
Public Sector Cyber AI Convergence Summit
June 18, 2025 | 7:30am – 3:00pm ET | Carahsoft Conference and Collaboration Center
**6 CPE Credits Available
Summit Begins in...
Day(s)
:
Hour(s)
:
Minute(s)
:
Second(s)
8:45 AM
Opening Remarks
Smarter, Faster, Safer: Where AI Meets Mission-Driven Cybersecurity and Efficiency

Oki Mek
Chief Information Security Officer for Microsoft Federal Civilian & ATARC's Industry Chair
9:00 AM
AI-Driven Insights for Enhanced Cyber Resilience
Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing how federal agencies tackle cybersecurity challenges. This session delves into AI’s role in identifying vulnerabilities, predicting potential threats, and enhancing decision-making processes in cyber defense. Panelists will share actionable insights from real-world applications, showcasing how AI supports mission-critical operations and drives resilience across the public sector.

Dr. Martin Stanley
AI & Cyber Researcher, National Institute of Standards and Technology

Jennifer Franks
Director, Center for Enhanced Cybersecurity and Analytics Foundry, U.S. Government Accountability Office

Dr. Merrick Watchorn
Chief Cyber, Quantum & Cognitive Information Services Architect, Office of the Chief Information Officer, U.S. Air Force

Keegan Mills
Engineering IT & Cyber Technology Lead, Marine Corps Systems Command, U.S. Marine Corps

Darek Kitlinski
Chief Technology Officer, A1, U.S. Air Force (Pending Agency Approval)

Michael Woods
Assistant Director (Acting), Directorate of Operational Technology and Cyber Innovation, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, U.S. Navy (Pending)

Moderator: Jory Heckman
Senior Reporter, Federal News Network
9:45 AM
Emerging Technology Talk
Securing the Digital Frontier: Prisma AIRS for Federal AI Innovation
Enterprise AI applications and agents are rapidly transforming the operational landscape for U.S. government agencies, presenting significant opportunities for increased efficiency and innovation. However, this widespread adoption also introduces new cybersecurity challenges. As AI systems become more integrated, organizations are exposed to sophisticated threats, such as prompt injection attacks and the risk of sensitive data leakage through AI-driven processes. This presentation will introduce Prisma AIRS, a comprehensive solution designed to address these emerging security concerns. Join Matt Marsden for an informative session on Prisma AIRS, where you will learn how to:
 – Achieve full visibility into your AI ecosystem: Understand your AI applications, models, and data flows across all deployment environments.
 – Ensure secure communication: Protect the integrity and confidentiality of interactions between AI components.
 – Detect and respond to threats: Identify and mitigate real-time risks such as prompt injections, malicious URL invocations, and data exfiltration attempts.
By securing your entire AI infrastructure with Prisma AIRS, government cybersecurity leaders can confidently leverage AI technologies to enhance mission capabilities while maintaining rigorous security standards.

Matt Marsden
Senior Director, Solutions Consulting, Palo Alto Networks
9:55 AM
Emerging Technology Talk
Leveraging Generative AI to Revolutionize Cyber Training and Enhance SOC Capabilities
Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is revolutionizing the world of cybersecurity in diverse ways. In this presentation, we describe how to leverage GenAI for two use cases: (1) training and skill enhancement of cyber personnel and (2) enhancing the capabilities of Security Operations Center (SOC) analysts. For each use case, we offer a high-level approach for applying GenAI and some of the key benefits and opportunities.

Jason Ballah
VP of DoD Programs, Electrosoft
10:05 AM
Break in the Emerging Technology Showcase
10:30 AM
Emerging Technology Talk
How AI Can Keep Government Applications Secure against Tomorrow’s Cyber Threats
Addressing security vulnerabilities is a crucial yet burdensome task for government software developers, requiring considerable time, extensive research, and frequent context-switching. Join this session to see how OpenText is building upon its decade-long heritage as the leading application security provider to U.S. government agencies by applying AI and LLM to drive faster, easier auditing and remediation for SAST vulnerabilities. Discover how leading organizations are shredding their security backlog with AI-powered code fix suggestions, drastically reducing the time developers spend remediating code security issues.
OpenText Core Application Security (formerly Fortify on Demand), FedRAMP authorized on AWS GovCloud since 2015, is the first and leading cloud-accessible managed application security testing platform for the U.S. Federal government. With access to OpenText Core Application Security, government agencies can quickly, easily, cost effectively and confidently perform application security testing and obtain the fastest, most accurate results available.

Keith Nelson
Head of Public Sector Marketing, OpenText
10:45 AM
Securing Data: The Role of AI in Strengthening Cyber Defense
As data security challenges grow increasingly complex, federal agencies are turning to AI to safeguard sensitive information. This session will delve into AI’s transformative role in enhancing data protection through advanced threat detection, real-time anomaly identification, and automated incident response. Experts will share insights into the integration of AI tools, lessons learned from recent implementations, and strategies to ensure data integrity and resilience in an ever-evolving threat landscape. Join us to explore how AI can be a critical ally in advancing federal cybersecurity efforts.

Col Travis Hartman
Chief Technology Officer, Army Forces Command, U.S. Army

Dr. Murat Kantarcioglu
Professor & Commonwealth Cyber Initiative Faculty Fellow, Virginia Tech

Derek Mueller
Cybersecurity Advisor, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

David Voelker
Standardization Officer, Naval Warfare Systems Command, U.S. Navy

Daniel Buchholz
Red Cell Chief, Monitoring and Incident Response Division, U.S. Department of State

Tamara Lilly
Assistant Inspector General, Cybersecurity & IT Audits, Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Health & Human Services

Moderator: John Curran
Executive Editor, MeriTalk
11:30 AM
ATARC Working Group Briefing
Members of ATARC’s Artificial Intelligence Working Group will share insights on the evolving adoption of AI across the federal government. This briefing will highlight current use cases, emerging trends, and key challenges—including ethical implementation, cybersecurity risks, and the need for adaptive policy frameworks to support responsible innovation.

Tony Boese
Government Working Group Chair

Ken Farber
Industry Working Group Chair
11:45 AM
Lunch in the Emerging Technology Showcase
12:45 PM
Afternoon Keynote Briefing

Arjuna Swaminathan
Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
1:05 PM
Building Cyber-Ready Teams with AI Tools
Integrating AI into cybersecurity operations demands a workforce that can effectively leverage emerging technologies. This session focuses on preparing federal teams for the challenges and opportunities of AI-powered cyber defense. Experts will share approaches to skill-building, change management, and fostering a collaborative culture where human expertise and AI tools work in tandem to protect critical systems.

Dr. Steven Harrison
GG 15 Chief Engineer of the EMBM-J, DISA; Capitol Technology University AI Doctoral Chair and Professor

Rudolf Rojas
IT Cybersecurity Manager, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Anna Libkhen
IT Security Specialist, Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce

Landon Shaw
Senior Enterprise Architect, Enterprise Operations Center, Department of Technology Services, Administrative Office of the US Courts

Moderator: Frank Konkel
Editor-in-Chief, GovExec
1:50 PM
Scaling AI Efficiently Across Federal Cybersecurity Operations
Scaling AI across federal cybersecurity operations requires overcoming barriers to adoption and integration while maximizing efficiency. This session examines the lifecycle of AI deployment, from conceptual pilots to agency-wide implementation, with a focus on streamlining processes and optimizing security outcomes. Panelists will discuss key considerations such as model governance, ethical frameworks, and the technical strategies that enable AI to enhance cybersecurity efforts while maintaining operational integrity and resource efficiency.

Brian Peretti
Former Federal Executive, U.S. Government

Dr. Kenneth Clark
Assistant Director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Tameika Turner
Senior Cybersecurity SME, National Nuclear Security Administration, U.S. Department of Energy

Moderator: Amber Corrin
Consultant, ATARC