Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

Opening Remarks

Eric Barricklow, Chief Information Security Officer, City of Long Beach

Lea Eriksen, Chief Information Officer, City of Long Beach

Keynote

Strengthening the Shield: Insights from the Trenches of National Security

There’s no question - public-sector leaders must continue to strengthen their cyber hygiene, foster cross-sector partnerships, and adapt to the evolving threat landscape. Join Rachel Wilson, former NSA cyber operations leader, for an engaging and action-driven keynote that bridges real-world cybersecurity expertise with the challenges of emerging technologies. Drawing on her experience safeguarding critical systems, Rachel explores the heightened risks posed by AI-enabled threats like ransomware, insider attacks, and credential exploitation. This session is a call to action for everyone, from CIOs to frontline technologists, to embrace a proactive and resilient approach to protecting critical assets in the age of AI.

Rachel Wilson, Managing Director and Chief Data Officer, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management

General Session

National Threat Briefing: Current Risks Facing Public Agencies

Nation-state actors and well-organized threat groups continue to target public infrastructure, agencies, and critical systems across the country. This session provides a timely, intelligence-based briefing from federal and state cybersecurity leaders. Panelists will walk through credible threat activity observed in recent months, including real-world examples and closed case insights where possible. This session is intended to raise awareness of the types of threats facing Southern California agencies right now and the tactics being used against government targets.

Victoria Mitchell, Supervisory Cybersecurity Advisor, Region 9, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

Networking Break in Exhibit Area

Concurrent Sessions

AI as a Workforce Multiplier: Driving Innovation with Limited Resources

Public sector agencies are being asked to deliver more services, faster, often with fewer resources. AI is emerging as a tool that can help bridge this fiscal divide by automating routine work, improving service delivery, and creating new capacity for innovation. In this session, panelists will share practical examples of how AI is streamlining operations across departments, the safeguards needed for responsible use, and how to ensure staff are empowered by these tools.

Allen Ohanian, Chief Information Security Officer, Department of Children & Family Services, County of Los Angeles

When People Are the Attack Surface: HR, Remote Work, and Insider Risk

Employees are often a public agency’s greatest asset and vulnerability. This panel brings together cybersecurity, HR, and legal experts to discuss the complexities of insider threats in a world of hybrid work and shared networks. Topics include intersection of HR and cybersecurity, the limitations of monitoring work environments, and emerging threats from both malicious insiders and inadvertent exposures. Learn how agencies can balance privacy, policy, and protection while fostering a culture of security awareness.

Brendan Daly, Chief Information Security Officer, City of San Diego

Jacob Margolis, Chief Information Security Officer, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

James Thurmond, Chief Information Security Officer, County of Los Angeles

Stronger Together: Building Regional Cybersecurity Partnerships

Effective cybersecurity often depends on collaboration beyond agency boundaries. This session highlights how local governments, counties, and districts are working together to share resources, align strategies, and respond more effectively to cyber threats. Panelists will share practical insights on setting up sustainable partnerships, coordinating during major events, and overcoming common barriers to regional cooperation.

Timothy Lee, Chief Information Security Officer, City of Los Angeles

Ed Therriault, Principal Digital Transformation Architect, Portage Cybertech

Tony Zhong, Chief Information Security Officer, Port of Los Angeles

Lunch

Bits & Bytes – From Hot Wash to Hard Fix: Making Lessons Stick

Quick responses matter but lasting change comes from reflection and follow-through. This session offers a look at how after-action reports can be used to drive meaningful improvements in cybersecurity programs. Through real-world examples, learn how to move from identifying problems to building long-term solutions that reduce risk and increase resilience.

Presenter: Lillian Russell, Chief Privacy Officer, Office of the CEO, County of Los Angeles

Short Break

Concurrent Sessions

Safeguarding Critical Infrastructure During Major Events

With global events like the World Cup and Olympics on the horizon, securing critical infrastructure has never been more urgent. This session explores how public sector agencies can protect essential systems such as utilities and transportation by managing both operational technology and traditional IT environments. Panelists will discuss strategies for multi-agency coordination, the development of joint playbooks, and the challenges of responding to both cyber threats and physical disruptions in real time.

Jim Richberg, Head of Cyber Policy and Global Field CISO, Fortinet

Data Risk Management: Classification, Access, and Protection

Public agencies handle large volumes of sensitive data, yet many lack a clear picture of where it resides or who can access it. This session covers how to build a complete inventory, apply consistent classification standards, and set effective access controls. Panelists will discuss using data loss prevention tools and managing third-party handling of sensitive information, all while balancing the realities of limited budgets and staffing.

Eric Barricklow, Chief Information Security Officer, City of Long Beach

Incident Response and Crisis Management in the Public Sector

When cybersecurity incidents disrupt essential services, the consequences can ripple across agencies and communities derailing businesses and people movement. This session focuses on building effective incident response strategies that incorporate risk management, data management, and cross-functional coordination. Panelists will share real-world lessons from recent events, identify what stakeholders beyond security to bring in, and discuss how to identify risks in less obvious places.

Lillian Russell, Chief Privacy Officer, Chief Executive Office, County of Los Angeles

Networking Break in Exhibit Area

Closing session - Cyber Reinforcements: Leveraging External Support for Response and Resilience

Cybersecurity events can require more support than internal teams can provide. This session breaks down how agencies can work with the federal external partners for response, training, and surge capacity. Attendees will learn how to initiate support requests, what to expect from these partnerships, and how recent incidents have shown the value of early coordination across jurisdictions and sectors. Panelists will also discuss how to incorporate these resources into cybersecurity planning before a crisis occurs.

Moderator: Victoria Mitchell, Supervisory Cybersecurity Advisor, Region 9, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

Chad Vargason, Chief Information Security Officer, County of San Diego

Networking Reception

End of Conference

Conference times, agenda, and speakers are subject to change.