Speakers and Panelists

Think Jay Leno meets David Copperfield. Erick Olson keeps CyberDefenseCon moving with sleight of hand, sharp one-liners, visual gags and plenty of audience participation, so expect to be pulled into the act.

Between sessions he performs strolling close-up magic, and his quick wit has made him a favorite with McDonald’s, Walt Disney World, Nabisco, IBM and Verizon.

More about Erick →

Ira Winkler, CISSP is CEO of CruiseCon and President of Secure Mentem. He is considered one of the world’s most influential security professionals, and has been named a “Modern Day James Bond” by the media. Ira is one of the foremost experts in the human elements of cyber security and is known for the extensive espionage and social engineering simulations that he has conducted for Fortune 500 companies globally. He continues to perform these espionage simulations, as well as assisting organizations in developing cost effective security programs. Ira is a noted speaker, media contributor and author of several books most notably Spies Among Us, Corporate Espionage and Zen and the Art of Information Security. He and his work have been featured in a variety of media outlets including CNN, The Wall St Journal, USA Today, San Francisco Chronicle, Forbes, among other outlets throughout the world.

Winkler began his career at the National Security Agency, where he served as an Intelligence and Computer Systems Analyst. After leaving government service, he went on to serve as President of the Internet Security Advisors Group, Chief Security Strategist at HP Consulting, and Director of Technology of the National Computer Security Association. He has also served on the graduate and undergraduate faculties of the Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland.

Michael Hoehl, CISO at Carpenter Technology, is a business-driven cybersecurity executive with more than 20 years of experience leading global security programs that strengthen enterprise resilience and support business growth. His expertise spans security operations and incident response, governance and audit, identity and access management, risk management, and regulatory compliance. Michael brings broad experience from across manufacturing (OT), financial services, healthcare, government, and retail environments, with industry recognition from Forbes, the ORBIE, and Cyber Defense Magazine.

Michael’s credentials include a Master of Science in Information Security Management from SANS Technology Institute and several certifications including Carnegie Mellon University CISO and CDAIO program, CISSP, GCIH, and GCIA. His published papers include: “Framework for building a Comprehensive Enterprise Security Patch Management Program”; “Proposal for standard Cloud Computing Security SLAs – Key Metrics for Safeguarding Confidential Data in the Cloud”; and, “Creating a monthly Information Security Scorecard for CIO and CFO”. He is also a graduate of the FBI CISO Academy.

Chris Rose leads data security and AI enablement at the enterprise level. An early mover in responsible AI adoption, he built an AI-enablement service specialization ahead of the market and has delivered modern data protection and DSPM programs across multi-cloud estates for global enterprises, along with a Fortune 500 cryptography center of excellence focused on post-quantum readiness. His work centers on a practical question: how organizations adopt the technologies redefining their risk, AI first among them, without losing control of their data.

Chris is Managing Director of AEGIS at Arcova, a security architecture, engineering, and infrastructure practice he built from the ground up, now backed by more than 35 specialists serving Fortune 500 and critical infrastructure clients. He advises CISOs, CIOs, and boards on turning technical exposure across AI, cloud, IT, and OT into defensible investment decisions, and holds IEC 62443 Level 4 and NERC CIP credentials along with Idaho National Laboratory’s Cyber-Informed Engineering training.

Clint Bodungen is an OT cybersecurity pioneer and AI engineer with 30+ years of experience. Known for pioneering practical, innovative approaches to cybersecurity, he has spent the last two decades at the forefront of integrating gamification and AI into cybersecurity and training. He has published two books, Hacking Exposed: Industrial Control Systems and ChatGPT for Cybersecurity Cookbook, and created ThreatGEN® Red vs. Blue, an online cybersecurity simulation game, as well as AutoTableTop, an AI-driven incident response platform that uses AI to build and run IR tabletop exercises. Today, as Director of AI/ML Engineering at Arcova, his work centers on creating and deploying production-ready AI systems that help transform and modernize the cybersecurity industry.

Mark is the author of Resilient Cybersecurity: Reconstruct your defense strategy in an evolving cyber world. Building a Comprehensive Cybersecurity Program addresses the current challenges and knowledge gaps in cybersecurity, empowering individuals and organizations to navigate the digital landscape securely and effectively. Readers will gain insights into the current state of the cybersecurity landscape, understanding the evolving threats and the challenges posed by skill shortages in the field. This book emphasizes the importance of prioritizing well-being within the cybersecurity profession, addressing a concern often overlooked in the industry.

Vivek Kumar is the Global Chief Information Security Officer at Alter Domus, bringing more than 25 years of IT and cybersecurity experience, primarily within the financial sector.

He leads global information security, risk management, and cybersecurity operations, with a focus on building resilient security programs, high-performing teams, and effective governance. His experience includes large-scale security operations, technology consolidation, executive and board-level reporting, and advising security companies on product strategy and emerging challenges.

Kumar is also an active industry speaker and was named a 2026 Top Global CISO by Cyber Defense Magazine in recognition of his leadership, innovation, and contributions to cybersecurity.

Lalit Ahluwalia is the CEO and Founder of DigitalXForce and iTrustXForce, where he leads innovation in real-time GRC automation and Cybersecurity Mesh Architecture. He also created XForce Galaxy’s cyber escape rooms, which teach cybersecurity through play, and the “Security-in-the-Box” framework.

Earlier in his career, he was CEO and Global Cybersecurity Head of Inspira Enterprise, Global Head of Client Security Solutions and Risk Services at Wipro, and Managing Director and North America Security Lead for Health and Public Sector at Accenture, and he worked on security initiatives at Deloitte and PwC.

He is Chairman of the US India Chamber of Commerce and a former member of the Forbes Technology Council. His honors include the Dallas Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, D CEO’s Excellence in Cybersecurity award, the Tech Titans Emerging Company CEO Award (2025) and a place on D CEO’s Dallas 500 (2026).

Dr. Garfield Jones is currently the Senior Vice President, Research & Technology Strategy at QuSecure. He is a renowned technical advisor and test and systems engineering manager with extensive knowledge of IT and DoD systems.

Prior to joining QuSecure, Dr. Jones served as Associate Chief of Strategic Technology for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). In this role, he developed the strategy and guidance on using innovative, leading-edge technology across CISA, including articulating and documenting the future technology vision to achieve mission objectives and goals. Dr. Jones led the post-quantum cryptography initiative at CISA, consulting with executive branch level staff on crafting and disseminating guidance for federal agencies and national policy on research development and adoption of PQC technology.

Specifically, Dr. Jones worked with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of National Cyber Director (ONCD), and various federal agencies to execute tasks outlined in executive orders 14306 (Sustaining Select Efforts to Strengthen the Nation’s Cybersecurity) and 14144 (Strengthening and Promoting Innovation in the Nation’s Cybersecurity) and memos such as OMB 23-02 (Migrating to Post-Quantum Cryptography) issued by the Executive Branch.