March 17 - 18, 2026
| MGM National Harbor Hotel & Casino, MD
Day 1 - March 25, 2025
Homeland Security Threats Focus
Main Stage
7:15 - 8:45 Morning Registration & NetworkingMain Stage
8:15 - 8:20 MANTECH OPENING REMARKSSponsored by: ManTech
Main Stage
8:20 - 8:30 CHAIRPERSON OPENING REMARKSMain Stage
8:30 - 9:15 CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP DISCUSSION ON BORDER SECURITY Nelson Balido - Chairman, Border Commerce and Security CouncilCongressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX) - Texas’ 28th Congressional District, US House of Representatives
Main Stage
9:15 - 9:45 PANEL DISCUSSION: IMPLEMENTION OF AI IN THE ENTERPRISE ENVIROMENT Michelle Zebrowski - Chief Data Officer, US Customs and Border Protection- The top impediments to getting AI systems integrated into production systems and operations
- Lessons learned and best practices for AI in the enterprise
- Security concerns with AI and how to address them
- Data requirements and data governance: how to ensure data is secure, accessible, timely, accurate, and cataloged.
Sponsored by: ManTech
Main Stage
9:45 - 10:15 KEYNOTE: CBP’S EFFORTS TO LEVERAGE ARTIFICAL INTELLIGENCE Sunil Madhugiri - Chief Technology Officer, US Customs and Border Protection- How AI and automation are streamlining the border security processes
- Impact of integrating advanced AI models to improve operations
- CBP’s plans for future technology investments and innovations
Main Stage
10:15 - 11:00 NETWORKING AND COFFEE BREAK IN EXHIBITION FOYER
Main Stage
10:15 - 10:45 BIOMETRICS AT THE BORDER: IMPROVING THE BORDER CONTROL EXPERIENCE AT AIRPORTS AND OTHER CHECKPOINTS- Biometrics offer opportunities to both streamline border control and make it more secure, while providing a better experience for both users and agents through consistency
- Frees up agents to focus on higher-risk individuals
- We discuss the use case of Singapore, where an integrated biometrics-based border control system has been implemented at every border checkpoint (land, air, and sea)
- We discuss some of the technical considerations in implementing the technology
Sponsored by: IDEMIA
Main Stage
11:30 - 12:00 KEYNOTE: THE FUTURE OF BORDER SECURITY: A VISION FOR A SAFER HOMELAND- Border Patrol’s vision for the future, including priorities and goals for the next decade
- Responding to evolving threats with flexible and adaptive strategies
- Enhancing partnerships with industry and international stakeholders to address shared challenges
- Building a secure and resilient border infrastructure through innovation, collaboration, and leadership
Main Stage
12:00 - 12:30 INDUSTRY INSIGHT SESSION- HOSTED BY ECHODYNESponsored by: Echodyne
Main Stage
12:30 - 13:45 Lunch and NetworkingTrack A
13:45 - 14:15 BALANCING SECURITY AND TRADE: OPTIMIZING BORDER OPERATIONS Nelson Balido - Chairman, Border Commerce and Security Council- How CBP utilizes emerging technology to keep a secure border while streamlining trade
- Strategies for balancing security with efficient trade flow
- Impact of border security measures on international trade
Track A
14:15 - 14:45 FIRESIDE CHAT: FOLLOW THE MONEY: USING BLOCKCHAIN INTELLIGENCE TO TARGET DRUG TRAFFICKING PROFITS Kyle Armstrong - Director of Law Enforcement Relations, TRM Labs, Inc.Mike Prado - Deputy Assistant Director, Homeland Security Investigations, Department of Homeland Security Cyber Crime Center
- Understanding the financial ecosystem of fentanyl traffickers
- HSI’s approach to tracing illicit funds
- Future of blockchain intelligence in drug enforcement
Sponsored by: TRM Labs
Mike Prado
Deputy Assistant Director, Homeland Security InvestigationsDepartment of Homeland Security Cyber Crime Center
Track A
14:45 - 15:15 COUNTERING MARITIME THREATS: STRATEGIES AND OPERATIONS OF THE USCG Lisa Schleder-Kirkpatrick - Deputy Assistant Commandant for Capability, US Coast Guard- USGC strategies for countering drug trafficking and human smuggling
- Technological advancements and future acquisitions in maritime surveillance and enforcement
- Ensuring readiness and resilience in USCG operations
- Importance of international and interagency partnerships and collaboration
Track A
15:15 - 16:00 NETWORKING AND COFFEE BREAK IN EXHIBITION FOYER
Track A
15:15 - 16:00 WOMEN IN DEFENSE AND GOVERNMENT NETWORKING BREAK
Track A
16:00 - 16:30 ENSURING PUBLIC SAFETY: ICE’S ROLE IN IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT- Balancing enforcement with community safety and human rights
- Case studies of significant enforcement operations
- Future directions in immigrant enforcement policy
Track A
16:30 - 17:00 INDUSTRY INSIGHT SESSION- HOSTED BY GDIT
Track A
17:00 - 17:30 CAPTSTONE KEYNOTE: THE EVOLVING CHALLENGES OF BORDER SECURITY: A FRONTLINE PERSPECTIVE- The impact of border security funding and policy changes on frontline operations
- The impact of migrant flows on border enforcement
- Countering drug and human trafficking: Operational challenges and success stories
- How priorities have shifted under POTUS declaration
Track A
17:30 - 17:35 Chairperson Closing Remarks Nelson Balido - Chairman, Border Commerce and Security CouncilTrack B
13:45 - 14:15 PANEL DISCUSSION: SECURING CYBER THREAT OPERATIONS: BALANCING PHYSICAL AND CYBER SECURITY IN A COMPLEX LANDSCAPE RADM, USN (ret.) Mark Montgomery - Director, Cyberspace Solarium Commission, Center on Cyber and Technology InnovationJason Bilnoski - Section Chief, Senior Liaison to the NSA and US Cyber Command,, Federal Bureau of Investigation Cyber Division
Kristina Walter - Director, NSA Cybersecurity Collaboration Center, NSA Cybersecurity Directorate
- The convergence of physical and cyber threats and how law enforcement/DHS is addressing them.
- Innovative strategies for securing government facilities and digital infrastructure.
- The role of insider threat programs and personnel vetting in maintaining operational security.
RADM, USN (ret.) Mark Montgomery
Director, Cyberspace Solarium CommissionCenter on Cyber and Technology Innovation
Jason Bilnoski
Section Chief, Senior Liaison to the NSA and US Cyber Command,Federal Bureau of Investigation Cyber Division
Kristina Walter
Director, NSA Cybersecurity Collaboration CenterNSA Cybersecurity Directorate
Track B
14:15 - 14:45 COST AWARE PRODUCT DECISIONS IN THE CLOUD ERASponsored by: ManTech
Track B
14:45 - 15:15 EMPOWERING GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY: INTEGRATING AI, SECURITY, AND DATA MODERNIZATION FOR OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE Jim Cosby - CTO, Public Sector and Partners, NetApp US Public Sector, Inc.- Intelligent Data Infrastructure
- Optimal data architecture for any agency hybrid multi-cloud environment
- Efficiency of data, cost, and time to optimize savings and mission execution
- Flexibility and mobility for any organizational data in any location
- Security built-in by default to help enhance zero trust needs
- Backup and recover data in seconds to strengthen cyber resilience
- AI data classification capability built-in to enhance efficiency, governance, and compliance
- AI data storage optimization to expedite any AI/ML/DL operational outcome
Sponsored by: NetApp
Track B
15:15 - 16:00 NETWORKING AND COFFEE BREAK IN EXHIBITION FOYER
Track B
15:15 - 16:00 WOMEN IN DEFENSE AND GOVERNMENT NETWORKING BREAK
Track B
16:00 - 16:30 INDUSTRY INSIGHT SESSION- HOSTED BY WIZ
Track B
16:30 - 17:00 THE FUTURE STATE OF CYBER SECURITY: GOING BEYOND ZERO TRUST AND TOWARD CYBERSECURITY AS AN INTELLIGENT ECOSYSTEM- Rapidly expanding attack surfaces and AI-backed threat actors are reshaping cybersecurity challenges.
- The limitations of zero trust in addressing AI-amplified threats and USCIS's shift toward a data-driven security approach.
- Transitioning from traditional SIEM and SOAR tools to near real-time observability streaming powered by risk intelligence.
- Leveraging open-source practices and standards to enhance adaptability and resilience in enterprise security.
Track B
17:00 - 17:30 CAPSTONE KEYNOTE: LEVERAGING OPERATIONAL TECHNOLOGY FOR REAL-TIME INTELLIGNECCE GATHERING David Nanz - Assistant Director, Operational Technology Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation- Explore how operational technology enables the continuous collection and processing of data from multiple sources
- Discuss the role of AI and machine learning in analysing vast amounts of real-time data
- Examine the technical and logistical challenges associated with implementing real-time operational technology in investigations
David Nanz
Assistant Director, Operational Technology DivisionFederal Bureau of Investigation
Track B
17:30 - 17:35 Chairperson Closing Remarks RADM, USN (ret.) Mark Montgomery - Director, Cyberspace Solarium Commission, Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation
RADM, USN (ret.) Mark Montgomery
Director, Cyberspace Solarium CommissionCenter on Cyber and Technology Innovation
