Texas Cyber Command Chief Timothy James “TJ” White joins the latest episode of TXOGA Talks to discuss how the state’s first cyber defense agency is protecting critical infrastructure and the steps every Texan can take to stay safe online during Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
AUSTIN, Texas—The Texas Oil & Gas Association (TXOGA) released a new episode of its podcast, TXOGA Talks, taking listeners inside the Texas Cyber Command (TXCC), the state agency created by the Texas Legislature in 2025 to defend government systems and critical infrastructure from cyber threats. TXOGA President Todd Staples is joined by TXCC Chief TJ White, a retired U.S. Navy vice admiral who led the Navy’s cyber operations before taking charge of the San Antonio-based agency, for a conversation on why energy infrastructure is a target, how the Command defends it, and what every Texan can do to stay safe online.
“Texas is home to the eighth-largest economy in the world, built on oil and natural gas, manufacturing, agriculture, vital military assets, and world-class universities. As technology launches America into the next frontier, protecting the critical digital systems that we rely upon every day has never been more important,” said TXOGA President Todd Staples. “Texas is once again leading the way by creating a dedicated agency to prevent and defend against cyber threats. We are grateful to Chief White for bringing decades of military service and expertise to Texas’ newest agency.”
“Cybersecurity is a shared mission, including every sector of oil and gas companies that operate in Texas, down to the habits of each operator and employee,” said Texas Cyber Command Chief TJ White. “Our hope this Cybersecurity Awareness Month is that everyone who listens to this episode walks away with one practical step they can take today to keep Texas secure in cyberspace.”
The episode explores Project Watershed 250, a first-of-its-kind pilot that brings federal, state, local, and private-sector resources together to protect water and wastewater utilities. White also details how critical infrastructure operators can tap into the agency’s threat intelligence through the Texas Information Sharing and Analysis Organization (TX-ISAO) and introduces the new Critical Infrastructure Cyber Center of Excellence (CICCOE), an initiative focused on protecting critical infrastructure, with an initial concentration on the energy and water sectors.
With October marking Cybersecurity Awareness Month, White also shares the Command’s “Foundational Five,” simple habits that protect families and businesses alike:
- Don’t get phished. Slow down and verify.
- Install updates right away.
- Back up what you can’t afford to lose.
- Use passkeys or security keys wherever available.
- Use a password manager and turn on multifactor authentication (MFA) everywhere.
The Command’s “Texas First. Cyber Ready.” campaign includes free public webinars throughout the month and an in-person event at the State Capitol on Thursday, Oct. 29, with the full calendar available at txcc.texas.gov.
Listen to the full TXOGA Talks episode with Chief White by clicking here or visiting txoga.org/txoga-talks.