top of page
October 7–10, 2023 | Sea Island, GA
The Cipher Brief Threat Conference is the premier forum for a non-partisan discussion of global threats and solutions and creates high-level engagement opportunities focused on understanding national and global security threats.
Join us in Sea Island, GA for this one-of-a-kind, invite-only global threat conference featuring dozens of high-level experts from The Cipher Brief’s Expert Network as well as Executives from some of the world’s leading private sector companies. Reserve your place at the table early before tickets sell out.
2023 Threat Conference
October 7–10, 2023
"It's not about who's on stage. It's about who's in the room."
CHECK OUT OUR PODCASTS
State Secrets
The Cipher Brief State Secrets Podcast is a weekly interview featuring Cipher Brief experts and national security leaders.
Open Source Report
This is The Cipher Brief's curated collection of breaking national news stories that you won’t find anywhere else.
2023 Conference Speakers
Leaders from the Government and Private Sector
William Burns
Director of the CIA
Bill Burns was officially sworn in as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency on March 19, 2021, making him the first career diplomat to serve as Director. Director Burns holds the highest rank in the Foreign Service—Career Ambassador—and is only the second serving career diplomat in history to become Deputy Secretary of State.
Director Burns retired from the State Department U.S. Foreign Service in 2014 before becoming president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Director Burns is a crisis-tested public servant who spent his 33-year diplomatic career working to keep Americans safe and secure. Prior to his tenure as Deputy Secretary of State, he served as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs from 2008 to 2011; U.S. Ambassador to Russia from 2005 to 2008; Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs from 2001 to 2005; and U.S. Ambassador to Jordan from 1998 to 2001. He was also Executive Secretary of the State Department and Special Assistant to former Secretaries of State Warren Christopher and Madeleine Albright; Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow; Acting Director and Principal Deputy Director of the State Department’s Policy Planning Staff; and Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Near East and South Asian Affairs at the National Security Council.
Director Burns received three Presidential Distinguished Service Awards and the highest civilian honors from the Pentagon and the U.S. Intelligence Community. He is the author of the best-selling book, The Back Channel: A Memoir of American Diplomacy and the Case for Its Renewal (2019). He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from LaSalle University and master’s and doctoral degrees in international relations from Oxford University, where he studied as a Marshall Scholar.
Bill Burns was officially sworn in as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency on March 19, 2021, making him the first career diplomat to serve as Director. Director Burns holds the highest rank in the Foreign Service—Career Ambassador—and is only the second serving career diplomat in history to become Deputy Secretary of State.
Director Burns retired from the State Department U.S. Foreign Service in 2014 before becoming president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Director Burns is a crisis-tested public servant who spent his 33-year diplomatic career working to keep Americans safe and secure. Prior to his tenure as Deputy Secretary of State, he served as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs from 2008 to 2011; U.S. Ambassador to Russia from 2005 to 2008; Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs from 2001 to 2005; and U.S. Ambassador to Jordan from 1998 to 2001. He was also Executive Secretary of the State Department and Special Assistant to former Secretaries of State Warren Christopher and Madeleine Albright; Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow; Acting Director and Principal Deputy Director of the State Department’s Policy Planning Staff; and Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Near East and South Asian Affairs at the National Security Council.
Director Burns received three Presidential Distinguished Service Awards and the highest civilian honors from the Pentagon and the U.S. Intelligence Community. He is the author of the best-selling book, The Back Channel: A Memoir of American Diplomacy and the Case for Its Renewal (2019). He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from LaSalle University and master’s and doctoral degrees in international relations from Oxford University, where he studied as a Marshall Scholar.
Dr. Stacy Dixon
Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence
Ronald Moultrie
Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security
Admiral Frank Whitworth
Director, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
Admiral James Stavridis (Ret.)
Former Supreme Allied Commander, NATO
Admiral Stavridis (Ret.) was the 16th Supreme Allied Commander at NATO and 12th Dean of The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, where he earned a PhD in international affairs. He is currently Vice Chair, Global Affairs and Managing Director at The Carlyle Group and Chair of the Board of the Rockefeller Foundation. Admiral Stavridis is the author of twelve books, including Sea Power: The History and Geopolitics of the World’s Oceans and Sailing True North: Ten Admirals and the Voyage of Character. 2034: A Novel of the Next World War speculates about a US-China conflict. His latest book, To Risk It All: Nine Conflicts and the Crucible of Decision, was released in May 2022.
Admiral Stavridis (Ret.) was the 16th Supreme Allied Commander at NATO and 12th Dean of The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, where he earned a PhD in international affairs. He is currently Vice Chair, Global Affairs and Managing Director at The Carlyle Group and Chair of the Board of the Rockefeller Foundation. Admiral Stavridis is the author of twelve books, including Sea Power: The History and Geopolitics of the World’s Oceans and Sailing True North: Ten Admirals and the Voyage of Character. 2034: A Novel of the Next World War speculates about a US-China conflict. His latest book, To Risk It All: Nine Conflicts and the Crucible of Decision, was released in May 2022.
The Hon. Susan M. Gordon
Former Principal Deputy Director for National Intelligence, ODNI
The Honorable Susan M. Gordon is former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence (PDDNI). Prior to ODNI, Gordon served in multiple leadership roles in the IC including as Deputy Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and 27 years at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), where she held senior executive positions in four of the Agency’s directorates. In 1998, she designed and drove the formation of In-Q-Tel, a private, non-profit company created to deliver innovative technology solutions for the agency and the IC.
The Honorable Susan M. Gordon is former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence (PDDNI). Prior to ODNI, Gordon served in multiple leadership roles in the IC including as Deputy Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and 27 years at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), where she held senior executive positions in four of the Agency’s directorates. In 1998, she designed and drove the formation of In-Q-Tel, a private, non-profit company created to deliver innovative technology solutions for the agency and the IC.
General David Petraeus (Ret.)
Former Director of the CIA
General David Petraeus (US Army, Ret) served over 37 years in the U.S. military, culminating his career with six consecutive commands, five of which were combat, including command of the Multi-National Force-Iraq during the Surge, U.S. Central Command, and Coalition and U.S. Forces in Afghanistan. He subsequently served as Director of the CIA. He is now a partner in a global investment firm (and chairs the firm’s global institute), a member of a number of private and public boards, engaged in several academic appointments, a private venture capitalist, and a regular contributor to discussions on global security and economic issues. He graduated with distinction from the U.S. Military Academy in 1974 and later earned a Ph.D. in international relations and economics from Princeton University.
General David Petraeus (US Army, Ret) served over 37 years in the U.S. military, culminating his career with six consecutive commands, five of which were combat, including command of the Multi-National Force-Iraq during the Surge, U.S. Central Command, and Coalition and U.S. Forces in Afghanistan. He subsequently served as Director of the CIA. He is now a partner in a global investment firm (and chairs the firm’s global institute), a member of a number of private and public boards, engaged in several academic appointments, a private venture capitalist, and a regular contributor to discussions on global security and economic issues. He graduated with distinction from the U.S. Military Academy in 1974 and later earned a Ph.D. in international relations and economics from Princeton University.
Rob Joyce
Director of the Cybersecurity Directorate, National Security Agency
Matt Olsen
Assistant Attorney General for National Security
Nick Fishwick
Former Senior Member of the British Foreign Office
Nick Fishwick CMG retired after nearly thirty years in the British Foreign Service. His postings included Lagos, Istanbul and Kabul. His responsibilities in London included director of security and, after returning from Afghanistan in 2007, he served as director for counter-terrorism. His final role was as director general for international operations.
Nick Fishwick CMG retired after nearly thirty years in the British Foreign Service. His postings included Lagos, Istanbul and Kabul. His responsibilities in London included director of security and, after returning from Afghanistan in 2007, he served as director for counter-terrorism. His final role was as director general for international operations.
Mike Sulick
Former Director, CIA National Clandestine Service
Michael Sulick is the former director of CIA’s National Clandestine Service and is currently a consultant on counterintelligence and global risk assessment. Sulick also served as Chief of Counterintelligence and Chief of the Central Eurasia Division where he was responsible for intelligence collection operations and foreign liaison relationships in Russia, Eastern Europe and the former republics of the Soviet Union. He is the author of Spying in America: Espionage From the Revolutionary War to the Dawn of the Cold War and American Spies: Espionage Against the United States from the Cold War to the Present.
Michael Sulick is the former director of CIA’s National Clandestine Service and is currently a consultant on counterintelligence and global risk assessment. Sulick also served as Chief of Counterintelligence and Chief of the Central Eurasia Division where he was responsible for intelligence collection operations and foreign liaison relationships in Russia, Eastern Europe and the former republics of the Soviet Union. He is the author of Spying in America: Espionage From the Revolutionary War to the Dawn of the Cold War and American Spies: Espionage Against the United States from the Cold War to the Present.
Tonya Ugoretz
Assistant Director, Directorate of Intelligence, FBI
Brett Holmgren
Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research
Cynthia Kaiser
Deputy Assistant Director, FBI Cyber
Estaban Castaño
Co-founder and CEO of TRM Labs
Esteban Castaño is the co-founder and CEO of TRM Labs. Prior to TRM, Castaño worked on global youth unemployment at Generation, and before that, at McKinsey & Company as a management consultant focused on the fintech sector. He holds a BA in Government from Dartmouth and withdrew from Stanford Graduate School of Business to co-found TRM.
Esteban Castaño is the co-founder and CEO of TRM Labs. Prior to TRM, Castaño worked on global youth unemployment at Generation, and before that, at McKinsey & Company as a management consultant focused on the fintech sector. He holds a BA in Government from Dartmouth and withdrew from Stanford Graduate School of Business to co-found TRM.
Bill Harlow
Senior Book Editor, The Cipher Brief
Few people combine the knowledge Bill Harlow has of the worlds of intelligence, national security and publishing. He served on active duty in the United States Navy for 25 years – retiring as a Captain. During that time, he served as Assistant White House Press Secretary for four years and spokesman for the Secretary of the Navy for three. He swapped his uniform for a trench coat in 1997 becoming the chief spokesman for the Director of Central Intelligence – serving in that position for seven tumultuous years.
Drawing on his national security experience, Bill authored the highly entertaining novel “Circle William” published by Scribner in 1999. Since leaving government he has co-authored four New York Times best-selling books including George Tenet’s #1 “At the Center of the Storm.” He has also mentored numerous former national security officials as they tried to navigate the tricky waters of being published authors themselves.
Few people combine the knowledge Bill Harlow has of the worlds of intelligence, national security and publishing. He served on active duty in the United States Navy for 25 years – retiring as a Captain. During that time, he served as Assistant White House Press Secretary for four years and spokesman for the Secretary of the Navy for three. He swapped his uniform for a trench coat in 1997 becoming the chief spokesman for the Director of Central Intelligence – serving in that position for seven tumultuous years.
Drawing on his national security experience, Bill authored the highly entertaining novel “Circle William” published by Scribner in 1999. Since leaving government he has co-authored four New York Times best-selling books including George Tenet’s #1 “At the Center of the Storm.” He has also mentored numerous former national security officials as they tried to navigate the tricky waters of being published authors themselves.
PLATINUM PLUS SPONSORS
PLATINUM SPONSORS
PREMIER SPONSORS
SUPPORTING SPONSORS
EMERGING SPONSORS
.png)
bottom of page