Cyber Focus

Cyber Focus kicks off 2026 (and its 100th new episode) with rapid-fire predictions from McCrary Institute senior fellows. They flag big policy inflection points—especially whether Congress can reauthorize "CISA 2015," sustain information-sharing protections, and keep state and local cybersecurity funding on track. Tech-wise, the group focuses on AI's accelerating integration, the "speed" divide between defenders and adversaries, and emerging pressures across connectivity and infrastructure. On threats, they warn about deepfake-driven social engineering, ransomware that's getting faster and more accessible, "typhoon" intrusions, and the compounding risk of encryption and security tech debt. Main Topics Covered CISA 2015 reauthorization, information sharing, and state/local cyber funding priorities. Cyber offense and deterrence: shaping adversary behavior by imposing real costs. AI everywhere: faster attacks, faster defense, and higher infrastructure stakes. Convergence and connectivity: data centers, wireless, subsea cables, satellite, and scale. Deepfake social engineering and shrinking ransomware dwell times in 2026. "Typhoon" intrusions, critical infrastructure exposure, and major-event targeting pressure. Key Quotes "What I believe is going to overtake identity just in general is deep fake social engineering. And that means the calls that look like your CEO that tell you to get on an urgent call right now... I think I'd click on that if I didn't know better. And a lot of us in the security realm would." — Cynthia Kaiser "We're actually getting the broader dividing line between haves and have nots... If you can't move fast, you're going to need to find someone who can... If you're someone that can't receive new information and immediately improve your defensive posture, you're probably a have not." — Matt Hayden "We're seeing and hearing that the US government is interested in taking the fight to the adversaries... shaping the adversary's behavior is important because it slows them down, it imposes costs on them, and perhaps it could lead to deterrence." — Christopher Roberti "I started with China and I'm going to end with China... making sure again, we don't take our eye off the ball that wow, there may be reasons to make deals economically with China. We have to treat them as a potential adversary." — Bob Kolasky "At the end of the day, I look at as the typhoon epidemic—Salt, Vault... What is the next typhoon we're going to uncover in 2026 that's going to be driving our cybersecurity defense measures?" — Bill Evanina Relevant Links and Resources https://mccraryinstitute.com/directory/senior-fellows/

AI is speeding up cyber operations and shrinking the window for defenders to respond. Nick Andersen, who leads CISA's Cybersecurity Division, explains why Anthropic's recent report caught attention: it described what Anthropic called the first publicly reported AI-orchestrated cyber espionage campaign, in which threat actors misused its Claude models to automate and scale parts of an intrusion. Andersen and Frank Cilluffo unpack what that signal means for resilience, from model safeguards to the infrastructure and people surrounding them. They apply secure-by-design thinking to frontier AI, stress risk ownership for adopters—especially in OT—and warn against silver-bullet claims. The conversation closes on what it takes to build capacity, including KEV-driven prioritization and CISA's Scholarship for Service pipeline. Main Topics Covered Why AI changes cyber defense through speed, scale, and attacker efficiency. What the "Anthropic/Claude" case signals about resilience for AI providers. Secure-by-design expectations for AI systems and the infrastructure around them. OT adoption: governance, data flows, and safety-first decision-making. Workforce and talent pipelines, including CISA's Scholarship for Service interns. Practical prioritization: vulnerabilities, KEV, and remediation at operational pace. Key Quotes:  "If we don't engage now in having a resilience conversation around our artificial intelligence companies, we're going to see a lot more of what, what happened with Claude, in this case." – Nick Andersen "The core principles regarding what we're focused on as cyber defenders don't necessarily change here, but the speed through which I think we can expect known vulnerabilities to be weaponized and exploited in the wild now that's going to change for us." – Nick Andersen "There is no silver bullet. Anybody who has a sales pitch they're receiving that says that this AI solution is going to solve all of your problems... they should immediately become exceedingly skeptical and start asking an awful lot of questions." – Nick Andersen "OT operators are going to have some really tough conversations coming up about what control are they willing to give away... We know within the OT environment safety and security has to come first." – Nick Andersen "Our adversary has a pretty clear-eyed view of what they're trying to achieve. And it is both the opportunities for, you know, discord and societal panic." – Nick Andersen Relevant Links and Resources House Hearing: The Quantum, AI, and Cloud Landscape: Examining Opportunities, Vulnerabilities, and the Future of Cybersecurity Anthropic Report: Disrupting the first reported AI-orchestrated cyber espionage campaign CISA: Principles for the Secure Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Operational Technology CISA: Scholarship for Service Guest Bio:  Nick Andersen serves as Executive Assistant Director for CISA's Cybersecurity Division, where he leads national efforts to defend against major cyber threats and improve the resilience of U.S. critical infrastructure. He previously held senior cyber leadership roles at the White House, the Department of Energy, and in intelligence roles for the Coast Guard and Navy.   

In this re-releases episode of Cyber Focus, host Frank Cilluffo sits down with Admiral Mike Rogers (Ret.), former Commander of U.S. Cyber Command and Director of the National Security Agency. Rogers shares insights from his leadership across two administrations, discussing offensive cyber operations, the evolution of Cyber Command, and pressing national security challenges. The conversation spans from undersea cable vulnerabilities to public-private integration, the future of quantum and AI, and the enduring need for clarity in cyber policy. A decorated Auburn alum, Rogers reflects on lessons learned, historical inflection points, and what must change for the U.S. to stay ahead in the cyber domain. Main Topics Covered: Shifting to a proactive cyber posture: persistent engagement and defend forward The evolving role of Cyber Command and comparisons to SOCOM Vulnerabilities in undersea cable infrastructure and space-like situational awareness Lessons from Ukraine on real-time public-private integration Strategic implications of AI and quantum technologies Key Quotes: "I believe that what [offensive cyber actions] we ought to authorize is not just going after infrastructure but directly going after capability within those nations that are generating these effects against us." — Adm. Mike Rogers "If you're going to deter an entity, they have to have some level of awareness of both [your] capability and intent." — Adm. Mike Rogers "If you had asked me five years ago when I left Cyber Command, would a foreign entity, in this case a nation-state, upload destructive malware into critical U.S. infrastructure in a time of peace?... I would have said to you… there's a low probability. Boy, I got that wrong." — Adm. Mike Rogers "I think it requires a little precision in how we discuss these matters. Because not all hacks are the same, not all hackers are the same, not all intentions are the same, not all capabilities are the same. [Not] everything is an 'attack'." — Frank Cilluffo "I'm not interested in collaboration; I'm interested in integration. I'm interested in a real-time situational awareness between government and the private sector." — Adm. Mike Rogers Relevant Links and Resources: U.S. Cyber Command – Mission and Vision https://www.cybercom.mil/About/Mission-and-Vision/ NSA – About the Agency https://www.nsa.gov/about/ Cyberspace Solarium Commission Final Report https://www.solarium.gov/report Guest Bio: Adm. Mike Rogers (Ret.) served as the Director of the National Security Agency and Commander of U.S. Cyber Command from 2014 to 2018. A four-star admiral with a distinguished 37-year career in the U.S. Navy, he helped shape modern cyber strategy at the highest levels of government. Since retiring from active duty, he has advised Fortune 500 companies, startups, and global institutions on cyber, intelligence, and national security issues.

Undersea cables quietly carry almost all global internet traffic yet rarely feature in security debates. This episode explains how subsea infrastructure underpins the global economy, data flows, and modern military operations while facing frequent "accidental" disruptions and growing geopolitical risk. Listeners hear why chokepoints, island dependencies, and hotspots from the Red Sea to the Taiwan Strait keep national security officials up at night. The conversation also explores how redundancy, smarter investigations, and faster permitting can harden this hidden backbone against both negligence and sabotage. Frank and Alex close by looking at AI, quantum, fiber sensing, and satellite backups as the next frontier for cable resilience and deterrence. Main Topics Covered Subsea cables as the physical backbone of global internet and finance. How outages happen, from ship anchors to suspected sabotage. Strategic chokepoints, island dependencies, and contested regions like the Red Sea. Building resilience through redundancy, permitting reform, and trusted infrastructure partners. New monitoring tools: fiber sensing, AI, and quantum for cable security. How governments and industry share intelligence and fund resilient capacity. Key Quotes: "Subsea cables carry the vast majority of Internet traffic around the world… Estimates vary from 95 to 99% of Intercontinental data traffic. So when you think about the Internet, subsea cables are the basis of the Internet." "Redundancy is our biggest defense… We have 100 cables coming into the US and therefore it makes it very hard to do anything meaningful in a short time frame to actually impact it. "Do I think our adversaries would want to do this [tap cables]? Yes... Do I think they can do it? Possibly. Do I think the juice is worth the squeeze? No, I don't." "There were more cable cuts in the Taiwan Strait in January of this year than either 2024 or 2023 in total. That is a sharp uplift at a time when we know that hostility in that part of the world is rising. I would be shocked if none of those incidents were knowingly done." "The entire Starlink... global capacity is equivalent to [only a few] subsea cable[s]... So when you talk about truly replacing [subsea cables], it's not there." Relevant Links and Resources Alex Botting paper "Shoring Up Subsea Security" for the Center for Cybersecurity Policy and Law. House Homeland Committee Hearing: An Examination of Foreign Adversary Threats to Subsea Cable Infrastructure Alex's Podcast: Distilling Cyber Policy Guest Bio: Alex Botting is the Senior Director of Global Security & Technology Strategy at Venable.  His career has focused on shaping policies at the intersection of security, technology & telecoms in more than 50 countries and multilateral organizations around the world. In November he testified before the House Homeland Security Committee about threats to the subsea cable infrastructure.

Army Principal Cyber Advisor Brandon Pugh joins Frank Cilluffo to address a stark reality: if critical infrastructure fails, the Army cannot mobilize. To meet this "no fail" mission, Pugh explains how the service is aggressively merging cyber with electronic warfare and cutting red tape to field new technology in days rather than years. They also discuss the Army's unique edge in this digital fight—Reservists who bring high-level private sector expertise directly to the battlefield. The conversation also explores how AI and operational technology are reshaping the Army's cyber battlefield and threat landscape. Main Topics Covered • How Congress created the principal cyber advisor role and defined its authorities. • Army cyber's four focus areas: AI, defense critical infrastructure, acquisition, and workforce. • Integrating cyber, electronic warfare, RF, and information operations into Army warfighting doctrine. • Defending defense critical infrastructure and preparing for Volt Typhoon-style cyber disruptions. • Leveraging AI for continuous monitoring, faster detection, and protection of sensitive Army data. • Reforming cyber acquisition through FUZE prototypes, VC-style partnerships, and Guard and Reserve expertise. Key Quotes "Cyber is not an isolated capability. It's not something that just rests at Fort Gordon or Fort Meade." – Brandon Pugh "If an adversary goes after one of our military bases and we can't mobilize people, tanks, equipment in a time of conflict, that is a major concern… we can't accept the fact that cyber could be the barrier to our ability to do other military tasks." – Brandon Pugh "It's a national security imperative to leverage AI. We know adversaries are going to leverage AI or exploit our AI regardless of what we do here. We could put barriers in terms of aggressive regulation which some have proposed in the past or seek to slow it down. All that's going to do is help our adversaries." – Brandon Pugh "We have some individuals that show up their reserve weekend in $300,000-$400,000 vehicles because they are the experts in what they do as civilians. They have signed up and taken the oath because they want to serve this country. That is the talent we have in the Reserve and Guard that we need to continue to expand." – Brandon Pugh "We don't have to go through a multi-year acquisition cycle, spend millions of dollars where we've seen 3D printed drones for mere dollars in some cases being leveraged [in Ukraine]… We need some of these capabilities in a matter of days or weeks, not years." – Brandon Pugh Relevant Links and Resources • Jack Voltaic: Critical infrastructure resiliency • Army's FUZE Initiative Guest Bio Brandon Pugh is the Principal Cyber Advisor to the Secretary of the Army, advising the Secretary and Army Chief of Staff on cyber readiness, budget, capabilities, and strategy. He previously served as a director at the R Street Institute and continues to serve in the U.S. Army Reserve as a national security law professor, having earlier been a paratrooper and international law officer.

State and local governments are stepping up to defend critical services against fast-evolving cyber threats. In this episode of Cyber Focus, Alabama's top IT leaders show how they're staying ahead of the curve. They explain how a hybrid, highly decentralized environment forces them to lean on shared standards, SLCGP funding, and whole-of-state partnerships. Along the way, they unpack a recent incident that came dangerously close to crisis and what it revealed about tools, visibility, and trust. They also look ahead to AI-enabled attacks, deepfakes, and "distortion," and why automation and better intel will shape Alabama's next moves. Watch to see what other states, utilities, and local leaders can learn from Alabama's playbook.  Main Topics: How Alabama OIT governs technology across roughly 140 executive agencies in a mostly decentralized environment. Using SLCGP funds, shared contracts, and enterprise tools to lift up smaller municipalities that lack resources. Rethinking threat intelligence by pairing MS-ISAC and CISA feeds with deep knowledge of state business processes. Lessons from a major cyber incident, including incident-response retainers, tooling gaps, and the value of open communication. Building whole-of-state partnerships with CISA, FBI, utilities, National Guard, and the McCrary Institute through exercises and real incidents. Preparing for AI-enabled cyberattacks through automation, platform integration, and continuous upskilling for Alabama's cyber workforce. Key Quotes: "Cybersecurity is a team sport. It's not just one person. We're trying to build the community." — Daniel Urquhart "There's a huge concern that I have as we think about the amount of threats that are going to come at us from an AI enabled cyber attack. It is going to be so broad and so unlike anything that we've seen today." — Chad Smith "I think we have to be willing to talk about [a recent cyber incident] so that people can learn from it, but also so that people know, hey, they're actually doing something and things are happening in a way that we can respect."— Chad Smith "We try to do a lot of education and team building and building that cohesive whole estate approach by setting up technology demos and articulating the why." — Daniel Urquhart "We've done a really good job the last couple of years working with the FBI, Secret Service, National Guard. Those types of partnerships can make us stronger as a state." — Daniel Urquhart   Relevant Links and Resources ·       Alabama Office of Information Technology ·       Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center   Guest Bios:  Daniel Urquhart is the Secretary of the Alabama Office of Information Technology. OIT is responsible for the strategic planning, governance, and resource utilization of all IT for the State of Alabama. Before joining OIT, he served as CIO for the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, where he worked with industry partners to build a state-of-the-art criminal justice network. Chadwick Smith serves as the Chief Information Security Officer for Alabama's Office of Information Technology (OIT). Mr. Smith has worked in the technology industry for over twenty-five years. Prior to joining OIT, Chad worked in the insurance, banking, and data communications industries.

SecurityScorecard CEO Aleksandr Yampolskiy joins Cyber Focus to warn that third-party risk is now the dominant cybersecurity epidemic. With just 150 companies responsible for 90% of the global attack surface, a single compromise can ripple across sectors and continents. He and host Frank Cilluffo explore the cascading risks of software dependencies, fourth- and fifth-party exposure, and the challenges of shadow IT and shadow AI. Yampolskiy outlines where companies fall short on governance and calls for outcome-driven oversight, not just busywork. They also discuss how AI can be both a vulnerability vector and a force multiplier for defense. Main Topics Covered • Third-party breaches now account for 65% of cyber incidents globally • Only 150 companies comprise 90% of the global attack surface • The risks of shadow IT and "shadow AI" leaking sensitive data • Systemic vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure like U.S. ports and healthcare • Limitations of compliance-driven approaches without continuous risk measurement • The need for clear governance, outcome-oriented metrics, and board-level engagement Key Quotes "65% of data breaches today happen through use of a third party. Hackers go after one weak link." — Aleksandr Yampolskiy "150 companies' products comprise 90% of a global attack surface. So if one of those companies gets compromised, all of a sudden, you can compromise almost everybody." — Aleksandr Yampolskiy "You can be fully compliant with all the regulations, but not secure. Or you could be really secure but not compliant." — Aleksandr Yampolskiy "An employee takes [the] general ledger or... some sensitive corporate information, uploads it to ChatGPT—or worse, to [a model] in China—gets a beautiful response, looks like a champion... but then you just leaked sensitive information from a company and nobody knows about it." — Aleksandr Yampolskiy "Our ability to network has far outpaced our ability to protect networks." — Frank Cilluffo Relevant Links and Resources • SecurityScorecard Research Guest Bio Aleksandr Yampolskiy is the Co-Founder and CEO of SecurityScorecard, a global leader in cybersecurity ratings and risk management. A former CISO and CTO, he has led the company since 2014 in helping tens of thousands of organizations—including half of the Fortune 100—measure and strengthen their cyber resilience.

Cybersecurity veteran Nick Leiserson joins Cyber Focus this week to break down critical governance gaps in the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) system and what's at stake if they're not fixed. He and host Frank Cilluffo explore the risks of global fragmentation, the lingering fallout from the F5 breach, and why policy tools like Executive Order 14028 remain stalled. Leiserson warns that the U.S. court system faces an under-the-radar cyber crisis, and shares specific, actionable funding priorities Congress should tackle now. From software supply chain failures to operational coordination gaps, the episode provides a sharp look at what's missing in the federal cybersecurity response—and what can still be done to fix it. Main Topics Covered ·       Why CVE is the global "lingua franca" for vulnerabilities—and what happens if it fails ·       How a near-shutdown exposed CVE's fragile funding and governance model ·       The F5 breach and what it reveals about persistent risks in the software supply chain ·       Missed opportunities in EO 14028 and regulatory inertia in implementation ·       Why the U.S. court system breach is a cybersecurity crisis hiding in plain sight ·       Urgent spending needs: water system grants, K-12 cybersecurity, and court system defense Key Quotes "CVE... It's the universal language that we can all look at and understand what we're talking about. And today in 2025, we totally take that for granted." "The worst case is fragmentation. The second worst is [when] government comes in and says, we're going to supplant the expertise that's been built up over 25 years" —Nick Leiserson "[Some ask] 'Didn't we put a bunch of policy in place to stop SolarWinds?' The answer is we did. If you look at Executive Order 14028… it came out in the immediate aftermath of SolarWinds, and it has not been implemented." —Nick Leiserson "This is just one of those things that's vaguely terrifying, and it takes a lot to terrify me after 15 years in this space. But as best we can tell from public reporting, either there's been one continuous breach since 2020, or at least similar types of actors are continually being able to get into the federal court system." —Nick Leiserson "[F5 is] one of these bits of technologies that most people would not immediately wake up and say that's essential to our economy, our national security, our public safety. But it is." —Frank Cilluffo   Relevant Links and Resources Institute for Security + Technology report on CVE reform Executive Order 14028 – Improving the Nation's Cybersecurity  CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) Catalog FCC K–12 Cybersecurity Pilot Program   Guest Bio Nick Leiserson is Senior Vice President for Policy at the Institute for Security and Technology. He was a founding member of the Office of the National Cyber Director, where he led national cyber policy development and helped launch the National Cybersecurity Strategy Implementation Plan. Previously, he served as Chief of Staff to Rep. Jim Langevin and helped enact dozens of recommendations from the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. A longtime strategist on Capitol Hill and in the White House, Leiserson is known for translating complex tech policy into action on issues ranging from regulatory harmonization to software liability.

What do Volt Typhoon, Salt Typhoon, and Flax Typhoon reveal about China's cyber playbook? This episode of Cyber Focus breaks down a new McCrary Institute report on China's advanced persistent threat campaigns—and what they mean for U.S. national security. Frank Cilluffo sits down with Mark Montgomery, Brad Medairy, and Bill Evanina to explain how China is embedding itself in American infrastructure, telecom, and data systems. They warn that Beijing is laying the groundwork for future conflict and that the U.S. response has been dangerously slow. The guests call for stronger deterrence, better public awareness, and a renewed focus on the economic toll of cyber theft. Main Topics Covered China's long-term cyber threat strategy Volt Typhoon and infrastructure targeting Salt Typhoon and telecom espionage Flax Typhoon and persistent access Gaps in U.S. cyber deterrence Economic costs of IP theft Relevant Links and Resources McCrary Institute Typhoon Report Booz Allen October 2025 China report Key Quotes: "Each year we can say the threat has grown. And I would say the leading driver of that growth in the cyber threat environment in the United States is China." — Mark Montgomery "China is using cyberspace to project power. And as a nation, I think that we need to recognize this threat." — Brad Medairy (~05:50) "Until people believe that [China's cyber actions] matters to them, we're not going to get the kind of actions we need." — Mark Montgomery "China['s] … offensive cyber tradecraft is going to be AI enabled. They're going to be able to deliver effects and capabilities at pace that we never imagined. — Brad Medairy "I think the Chinese want not only us, but they want the world to know that they're inside… Xi wants… the world to know that he can do this." — Bill Evanina "We have to expeditiously get into place where we could harden ourselves so the railroad could work, the ports work, the electricity grids work. We're not ready. We're nowhere near ready." — Bill Evanina   Guest Bios: RADM Mark Montgomery (Ret.) is Senior Director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation and a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. He also serves as Executive Director of Cybersolarium.org, a nonprofit advancing the recommendations of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, which he led from 2019 to 2021. Previously, he was Policy Director for the Senate Armed Services Committee under Senator John McCain, following a 32-year career as a nuclear-trained surface warfare officer in the U.S. Navy, retiring as a Rear Admiral in 2017. Bill Evanina is the Founder and CEO of the Evanina Group, where he advises corporate boards and CEOs on strategic risk, counterintelligence, and national security threats. He served as the first Senate-confirmed Director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC), leading U.S. government efforts to defend against espionage and foreign influence. A 24-year FBI veteran, Evanina held senior roles in both counterintelligence and counterterrorism and previously led the CIA's Counterespionage Group. He also chairs national and international security boards and is an instructor at the University of Chicago. Brad Medairy is an Executive Vice President at Booz Allen Hamilton, where he leads the firm's cybersecurity business and supports national-level clients including the FBI, DHS, DOD, U.S. Cyber Command, and the Intelligence Community. He focuses on protecting critical infrastructure, securing emerging technologies, and defending against advanced cyber threats. Medairy leads multidisciplinary teams that integrate AI, cloud, and cyber operations to deliver full-spectrum solutions. He has been recognized as a Top 50 Cybersecurity Leader and Cyber Executive of the Year, and holds degrees from UMBC and Johns Hopkins University.

What if the easiest way to disrupt U.S. military operations isn't with missiles—but by targeting fuel logistics? In this episode, Chris Cleary explains how civilian infrastructure has become a frontline in national defense. He and Frank Cilluffo discuss how adversaries exploit cyber vulnerabilities to slow military response, and why deterrence requires more than just rhetoric. They unpack the case for a dedicated Cyber Force, the suprising way Chris thinks it should be structured, and the challenges of coordinating across government and industry. With prepositioned threats like Volt Typhoon in the headlines, the stakes are higher than ever. Main Topics Covered How fuel logistics shape U.S. military readiness in the Pacific Why adversaries target civilian infrastructure like water and power systems What defines a "cyber attack" under rules of engagement Gaps in deterrence, response, and public signaling The case for a U.S. Cyber Force modeled after the Coast Guard Challenges of coordination across agencies and private sector providers Key Quotes "I could degrade the Navy's ability to run around in the Pacific by just limiting the ability to move fuel on the west coast of the United States." — Chris Cleary "If [China's cyber forces] are in Littleton, Massachusetts, they're everywhere." — Chris Cleary "I would argue a cyber force of the future looks more like a Coast Guard than a Navy."— Chris Cleary "I am a true believer that cyber is a legitimate means and methods of warfare. And we are going to have to professionalize in it." — Chris Cleary "All the zero trust in the world is not going to stop—a China, a Russia, a sophisticated organization—from targeting you." — Chris Cleary Relevant Links and Resources 60 Minutes on China's Cyber Infiltation: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/china-hacking-us-critical-infrastructure-retired-general-tim-haugh-warns-60-minutes-transcript/ Guest Bio Christopher Cleary is Vice President of Global Cyber Practice at ManTech. He previously served as the Department of the Navy's Principal Cyber Advisor, where he led the implementation of the DoD Cyber Strategy across the Navy and Marine Corps. Prior to that, he was the Navy's Chief Information Security Officer and Director of Cybersecurity within the Department of the Navy CIO's office.

Should the U.S. have a dedicated Cyber Force? In this episode, General Ed Cardon and Josh Stiefel examine persistent gaps in the nation's cyber posture, from undefined mission boundaries to unclear return on billions in cyber spending. They explore the organizational tradeoffs, workforce realities, and coordination challenges that have stalled progress, despite years of warnings. With host Frank Cilluffo, they unpack what it would take to move beyond patchwork solutions. Main Topics Covered The failure of past "wake-up calls" to drive meaningful cyber reform Gaps in command, control, and mission clarity across defensive cyber operations The case for a dedicated Cyber Force and what it would need to solve on day one Why workforce development—not just recruitment—is central to cyber readiness The role of metrics and return-on-investment in cyber spending The importance of establishing clear operational roles between NSA, CNMF, DC3, DCDC Key Quotes: "How many of these have we been through, these quote, unquote, watershed moments that were going to change everything? … How cataclysmic does an incident have to be to get us to actually move one way or the other? - Josh Stiefel "From 2020 to 2025, if you take all the budgets together, we've spent $29.9 billion on cyber operations. That's as much as two Ford-class aircraft carriers. Do we have the equivalent combat capability in cyberspace as two Ford-class carriers? I'd argue no." - Josh Stiefel "[Cyber Com] just is not where it needs to be. It's doing great work, but not at the scale and breadth that we know we're going to need. – Ed Cardon "In my experience, we tend to study [decisions like standing up a Cyber Force] for a couple of years before we implement it. We don't have that kind of time." – Ed Cardon "Each one [of the typhoons] is a really bad day. Collectively, it's the perfect storm. And the fact that we at least publicly haven't made it a much bigger set of issues is going to send a signal to all of our adversaries that this is okay." – Frank Cilluffo Relevant Links and Resources CSIS Cyber Force Commission: https://www.csis.org/programs/strategic-technologies-program/projects/commission-us-cyber-force-generation Guest Bios: Joshua Stiefel is the former Professional Staff Member on the House Armed Services Committee, where he oversaw cyber and IT policy, operations, and procurement. He previously served as Senior Cyber Policy Advisor at the Department of the Treasury, leading sector-wide cybersecurity initiatives and authoring its first vulnerabilities study. A former DoD intelligence officer who deployed with Special Operations Forces in Iraq, he now serves in the U.S. Navy Reserve. He is a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations and holds degrees from Harvard and Lehigh. Lt. Gen. Edward Cardon (Ret.) served 36 years in the U.S. Army, including as Commanding General of Army Cyber Command, where he built it into a world-class force with 41 cyber mission teams. He later directed the Army Office of Business Transformation, helping establish Army Futures Command. His career also included leading the 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea and multiple combat deployments. Today, he is a Senior Counselor at The Cohen Group and advises defense and technology organizations.

Katie Gray, a senior partner at In-Q-Tel, joins host Frank Cilluffo to pull back the curtain on the venture firm's role in advancing U.S. national security through tech innovation. As head of In-Q-Tel's cyber investment practice, Gray offers rare insight into the organization's dual-use investment model, its evolving priorities, and the technologies it believes will define the next 25 years. They discuss how In-Q-Tel identifies emerging threats, evaluates startups, and bridges the gap between cutting-edge technology and urgent government needs. Topics include AI, quantum, cyber-physical security, and the vulnerabilities shaping today's threat landscape. The conversation also highlights In-Q-Tel's unique role as both strategic investor and national security partner. Main Topics Covered In-Q-Tel's origin, mission, and evolution beyond the intelligence community How In-Q-Tel identifies promising startups and matches them with agency needs The shifting threat landscape in cyber, including Volt Typhoon and AI-driven attacks Investment priorities in space, supply chain security, and operational technology The dual-use tech model and building resilience at machine speed A case study: VulnCheck and its impact across multiple government agencies Key Quotes "We are dramatically under invested as a nation in our cyber defenses… as we look to the future conflict, we're so vulnerable from a cybersecurity standpoint. " – Katie Gray "[For] every dollar that In-Q-Tel invests in a company, there's $40 that are invested from the private sector." – Katie Gray "One of the things we do look for is to try and fund dual-use technology that has strong commercial [and] government market." – Katie Gray "We're going to be in a world where 80-90% of the code that is being written is being written by AI systems. – Katie Gray "We can't be responding to [AI-driven cyber attacks] at human speed. We have to be responding to that at machine speed." – Katie Gray Relevant Links and Resources https://www.iqt.org/mission https://mccraryinstitute.com/time-to-designate-space-systems-as-critical-infrastructure/ Guest Bio Katie Gray is a senior partner at In-Q-Tel, where she leads the organization's cyber investment practice and supports mission-driven innovation across the U.S. national security landscape. She previously spent more than a decade in software product management, leading development for mobile devices at Palm, HP, and Plastic Logic.

Lisa Plaggemier, Executive Director of the National Cybersecurity Alliance, joins host Frank Cilluffo to discuss how public education can combat online scams, fraud, and cyber threats. With billions of campaign impressions and only a nine-person team, the Alliance focuses on motivating behavior change through creative, jargon-free outreach. Plaggemier explains how scams like pig butchering are orchestrated by organized crime and even nation-state actors—and why the U.S. needs a coordinated national response. The episode highlights the growing need for cross-sector data sharing, targeted messaging for seniors, and a "scam czar" to unite fragmented efforts. As Cybersecurity Awareness Month kicks off, the conversation underscores how individual actions and shared responsibility can help close critical gaps in digital safety. Main Topics Covered • The mission of the National Cybersecurity Alliance and its consumer-focused campaigns • Core Cybersecurity Awareness Month themes: MFA, passwords, updates, and scams • Reaching overlooked populations through creative outreach like Kubikle and safe-word campaigns • The scale and structure of online scams like pig butchering and their ties to nation-state actors • The call for a national "scam czar" to coordinate public-private response • Challenges in cross-sector data sharing and the limits of current fraud response models • Upcoming efforts to reach K-12 audiences and improve campaign impact across age groups Key Quotes "We are a tiny nonprofit of nine people and we reach billions of people every October." — Lisa Plaggemier "I can hack away at our banks and probably not come away with any cash. [But] I can hack away at individual customers of the bank and come away with millions of dollars, and there's no ISAC for my mom." — Lisa Plaggemier "I do not think it would be a bad idea if we had a scam czar at this point because the adversary is so well organized." — Lisa Plaggemier "Older folks are targeted less often, but when they fall victim, the dollar amounts are very high. They have their whole life savings at stake." — Lisa Plaggemier "We've got in a lot of organizations, fraud teams that don't talk to security teams that don't talk to trust and safety teams. And so if you're still siloed in your organization, I think the call to action here is that that all needs to be seen as one." — Lisa Plaggemier Relevant Links and Resources National Cybersecurity Awareness – staysafeonline.org Then & Now: Helping Older Adults Stay Secure Kubikle Series Guest Bio Lisa Plaggemier is Executive Director of the National Cybersecurity Alliance, where she leads efforts to make cybersecurity practical and accessible. She describes herself as "on a crusade to eliminate stock photos of hackers in hoodies," underscoring her focus on real-world education over clichés. A former Ford Motor Company marketing executive, she now serves on the U.S. Secret Service Cyber Investigations Advisory Board and is based in Austin, Texas.

In this episode of Cyber Focus: To the Point, Frank Cilluffo sits down with Matt Hayden, former DHS official and current GDIT executive, to unpack the looming expiration of the Preventing Emerging Threats Act. Together, they explore the growing dangers posed by drones—from hobbyist disruptions to nation-state threats—and what's at stake if Congress fails to reauthorize key counter-UAS authorities by October 1. Hayden explains why current authorities are essential for protecting the homeland and how they fall short when it comes to local law enforcement, airports, and evolving drone technology. Op-Ed: Flying under the radar: Congress is poised to let key counter-drone authorities lapse    

What happens when the federal cyber workforce shrinks just as threats are multiplying? In this episode, Federal News Network's Justin Doubleday joins host Frank Cilluffo to unpack the turbulence facing government agencies. They examine the mass departures at CISA, the controversial firings under DHS's Cyber Talent Management System, and the looming risks of dismantling ODNI's cyber intelligence hub. Doubleday also shares a chilling story of how El Chapo's cartel used spyware and hacked city cameras to compromise FBI operations in Mexico—underscoring the new reality of ubiquitous surveillance. The conversation closes with a look at the Pentagon's long-awaited CMMC rollout, Treasury's "Do Not Pay" database, and the broader challenge of protecting both privacy and security in a digital age. Main Topics Covered Why CISA lost a third of its workforce and what that means for U.S. cyber defense How probationary firings under DHS's Cyber Talent Management System shook trust in federal hiring The implications of ODNI shutting down its cyber intelligence integration center amid deep budget cuts Proposals in Congress to speed up security clearances and retain cleared talent longer A chilling account of how El Chapo's cartel hacked FBI operations using spyware and city surveillance What the rollout of DoD's CMMC rules will mean for defense contractors and future cyber regulations How Treasury's "Do Not Pay" database ties into fraud prevention, privacy concerns, and the future of digital identity Key Quotes  "A lot of [the departed federal cyber workforce is] on the books until October 1st and so we're kind of waiting to see exactly how many folks left and where the dust kind of settles as we get into the fall." – Justin Doubleday "The probationary firings certainly cast a little bit of a negative light on the idea of joining the Cyber Talent Management System, because… you could be fired with a snap of a finger." – Justin Doubleday "Commercial spyware is much more easily accessible for a range of groups and individuals. And it's almost impossible to detect when spyware has gotten onto a phone of an individual, even for a cyber expert." – Justin Doubleday "I think there's concern that [with ODNI shutting down CTIIC] you're now going to go back to a situation where you have disparate views kind of bubbling up from across the intelligence community and you don't have that single source of truth at the top that's helping to sort things out for leaders." – Justin Doubleday "As it goes with technology and cybersecurity, things are often nice to have until they're necessary." – Justin Doubleday Relevant Links and Resources Cyber pay in government is as fragmented as ever https://federalnewsnetwork.com/federal-report/2024/09/cyber-pay-in-government-is-as-fragmented-as-ever/ CISA at a crossroads amid workforce cuts, pause, partnerships https://federalnewsnetwork.com/cybersecurity/2025/06/cisa-at-a-crossroads-amid-workforce-cuts-pause-partnerships/ Security clearance reforms advancing in 2026 defense bill https://federalnewsnetwork.com/inside-ic/2025/08/security-clearance-reforms-advancing-in-2026-defense-bill/ How a hacker for El Chapo illustrates existential counterintelligence threats https://federalnewsnetwork.com/federal-report/2025/07/how-a-hacker-for-el-chapo-illustrates-existential-counterintelligence-threats/ Grand odyssey of CMMC nearing implementation https://federalnewsnetwork.com/cybersecurity/2025/08/grand-odyssey-of-cmmc-nearing-implementation/ OMB directs agencies to address Do Not Pay data gaps https://federalnewsnetwork.com/financial-management/2025/08/omb-directs-agencies-to-address-do-not-pay-data-gaps/ Guest Bio Justin Doubleday is a reporter for Federal News Network covering cybersecurity, intelligence, and technology policy. He tracks how federal agencies and lawmakers address evolving digital threats, insider risks, and the intersection of policy, procurement, and national security.

Congress faces a looming deadline to renew the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP), a federal initiative that helps states and municipalities defend against cyberattacks. In this episode, Frank Cilluffo speaks with New Jersey CISO Michael Geraghty and Arizona CISO Ryan Murray about how these grants are making a measurable difference on the ground. They detail how investments are protecting communities from ransomware, building out shared services, and training the next generation of cyber talent. The conversation underscores the urgency of continued funding to sustain trust, prevent losses, and strengthen the interconnected fabric of U.S. cyber defense. Main Topics Covered Explain why renewing the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) is urgent. Show how federal grants reduce ransomware risk and generate measurable ROI. Use Arizona's student-led SOCs to highlight workforce development and shared services. Describe New Jersey's statewide approach to defending municipalities. Weigh the stakes of eroding trust and services if funding lapses. Explore the broader "one team, one fight" vision linking local, state, and federal defense. Key Quotes: "In the last year, that [endpoint detection] program stopped 179 ransomware attacks…for a $5 million investment, potential loss avoidance is about $45 million." - Michael Geraghty "We're using some of those funds to hire interns as part of our workforce development effort. So we're deploying student-led regional security operations centers in partnership with our community colleges across the entire state [of Arizona]." – Ryan Murray "We're all interconnected, right. Our cities connect to our county governments, connect to our state governments, and we connect to our federal partners. But unfortunately, our defenses have these seams, they have these gaps where we're not so integrated in our defenses and our information sharing." – Ryan Murray "There is no one organization that is going to be able to defend themselves against nation state actors, cyber terrorist organizations, transnational criminal groups, and even the hacktivists or low level hackers. But when we team up together through a strategy that again maximizes our resources, that's when we become that much stronger." - Michael Geraghty "One team, one fight, easier said than done. I think we all know that, but it's challenging."  – Frank Cilluffo   Relevant Links and Resources CISA SLCGP Fact Sheet NJCCIC (New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell) Arizona Department of Homeland Security – Cyber readiness resources   Guest Bios: Ryan Murray serves as Chief Information Security Officer for the State of Arizona. He previously served as CISO for the Arizona Department of Revenue and has nearly 20 years of IT and security experience. Michael Geraghty is New Jersey's State Chief Information Security Officer and Director of the NJ Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell (NJCCIC). He has held senior cybersecurity roles in both the public and private sectors, including the New Jersey State Police and Prudential Financial

Overview Cybersecurity threats are growing more complex as ransomware gangs, nation-states, and criminal networks converge. In this episode, Frank Cilluffo speaks with Cynthia Kaiser, senior vice president at Halcyon and former deputy assistant director for cyber at the FBI. They discuss the looming risk if Congress fails to reauthorize the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015, the evolution of ransomware as both a business model and geopolitical weapon, and how industry must play a bigger role in active defense. Kaiser also explains the indiscriminate reach of Chinese espionage campaigns and the urgent need to define national red lines in cyberspace. Together, they outline why collaboration, innovation, and trust are essential to future cyber resilience. Main Topics Covered Halcyon Ransomware Research Center launch FBI lessons from major takedowns Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act stakes Ransomware and nation-state espionage Active defense and industry roles Balancing disclosure and attribution FBI of tomorrow and AI Red lines in cyberspace Key Quotes "If CISA 2015 lapses, companies may be less inclined or may be less able to share information with the government… And then America would be in the dark." – Cynthia Kaiser (~07:37) "There's not one action that's going to stop Putin from cybering… And industry has such a critical role." – Cynthia Kaiser (~11:04) "As a mom… the Chinese government now has information about who [kids] called, where they were, how long the call was… It really shows that the Chinese government is indiscriminate." – Cynthia Kaiser (~22:45) "[Ransomware is] an ecosystem of businesses… And so broadening and being able to conduct more of these proactive active defense operations against criminal groups would have a really great effect." – Cynthia Kaiser (~16:02) "[Washington] should really just be asking 'What are our red lines today, and have we already gone over them?'" – Cynthia Kaiser (~32:16) Relevant Links and Resources Halcyon Ransomware Research Center Fortune op-ed: Cynthia Kaiser on CISA 2015 reauthorization Recent Salt Typhoon joint advisory Guest Bio Cynthia Kaiser is the Senior Vice President of Halcyon's Ransomware Research Center and former Deputy Assistant Director of the FBI's Cyber Division. She led cyber policy, intelligence, and engagement efforts at the Bureau and played a key role in disrupting major ransomware groups like LockBit and Qakbot.

Congress is back from August recess with just weeks to act on vital national issues. One key deadline: reauthorizing the 2015 law that shields companies when they share threat intelligence with the federal government. In this episode, Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) joins host Frank Cilluffo to explain why renewing CISA 2015 is essential to national security, how one senator is holding up progress, and what listeners can do about it. The conversation also covers Peters' push to cut red tape for cyber professionals, shore up state and local defenses, and close critical workforce gaps before it's too late. Main Topics Covered Urgent need to renew CISA 2015 liability protections Misinformation and confusion around CISA's mission Importance of cyber grant funding for state and local governments Regulatory burdens facing cyber professionals and the need for harmonization Federal cyber workforce recruitment and retention Key Quotes "We only have a few weeks and [CISA 2015] will expire, and that will be catastrophic for our ability to protect against all the bad guys that are out there." – Sen. Gary Peters "Trust is everything. And if you don't have [CISA 2015], we go back to the environment we had before where there was a lack of trust… once you lose trust, it's really hard to get it back." – Sen. Gary Peters "Sometimes our cyber professionals spend 40, 50, 60% of their time doing paperwork and checking boxes. That makes no sense." – Sen. Gary Peters "You actually end up saving money by investing in this kind of protection [state and local cyber grants]. And at a time when we're running record deficits that are going to increase, we've got to be thinking about being smart… and actually bringing down the cost of what would happen with a cyber attack." – Sen. Gary Peters "If we don't protect our weakest links, it doesn't matter how good you are at the top—you're going to have some serious problems." – Sen. Gary Peters Relevant Links and Resources Cybersecurity Information Sharing Extension Act Guest Bio Sen. Gary Peters is Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and a nationally recognized leader on cybersecurity policy. A Navy Reserve veteran and former financial executive, he has shaped major legislation on homeland security, cybersecurity, and critical infrastructure—with more bills signed into law than any other senator in a recent session. He also serves on the Appropriations, Armed Services, and Commerce Committees.

In this episode of Cyber Focus, host Frank Cilluffo moderates a timely and wide-ranging conversation on the future of AI policy and governance with Sarah Beth Jansen, a senior fellow at the McCrary Institute and longtime DC policy expert, and Austin Carson, founder of SeedAI and former legislative director for Rep. Mike McCaul. The discussion covers the Trump administration's AI Action Plan, sector-specific regulatory approaches, and how Congress can play a constructive role without stifling innovation. Both guests emphasize the importance of local experimentation, procurement reform, and broad stakeholder engagement. With AI poised to shape everything from national security to everyday business operations, the episode underscores the urgent need to develop trustworthy, inclusive, and forward-looking frameworks that can scale with the technology. Main Topics Covered: The White House's AI Action Plan and why it marks a pivotal policy moment The case for sector-specific approaches to AI regulation The role of Congress in shaping balanced, innovation-friendly guardrails The importance of state-level initiatives like Utah's AI sandbox Federal procurement as a lever for responsible AI adoption Hopes and fears around AI governance and public trust Key Quotes: "We've been using AI or machine learning in our products for over a decade and that's almost a surprise to some members of Congress who haven't really dug into [AI] yet." — Sarah Beth Jansen   "AI policy is everything policy now… every single member on the Hill could find something constructive to do involving artificial intelligence in their committee. On one hand, AI is frankly an excuse to find crack back open issues that you may want to crack back open. On the other hand, there is kind of like this infinite fractal space of where AI is going to touch the economy [and] going to touch scientific discovery." — Austin Carson   "Before the federal government can come in and say these are what the standards should be… you need to have the ability for there to be input from a variety of different sources." — Sarah Beth Jansen   "My biggest fear is that AI will be developed and regulated and considered by a group of extraordinarily small number of people in the bay, and in D.C., and in New York instead of people around the country. — Austin Carson   "[Congress] shouldn't be over prescriptive in any legislation they do... because we all know that Congress unfortunately does not pass legislation very quickly. And I think for them to be relevant they need to not be so specific that they just take them themselves out of the game."  — Sarah Beth Jansen   Relevant Links and Resources:  White House AI Action Plan Utah's Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy AI Across America Project Guest Bios: Sarah Beth Jansen is Senior Director of Government Affairs & Policy Counsel at The Franklin Square Group. She's a senior fellow at the McCrary Institute and a seasoned Washington policy expert specializing in cybersecurity, surveillance, and IT policy. She has served in senior staff roles on both the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. She holds degrees from Auburn University and the University of Alabama. Austin Carson is the founder of SeedAI, a nonprofit working to expand public-sector understanding and engagement with artificial intelligence. He previously led government affairs at NVIDIA and served as legislative director for Rep. Mike McCaul when he chaired the House Homeland Security Committee. His work now focuses on facilitating AI literacy and policymaking across sectors and communities.

In this episode of Cyber Focus, Frank Cilluffo is joined by Brad Medairy, Executive Vice President at Booz Allen Hamilton, and Dave Forbes, who leads Cyber Physical Defense for the firm. Together, they unpack their joint report with the McCrary Institute, Anchored in Zero Trust, examining the cybersecurity vulnerabilities of U.S. ports. The conversation explores China's cyber activities, the significance of Volt Typhoon, and the risks posed by Chinese-made cranes operating at American ports. They highlight how economic and national security intersect at ports, the unique challenges of operational technology (OT), and why zero trust must become more than a buzzword. The discussion also looks ahead at how critical infrastructure sectors can harden defenses, reduce tech debt, and build resilience against persistent adversaries. Main Topics Covered China-linked cyber threats to U.S. ports. Risks from Chinese-made cranes; ports as a "one connected battle space." OT basics: know your assets, segment networks, lock down vendor access. Zero Trust for OT: assume breach, pilot fast, scale what works. Why port disruptions matter: major economic ripple effects; plan and drill. What's next: adversarial AI and stronger public-private collaboration. Key Quotes "Our adversary doesn't see the United States infrastructure environment as a Department of Defense, [or] as a global economy, [or] as a Department of Transportation. They see one connected battle space with a great number of… seams that they want to exploit." – Dave Forbes "There's no real intelligence value in terms of what [China was] doing [with Volt Typhoon]. They were pre-staging capabilities in the US critical infrastructure. And the only real explanation is to achieve some sort of potential future kinetic effect." – Brad Medairy "It doesn't need to be a devastating attack. It needs to be a disruption. It needs to be a distraction. It needs to be something that we're worried about… throwing things off balance on our economy and national security posture. – Dave Forbes "Our adversaries don't look at our nation in isolation… They look at our nation as one holistic battle space... So if we flip that… I'm not sure any of us can solve this problem alone, but together we're stronger. – Brad Medairy "[W]e've been able to remediate [Volt Typhoon] in certain cases… That was just step one. This is going to be forever… it's going to be a game of cat and mouse for years to come." – Brad Medairy Relevant Links and Resources Booz Allen Hamilton Cybersecurity Anchored in Zero Trust: Report 'Fast Facts' Anchored in Zero Trust: Full Report Guest Bios Brad Medairy  is an Executive Vice President at Booz Allen, where he leads the firm's cyber practice. He is also a Senior Fellow at the McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security, co-leading research efforts on China and cyber threats. Dave Forbes leads Cyber Physical Defense at Booz Allen and was a primary contributor to the Anchored in Zero Trust report. His work focuses on bridging physical and cyber domains to strengthen critical infrastructure protection.