in-chief of the Journal of Public Affairs Education. In the early days of the pandemic, printing of the journal was temporarily halted as our publisher had challenges getting access to paper from its distributor in one country, trouble shipping the paper to its printer in another, and finally delivering the hardcopies to the United States. Although this example focuses on JPAE, we are not alone. What happens in one country impacts and effects those around it. But what does this mean for public affairs education? From our standpoint, we believe that it means we should be preparing our students to engage in an international arena.
This book explores the issue and struggle of work-life balance in higher education. It provides a rare opportunity to shape the conversation surrounding work-life balance in academia and provide a venue for dialogue around balance that had previously been forced into secret.
The challenges that surround work-life balance are something that we must all confront, but they are also something that is rarely discussed within academia. Faculty and graduate students face increasing demands to publish, while also being expected to effectively teach and engage in service to both the university and the community. The demands of an academic career have been cited as a reason for faculty and students to leave the academy, but they have also been tied with rising rates of depression throughout the community. Concerns about balance have led to challenges in recruiting diverse students and faculty for academic careers.
Community-level internet connectivity and mental health: an analysis of United States counties
Journal of Mental Health
William Hatcher, Lance Hunter, Wesley Meares, Mary-Kate Lizotte, Dustin Avent-Holt
2023-04-09
Background: Access to the Internet is often viewed as a positive feature of communities, but little research has been conducted examining the effects of internet access on mental health at the community level.
Aims: To examine the relationship between internet connectivity and mental health in United States (US) counties, an analysis that has not been conducted in the public health literature.
Methods: We analyzed predictors of mental health in US counties. Data from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the U.S. Bureau of the Census, and the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps were used to construct a time-series regression analysis. The data were available from 2013 to 2016.
Results: US counties that increased their internet connectivity over this period also had more citizens report suffering from mental health conditions.
Conclusions: Public health needs to focus on the county-level predictors of mental health and how internet connectivity may not always produce positive effects and may be contributing negatively to the mental health of communities.
