Cybersecurity experts looking at a computer screen

FBI and KU Cybersecurity Conference

Bridging the knowledge of government, industry, workforce, and research

Join us as we bring together experts in the cybersecurity field from the FBI, industry, workforce, and research. Sessions will include:

  • Keynotes by FBI and industry executive leadership.
  • Top KU researchers discuss the latest research on cybersecurity, including topics such as resiliency, trust, and disinformation.
  • Panel of industry and government stakeholders discuss best practices and potential threats/attacks.

No filming, recording, or photography, please.

 

Cost

Registration for this event is now open: $100 for one-day registration (Thursday, April 3, 2025 or Friday, April 4, 2025) or  $175 for full conference registration (both days).

Click here to register for Thursday sessions (Thursday, April 3, 2025).

Click here to register for Friday sessions (Friday, April 4, 2025).

Click here to register to attend both days (Thursday, April 3, 2025 and Friday, April 4, 2025). 

Note:Parking, continental breakfast, lunch, and snacks are included with registration. If you register for the full conference or only Thursday’s sessions, a networking event will also be included.

Date

  • April 3-4, 2025

Time

  • 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Location

  • KU Memorial Union, 5th floor

  • 1301 Jayhawk Blvd.

  • Lawrence, KS 66045


April 3, 2025 | Conference Agenda

 
TimeDescription
9 a.m. – 9:50 a.m. Check-in (Jayhawk Walk – 4th floor lobby)  & Continental Breakfast (Ballroom – 5th floor)
10 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.Welcome – Woodruff Auditorium
Shelley Hooks, Vice Chancellor, KU Office of Research
10:10 a.m. – 11 a.m.A Personal History of Location Data – Keynote +  Audience Q&A Woodruff Auditorium
Brian McClendon, Vice President, Niantic, Inc. 
11 - 12 p.m.Securing the Nation: Harnessing Research and Entrepreneurship for Next-Gen Defense Technology Woodruff Auditorium
Pete Loscocco, Retired National Security Agency
Jason Rogers, CEO, Invary
Perry Alexander, AT&T Foundation Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Kansas
Adam Courtney, Chief Executive Officer, KU Innovation Park, moderator
12 p.m. - 1 p.m.

Lunch (Ballroom) and Poster Session (Jayhawk Room)

Red (International Room) & Blue Exercise (Governors Room) [12 p.m. - 1:50 p.m.]
In Partnership with Invary, Enterprise KC & KU EECS

1 p.m. - 1:50 p.m.

Breakout Sessions

Current Threat Landscape, Layered Defense and Security as a Service (SECaaS) Alderson Auditorium, 4th Floor
Chip Bircher, CTO, Softwarfare
 

Reducing Cyber Risk: Best Business Practices Woodruff Auditorium
John Bryant, cybersecurity advisor, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency, Department of Homeland Security 
 

FBI WMD Overview and UAS Threats to Infrastructure Big 12 Room
Kacie Laidacker, Special Agent, FBI

1:50 p.m. - 2 p.m.Break
2 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.

Breakout Sessions

Protecting the State Government Technology Ecosystem Woodruff Auditorium
Jeff Maxon, Chief Information Technology Officer, State of Kansas
 

Unveiling Cyber Security Resilience - Incident Response Table Top Exercise Big 12 Room
Rob Rudloff, Partner, Cyber Security Services, RubinBrown
 

Unintended Consequences, Unmet Needs: Cyberbiosecurity and BIO-ISAC Alderson Auditorium, 4th Floor
Andrew Rose, BioAg advisor, BIO-ISAC

2:50 p.m. – 3 p.m.Break
3 p.m.– 4 p.m.Securing Major League Baseball Woodruff Auditorium
Introduction provided by Jason Rogers, CEO, Invary
Neil Boland, Senior Vice President of Technology & CISO, MLB 
Brian Himstedt, Vice President - Technology & Business Analytics, Kansas City Royals
 
4 p.m. - 6 p.m.Networking Reception Jayhawk Welcome Center
The CyberWire - Caveat Podcast
Benjamin Yelin Program Director, Public Policy & External Affairs, University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security
Dave Bittner, Host & Founder of CyberWire

April 4, 2025 | Conference Agenda

 
TimeDescription
7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Check-in & Continental Breakfast (Ballroom – 5th floor)
8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.Opening Remarks – Woodruff Auditorium
Perry Alexander, AT&T Foundation Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Kansas
8:45 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.Welcome – Woodruff Auditorium
Doug A. Girod, KU Chancellor 
9:00 a.m. - 10 a.m.Keynote- Cyber Threats and Their Effect on Human Will: A Cyber Intelligence Perspective Woodruff Auditorium
Introduction provided by George Schultzel, legal attaché Bucharest, FBI
Anton Rog, Head of National Cyberint Center, Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI)
10 a.m. - 10:10 a.m.Break
10:10 a.m. - 11 a.m.Navigating International Cyber Threats: A Strategy for Protecting Critical Sectors Woodruff Auditorium
Introduction provided by Mike Denning, Assistant Vice Chancellor & Principal Investigator of the Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence, University of Kansas 
Vice Admiral Kelly Aeschbach - Retired Commander, US Naval Information Forces (NAVIFOR) 
Anton Rog, Head of National Cyberint Center, Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) 
George Schultzel, Legat Bucharest, FBI, Moderator 
11 a.m. – 11:50 p.m.Nation-State Adversaries vs. Global Finance: A War in the ShadowsWoodruff Auditorium
Introduction provided by Perry Alexander, AT&T Foundation Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Kansas
Aaron Weissenfluh, COO, Tenfold Security
11:50 p.m. - 1 p.m.Lunch (Ballroom)
1 p.m. - 1:50 p.m.

Breakout Sessions

Disinformation and Cybersecurity Threats Emanating from Eastern Europe and Eurasia Alderson Auditorium, 4th Floor
Erik Scott, John P. Black History Professor & Director  
Kat Romanova, Visiting Assistant Professor
Rebecca Johnston, Inaugural Cyber Social Fellow, University of Kansas


How Threat Actors Thrive in DNS Big 12 Room
Christopher Kim, Senior Staff Threat Researcher, Cyber Intelligence, Infoblox
 

Now What? Innovating your Cybersecurity Program after a Major Incident Woodruff Auditorium
Mark Johnson, Vice President & Chief Information Security Officer, Hackensack Meridian Health

1:50 p.m. – 2 p.m.Break
2 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.

Breakout Session

Your New Applicant is a Trojan Horse: How Covert Nation-State Actors Exploit Hiring Processes to Compromise Corporate Security Big 12 Room
Nick Gicinto, CEO, Hilltop Technologies, CIO and Professor, William Jewel College
 

Operation Damaque: Combating PRC Cyber Activity by Standing on The Shoulders of Giants Woodruff Auditorium
Adam James, Special Agent, FBI 
 

Securing the Future: Cyber Talent, Innovation, and Economic Growth Alderson Auditorium, 4th Floor
David Frankland, CEO, EnterpriseKC
Dr. Chuck Gardner, heartland cyber range director, EnterpriseKC
Eric Mooney, workforce development, EnterpriseKC
Jay Konomos, data and analytics, EntrepriseKC

2:50 p.m. – 3 p.m.Break
3 p.m. - 4 p.m.The Ethics of AI in Cybersecurity: Balancing Innovation and Security Woodruff Auditorium
John Symons, Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Center for Cyber Social Dynamics, University of Kansas  
Mark Johnson, VP Chief Information Security Office, Hackensack Meridian Health
Matt Todd, Office Managing Partner, Licensing & Transactions Co-Chair, Restrictive Covenants & Trade Secrets Litigation Co-Chair, Polsinelli PC
Chad Jaffe, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, National Security Branch, FBI 
4 p.m. Closing Woodruff Auditorium

FBI seal

Premier Sponsor

Invary logo

Platinum Sponsors

Logo for the Intelligence Community Centers for Academic ExcellenceRubinBrown logo

Gold Sponsors

KU Innovation Park logoEnterprise KC logo

 

Sliver Sponsors

KC Tech Council logoGarmin logo