Homeland Security Innovation Conference Focuses on Cyber Security

CHARLESTON, SC – May 4 – 5, 2011 – The growing number of attacks on our cyber networks has become one of the most serious economic and national security threats our nation faces. In the first half of 2009, there were more than 40,000 cyber attacks against the Department of Defense. According to the assistant director of the FBI cyber criminals have stolen over $100 million from US banks just this year.

The 7th Annual Homeland Security Innovation Conference on May 4 – 5, 2011 at the Charleston Area Convention Center will feature a discussion on cyber security including ICE’s role in cross-border cyber crime investigations and their future role in cyber security/forensics of e-crime committed against the government and corporations; cyber security then and now; new technologies and low tech hacking.

National security experts will also discuss border, port and transportation security, preventing domestic initiated attacks, responding to natural disasters and advancing cyber security. There will be a pre-conference live demonstration with the United States Coast Guard showing the actions taken since 9/11 to improve security at our ports.

Confirmed speakers include:

• Keynote Address: Mike McConnell, Executive Vice President, Booz Allen Hamilton, former U.S. Director of National Intelligence (2007-2009), former Director of the National Security Agency (1992-1996)
• Zalmai Azmi, Senior Vice President, Cyber Solutions Group, CACI; former CIO of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Dennis McCarthy, Assistant Secretary for Reserve Affairs, U.S. Department of Defense
• Peter Costa, Vice President of Critical Infrastructure Protection, Honeywell
• Michael Kutch, Business Portfolio Manager for Information Dominance and Integrated Cyber Operations, SPAWAR Systems Center Atlantic
• Chris Miller, Technical Director, SPAWAR Systems Center Atlantic
• Jack Wiles, President, The Training Co.

The cost is $250 Chamber members/government/military, $350 non-member. The conference will be held May 4 – 5 at the Charleston Area Convention Center. For more information including the full agenda visit www.thinktec.org.

About ThinkTEC

ThinkTEC is an initiative established by the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce’s Innovation Division in an effort to facilitate start-up companies, grow existing business and attract new business in the high-tech arenas.