GUCS Conference Agenda & Panel Details

10:00 AM – 10:10 AM

Opening Remarks ~ Host Keaton Ballard of GradGov

10:10 AM – 10:40 AM

Keynote: Cybersecurity Leadership in an Era of AI and Global Risk

This keynote sets the stage for the conference by exploring how cybersecurity leadership is evolving in response to artificial intelligence, global threats, and digital transformation. Drawing from experience across academia and practice, this session highlights emerging challenges, workforce development, and the future of cyber risk management.

Speaker:

Frederic Lemieux — Professor of the Practice and Faculty Director, Georgetown University

10:40 AM – 10:45 AM

Q&A

10:45 AM – 11:15 AM

Panel 1: Industry and Innovation — Securing the Private Sector in a Rapidly Evolving Threat Landscape

This panel examines how private sector leaders are addressing increasingly complex cybersecurity threats while enabling innovation. As organizations adopt cloud technologies, AI, and scalable infrastructures, security leaders must balance risk, identity management, and operational resilience. Panelists will share insights on real-world challenges, emerging attack vectors, and strategies for protecting enterprise systems in a fast-moving environment.

Speakers:

Omar Khawaja — CISO, Databricks
Zubaid Kazmi — Managing Director, Identity and Access Management, MorganFranklin Cyber
Adam Brown — Penetration Tester, M9 Solutions
Scott Rubin — Senior Program Manager, GCI

11:15 AM – 11:20 AM

Q&A

11:20 AM – 11:50 AM

Panel 2: Government — Cyber Policy, National Security, and Public Sector Leadership

This panel focuses on the intersection of cybersecurity, public policy, and national security. As cyber threats increasingly impact critical infrastructure and public trust, government leaders play a key role in shaping strategy, coordination, and response. Panelists will discuss policy development, interagency collaboration, and the challenges of defending national systems in an evolving threat landscape.

Speakers:
David Henderson — Presidential Communicator/IT Manager, The Joint Staff
Matthew Noyes — Cyber Policy & Strategy Director, U.S. Secret Service
Justyna P. Zwolak — Research Mathematician, NIST
Theron Urbano — Senior Information Chief, U.S. Army; Project Manager, Applied Information Sciences (AIS).

11:50 AM – 11:55 AM

Q&A

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Lunch Provided

1:00 PM – 1:30 PM

Panel 3: Academia — Bridging Research, Education, and Cyber Workforce Development

This panel explores the role of academia in shaping the future of cybersecurity through research, education, and interdisciplinary collaboration. As the demand for skilled professionals grows, academic institutions play a critical role in preparing the workforce and advancing knowledge in areas such as AI, policy, and applied intelligence. Panelists will discuss how education aligns with industry needs and emerging technologies.

Speakers:

Shadi Abouzeid — Assistant Professor of the Practice, Georgetown SCS
Sasha Cohen O’Connell — Head of Security Strategy, CoreWeave; Former Lecturer, American University
Phuong Nguyen — Adjunct Lecturer, Georgetown SCS; Cybersecurity Leader, GH Trans North America; U.S. Air Force Veteran

Sarah Nagy — Founder/CEO of Seek AI (acquired by IBM) and a former quantitative data leader at Citadel and Wall Street

1:30 PM – 1:35 PM

Q&A

1:35 PM – 4:30 PM

CTF Challenge Hosted by Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) Georgetown Chapter