HSDF THE PODCAST

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Defending the Frontline Part I Oct 06, 2026

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Welcome to our “TUESDAY EDITION of HSDF THE PODCAST,” a collection of policy discussions on government technology and homeland security brought to you by the Homeland Security and Defense Forum
In this episode, We dig into how DHS S&T can raise industry engagement while facing a fast-changing threat, adversary, and technology landscape that is making current tactics obsolete. We lay out what ambitious goals look like in practice, from persistent agent-agnostic bio surveillance to cross-domain autonomous systems and human-machine teaming at the border.
Featuring:
•Julie Brewer, Deputy Under Secretary, DHS S&T
•Samuel Howerton, Chief Scientist, DHS S&T
•David Alexander, Senior Science Advisor, DHS S&T
•Tom Ragland, HSDF Advisory Committee/Dell Technologies (moderator)
This discussion took place on September 22, 2026, at HSDF’s Defending the Frontline Event

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Defending the Frontline Part II Oct 06, 2026

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HSDF would love to hear from you!

Welcome to our “TUESDAY EDITION of HSDF THE PODCAST,” a collection of policy discussions on government technology and homeland security brought to you by the Homeland Security and Defense Forum
In this episode, We share how DHS Science and Technology reshapes its work around real missions and future threats, not just one-off tools. We lay out what keeps leadership up at night and what “affirmative” technology looks like when the goal is protecting our way of life.
Featuring:
•Julie Brewer, Deputy Under Secretary, DHS S&T
•Samuel Howerton, Chief Scientist, DHS S&T
•David Alexander, Senior Science Advisor, DHS S&T
•Tom Ragland, HSDF Advisory Committee/Dell Technologies (moderator)

This discussion took place on September 22, 2026, at HSDF’s Defending the Frontline Event

Full Spectrum Cybersecurity at DHS Part 2 Jul 28, 2026

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HSDF would love to hear from you!

Welcome to our “TUESDAY EDITION of HSDF THE PODCAST,” a collection of policy discussions on government technology and homeland security brought to you by the Homeland Security and Defense Forum

AI is already changing federal cybersecurity, but the most urgent question is not which model is smartest. It’s whether defenders can adopt AI fast enough to protect missions while adversaries use the same tech to evade detection, exploit vulnerabilities, and manipulate people at scale. In this two part episode, we unpack what’s holding government back, what “good” looks like in a modern SOC, and where industry partnerships can actually deliver measurable impact.

Featuring:

Christopher Cleary, Vice President, Global Cyber Practice, MANTECH
Thomas Dempsey, Deputy Executive Director, Cybersecurity Directorate, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Dustin Goetz, Chief Information Officer, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Rob Thorne, Deputy Chief Information Officer (Acting), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Luke McCormack, Former Chief Information Officer, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (moderator)

This discussion took place June 10th, 2026, at HSDF’s Cyber Symposium

Full Spectrum Cybersecurity at DHS Part 1 Jul 28, 2026

Show notes

HSDF would love to hear from you!

Welcome to our “TUESDAY EDITION of HSDF THE PODCAST,” a collection of policy discussions on government technology and homeland security brought to you by the Homeland Security and Defense Forum

Featuring:

Christopher Cleary, Vice President, Global Cyber Practice, MANTECH
Thomas Dempsey, Deputy Executive Director, Cybersecurity Directorate, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Dustin Goetz, Chief Information Officer, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Rob Thorne, Deputy Chief Information Officer (Acting), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Luke McCormack, Former Chief Information Officer, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (moderator)

This discussion took place June 10th, 2026, at HSDF’s Cyber Symposium

Congressional Cybersecurity Priorities Part 2 Jul 21, 2026

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HSDF would love to hear from you!

Welcome to our “TUESDAY EDITION of HSDF THE PODCAST,” a collection of policy discussions on government technology and homeland security brought to you by the Homeland Security and Defense Forum

In this two part episode, examine why vulnerability management is buckling under the scale of modern discovery and what it takes to modernize the CVE and NIST NVD pipeline without slowing down response. We also connect the dots between AI governance, public-private partnership, and quantum readiness so we can build trust and security before the next leap in capability.

Featuring:

Moira Bergin, Subcommittee Director/Counsel, Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection, Committee on Homeland Security
Casey Dolen, Professional Staff Member, Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection, Committee on Homeland Security
Alan McQuinn, Professional Staff Member, Subcommittee on Research and Technology, House Committee on Science, Space and Technology
Emily Park, Professional Staff Member, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
Frank Cilluffo, Director, McCrary Institute (moderator)

This discussion took place June 10th, 2026, at HSDF’s Cyber Symposium

Looking Back & Looking Forward CISA’s Core Mission & Emerging Cyber Threats Garbarino Jul 21, 2026

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HSDF would love to hear from you!

Welcome to our “TUESDAY EDITION of HSDF THE PODCAST,” a collection of policy discussions on government technology and homeland security brought to you by the Homeland Security and Defense Forum

In this episode, we sit down to talk Homeland Security in 2025 terms, from CISA’s staffing and funding realities to what industry can do to rebuild support for the agency. We also wrestle with the hard truth that AI-driven offense may soon outpace human-speed defense, especially across aging critical infrastructure.

Featuring:

Congressman Andrew Garbarino, Chairman, House Homeland Security Committee
Former Congressman John Katko (moderator)

This discussion took place June 10th, 2026, at HSDF’s Cyber Symposium

Congressional Cybersecurity Priorities Part 1 Jul 21, 2026

Show notes

HSDF would love to hear from you!

Welcome to our “TUESDAY EDITION of HSDF THE PODCAST,” a collection of policy discussions on government technology and homeland security brought to you by the Homeland Security and Defense Forum

Featuring:

Moira Bergin, Subcommittee Director/Counsel, Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection, Committee on Homeland Security
Casey Dolen, Professional Staff Member, Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection, Committee on Homeland Security
Alan McQuinn, Professional Staff Member, Subcommittee on Research and Technology, House Committee on Science, Space and Technology
Emily Park, Professional Staff Member, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
Frank Cilluffo, Director, McCrary Institute (moderator)

This discussion took place June 10th, 2026, at HSDF’s Cyber Symposium

The Autonomous Adversary Rethinking Cybersecurity for the Next Decade Jul 07, 2026

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HSDF would love to hear from you!

Welcome to our “TUESDAY EDITION of HSDF THE PODCAST,” a collection of policy discussions on government technology and homeland security brought to you by the Homeland Security and Defense Forum

AI is turning cyberattacks into a speed game, and the federal government can’t afford to keep playing defense with yesterday’s pace. We sit down with Michael Duffy, Acting Federal Chief Information Security Officer, Office of Management and Budget, to unpack why this is a true inflection point and what has to change before the next crisis forces everyone’s hand.

Featuring:

Michael Duffy, Acting Federal Chief Information Security Officer, Office of Management and Budget
Kate Yamashita, Managing Director, Global Security Strategy Lead, Accenture (moderator)

This discussion took place June 10th, 2026, at HSDF’s Cyber Symposium

Critical Infrastructure Protection and Emerging Vulnerabilities Part 1 Jun 30, 2026

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HSDF would love to hear from you!

Welcome to our “TUESDAY EDITION of HSDF THE PODCAST,” a collection of policy discussions on government technology and homeland security brought to you by the Homeland Security and Defense Forum

In this episode, we map how AI is reshaping critical infrastructure cybersecurity, from identity-based break-ins to the shrinking window between a patch and an exploit. We also weigh what government, frontier labs, and industry can do together so small utilities and suppliers can defend at the same speed as well-resourced adversaries.

Featuring:

Dr. Nate Gleason, Program Leader, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Matt Hayden, Vice President, Cyber and Emerging Threats, GDIT
Seth McKinnis, Deputy Assistant National Cyber Director for Critical Infrastructure, Office of the National Cyber Director
Kiersten Todt, Senior Vice President, Cybersecurity Partnership & Engagement, Mastercard
Justin Doubleday, Reporter, Federal News Network (moderator)

This discussion took place June 10th, 2026, at HSDF’s Cyber Symposium

Critical Infrastructure Protection and Emerging Vulnerabilities Part 2 Jun 30, 2026

Show notes

HSDF would love to hear from you!

Welcome to our “TUESDAY EDITION of HSDF THE PODCAST,” a collection of policy discussions on government technology and homeland security brought to you by the Homeland Security and Defense Forum

In this episode, we discuss with leaders across government, labs, and industry about how AI changes cyber risk for critical infrastructure and why system-level consequences matter more than single-device vulnerabilities. We map practical ways to test, share, and deploy AI defenses while staying grounded in cyber hygiene, OT reality, and the workforce pipeline.

Featuring:

Dr. Nate Gleason, Program Leader, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Matt Hayden, Vice President, Cyber and Emerging Threats, GDIT
Seth McKinnis, Deputy Assistant National Cyber Director for Critical Infrastructure, Office of the National Cyber Director
Kiersten Todt, Senior Vice President, Cybersecurity Partnership & Engagement, Mastercard
Justin Doubleday, Reporter, Federal News Network (moderator)

This discussion took place June 10th, 2026, at HSDF’s Cyber Symposium