National Security Experts | The Cipher Brief Annual Threat Conference

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Now Available!

October 24-26, 2021 | Sea Island, GA

The Cipher Brief Annual Threat Conference is the premier national security conference of the year focused on public and private sector engagement around the country’s most pressing national security issues.

Attendance is by invitation only and is limited to professionals working in the national security space.

Our 2021 Agenda is focused on navigating to a new post-pandemic future and examining ways the public and private sectors can work efficiently to address national security threats emanating from China, Russia, cyber and space. We will also focus on the application and impact of artificial intelligence and machine learning in the national security environment via tabletop exercises, guest speakers and networking sessions.

Come prepared to engage, contribute to the conversation and present new ideas for tackling our most pressing challenges.

Seats are limited. Apply for your invitation to attend today.

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Conference Speakers

More speakers named daily

The Honorable Susan Gordon

The Honorable Susan Gordon

Former PDDNI

Susan M. Gordon was sworn in as the fifth Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence (PDDNI) on August 7, 2017. As PDDNI, Ms. Gordon assisted the DNI in leading the Intelligence Community (IC) and managing the ODNI. In particular, she focused on advancing intelligence integration across the IC, expanding outreach and partnerships, and driving innovation across the Community.

With nearly three decades of experience in the IC, Ms. Gordon has served in a variety of leadership roles spanning numerous intelligence organizations and disciplines. Most recently, Ms. Gordon served as the Deputy Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) from 2015 to 2017. In this role, she helped the director lead the agency and manage the National System of Geospatial Intelligence. She drove NGA’s transformation to meet the challenges of a 21st century intelligence agency. She also championed agile governance, recruitment and retention of a diverse workforce, and expansion of geospatial intelligence services to the open marketplace. She is known for her commitment to diversity and inclusion and, to the women and men of the IC.

Prior to her assignment with NGA, Ms. Gordon served for 27 years at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), rising to senior executive positions in each of the Agency’s four directorates: operations, analysis, science and technology, and support. She joined the CIA in 1980 as an analyst in the Office of Scientific and Weapons Research, and went on to serve as the Director of the Office of Advanced Analytic Tools, Director of Special Activities in the Directorate of Science and Technology, Director for Support, and ultimately in concurrent roles as Director of the Information Operations Center and the CIA Director’s senior advisor on cyber. In 1998, she designed and drove the formation of In-Q-Tel, a private, non-profit company whose primary purpose is to deliver innovative technology solutions for the agency and the IC. Ms. Gordon has been recognized for her creative executive leadership through numerous awards, including the Presidential Rank Award at the distinguished level.

Sir Jeremy Fleming

Sir Jeremy Fleming

Director of GCHQ (UK)

Sir Jeremy Fleming is the Director of GCHQ, the UK’s Intelligence, Cyber and Security Agency. He was appointed in 2017 and is the 16th person to hold the role.

After an early career in the financial sector, Jeremy joined MI5 in 1993. He gained extensive operational, investigative and leadership experience across the full range of national security work. He helped shape MI5’s response to the London terrorist attacks in 2005, led the revision and publication of the Government’s counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST, and was promoted to Assistant Director General to lead MI5’s preparations for the London 2012 Olympics. He then spent four years as Deputy Director General with responsibility for all investigations and operations.

In GCHQ, Jeremy has overseen the creation of the National Cyber Security Centre with a mission to make the UK the safest place to live and do business online. It has become a world leader in bringing together Government, industry and international partners to address cyber threats and inform the public. Jeremy has led a significant period of growth in the Agency, with the development of a strategic base in Manchester and a focus on diversity and inclusion. In 2019 he led GCHQ’s centenary celebrations with the publication of a landmark official history. And in 2020, a new partnership with the MoD was announced to create a National Cyber Force charged with delivering cyber operations.

Jeremy was made a Companion of the Order of Bath in 2016 and Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in 2021 for services to national security. He is also Honorary Colonel of JSSO(V). He holds a degree in Economic and Social History from the University of Bristol and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and of the Institute of Engineering and Technology.

Nick Fishwick

Former Senior Member, of the British Foreign Office

Nick Fishwick CMG retired in 2012 after nearly thirty years in the British Foreign Service. He did postings in Lagos, Istanbul and Kabul. His responsibilities in London included director of security and, after returning from Afghanistan in 2007, director for counter-terrorism. His final role was as director general for international operations. Nick Fishwick also spent three years on a secondment to UK Customs, specialising in international drug enforcement and tax evasion issues.

Rick Ledgett

Former Deputy Director of the NSA

Rick Ledgett served as the Deputy Director of the National Security Agency from January 2014 until his retirement in April 2017, culminating a nearly 40 year career in cryptology at NSA and in the U.S. Army. He previously led the Media Leaks Task Force, the Agency’s response to the Snowden leaks. He was the first National Intelligence Manager for Cyber at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and he directed NSA’s 24/7 cyber threat operations center. Ledgett currently serves on the board of M&T Bank, is a senior visiting fellow at MITRE, a member of the National Infrastructure Advisory Council, and a Board Trustee at IDA.

David Petraeus

Chairman of KKR Global Institute

General David H. Petraeus (US Army, Ret.) is a Partner and Chairman of the KKR Global Institute, which he established in May 2013. He is also a member of the boards of directors of Optiv and FirstStream, a venture investor in some 20 startups, and engaged in a variety of academic endeavors. Prior to joining KKR, General Petraeus served over 37 years in the U.S. military, culminating his career with six consecutive commands, five of which were in combat, including command of the Surge in Iraq, command of U.S. Central Command, and command of coalition forces in Afghanistan.

Paul Kolbe

Director of The Intelligence Project at Harvard University’s Belfer Center

Paul Kolbe is Director of The Intelligence Project at Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Prior to this, Kolbe led BP’s global Intelligence and Analysis team supporting threat warning, risk mitigation, and crisis response. Prior to joining BP, Kolbe served 25 years as an operations officer in the CIA. He was a member of the Senior Intelligence Service, and is a recipient of the Intelligence Medal of Merit and the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal. Mr. Kolbe served in Russia, the Balkans, Indonesia, East Germany, Zimbabwe, and Austria. In course of his career, he served as station chief and in a variety of senior operational leadership and training roles.

Kevin Mandia

CEO and Board Director of FireEye

Kevin has served as FireEye Chief Executive Officer since June 2016 and was appointed to the company’s Board of Directors in February 2016. He was previously President of FireEye from February 2015 until June 2016. Kevin joined FireEye as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in December 2013, when FireEye acquired Mandiant, the company he founded in 2004. Before Mandiant, Kevin was the Director of Computer Forensics at Foundstone (acquired by McAfee Corporation) from 2000 to 2003, and the Director of Information Security for Sytex (later acquired by Lockheed Martin) from 1998 to 2000. Kevin also served in the United States Air Force, where he was a computer security officer in the 7th Communications Group at the Pentagon, and a special agent in the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI).

Kevin holds a B.S. in computer science from Lafayette College and a M.S. in forensic science from The George Washington University.

Norm Roule

Former National Intelligence Manager for Iran, ODNI

Norman T. Roule served for 34 years in the Central Intelligence Agency, managing numerous programs relating to Iran and the Middle East. He served as the National Intelligence Manager for Iran (NIM-I) at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence from November 2008 until September 2017. As NIM-I, he was the principal Intelligence Community (IC) official responsible for overseeing all aspects of national intelligence policy and activities related to Iran, to include IC engagement on Iran issues with senior policy makers in the National Security Council and the Department of State.

Mr. Roule’s service in the CIA’s Directorate of Operations included roles as Division Chief, Deputy Division Chief and Chief of Station. He has held multiple senior assignments in Washington as well as during his 15 years working overseas.

Mr. Roule currently serves as a Senior Adviser to the Counter Extremism Project and United Against Nuclear Iran.

GENERAL ATTENDEES

$3800

The General Admission Pass provides admission to the keynote speeches and plenary sessions.

CIPHER BRIEF MEMBERS

*

$3400

Discount Code Required

The Member Pass provides admission to the keynote speeches and plenary sessions.

MILITARY/GOV/PRESS

*

$2600

Discount Code Required

The Government Employee Pass provides admission to the keynote speeches and plenary sessions.

Proof of eligibility will be required.

*Promotional discounts are applied at checkout.

Threat Conference attendance is by invitation only. This invitation will grant access to the registration page. Click here to request an invitation.

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