AFCEA Atlanta with the AFCEA International Homeland Security Committee is hosting a National Security Conference on March 11th and 12th. This Atlanta based event is about technology focused on national and homeland security challenges that impact critical infrastructure, emergency communications and continuity of government: cyber disruption, artificial intelligence, and cyber-physical convergence.
With cyber threats rivaling traditional kinetic threats, systems such as energy, telecommunications, transportation, emergency services, and government networks have become front-line targets. Defending the homeland now requires defending what is increasingly a digital homeland.
This conference brings together senior leaders, operators, and industry partners from the Department of War, Department of Homeland Security, federal law enforcement, state and local governments, and the private sector. Sessions will emphasize technology-first solutions, including cybersecurity and Zero Trust execution, artificial intelligence, critical infrastructure resilience, emergency communications interoperability, and workforce readiness.
Prior to the conference there will be a large-scale tabletop cybersecurity exercise, modeled after the Army Cyber Institute’s Jack Voltaic exercises. If you are interested in this event, please let us know.
Please register for the conference at: Atlanta AFCEA National Security Conference
Here is the working agenda:
AFCEA Atlanta National Security Conference 2026
Defending the Digital Homeland: Technology, Trust, and Resilience in a Contested World
Opening Remarks
Georgia Governor’s Office (Invited)
Donald Graham CISO City of Atlanta
Lt. Gen. Susan Lawrence (Ret.) President and CEO AFCEA International
Paul Wertz, President AFCEA Atlanta, AFCEA International Homeland Security Committee and CEO SherpaWerx
Keynote Sessions
US Representative Buddy Carter US Congress (House Energy and Commerce Member) tentative
Keynote: Federal Policy and the Digital Homeland: Enabling Resilience and Innovation in Critical Infrastructure and Communications
Stanton Gatewood Cyber Security Coordinator - Region IV (Georgia), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), U.S. DHS
Keynote: Offensive and Defensive Artificial Intelligence in Critical Infrastructure
Peter Ellis FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge
Keynote: Cyber Threats: The FBI’s Insights on Confronting Cybersecurity
Other Sessions
Leo Meyerovich Founder Graphistry, Inc.
Session: Vibes Investigating - From SOC to Mission Operations: AI-Enabled Investigations at Scale
Jon Hobbs, PhD Director at IP Solution
Session: How to Create a Legal Monopoly on Emerging Technology
Steve Jones Founder and CEO Signal Hill Technologies
Session: Zero Trust and Critical Infrastructure: Unique Challenges and Opportunities
Warren Gedge CTO Symbiosis.io LLC
Session: Enhancing Homeland Security in the Age of Quantum and AI
Savneet Singh Emory University Ethics of AI Faculty / Google Trust and Safety Curriculum Manager
Session: Zero Trust & AI: Re-Skilling the Workforce for a Digital Homeland
Jason Dunn-Potter Chief Warrant Officer 5(Ret.), Senior Executive – Solutions Architect
Organization: Intel Corporation
Session: Quantum Universe, how close are we and why that's not good?
Jeff Worthington Col (Ret.) Executive Strategist
Organization: CrowdStrike
Session: AI in Cybersecurity: Defending the digital battlefield
Dewayne Hart Cybersecurity Leader
Session: Workforce Strategies for Success, Ways to Develop Cyber Defenders And Win
Jeff Apolis Independent Cybersecurity Advisor
Session: Controls That Fail: Cybersecurity Lessons from History
Mike Damiano Cybersecurity Problem Solver for Federal Agencies
Organization: Zimperium
Session: Mobile Endpoints: The Overlooked Attack Surface
Panel Sessions
Daniel Turissini, Chair AFCEA Homeland Security Committee, Certified CMMC Assessor, Cybersecurity Specialist
Organization: Educare of Northern Virginia.
Session: CMMC 2.0 FUD and the Future
Kathy Swacina, Col (Ret.), Vice Chair AFCEA Homeland Security Committee for Critical Infrastructure
Organization: SherpaWerx CIO
Session: AI - Ethical and Practical Planning
Shivaji Sengupta, Board Member – AFCEA International, Chair of Innovative Technology Subcommittee, Homeland Security Committee - AFCEA International; Founder and CEO, NXTKey Corporation
Organization: NXTKey Corporation
Session: Agentic AI-Operationalizing Autonomous Decision Support Across Homeland & National Security Missions
Stacy Vaughn Managing Partner D-Unity Group; AFCEA International Small Business Committee
Organization: D-Unity Group
Session: Small Business as Critical Infrastructure in National Security
Paul Wertz President AFCEA Atlanta, AFCEA International Homeland Security Committee, CEO SherpaWerx
Organization: SherpaWerx
Session: Smart Cities as Critical Infrastructure across the U.S.
Kathy Swacina, Col (Ret.), Vice Chair AFCEA Homeland Security Committee for Critical Infrastructure
Organization: SherpaWerx CIO
Other Expected Sessions
Army Cyber Institute at West Point - Lessons from National-Level Cyber Exercises (Distills lessons from Jack Voltaic–style exercises into focused actions)
US Army 335th Signal Command – Critical Infrastructure for Rapid Deployment
FirstNet Authority - Securing NG911 and Emergency Communications Infrastructure
Georgia National Guard – Logistics and communication for rapidly evolving environments
Georgia Public Service Commission – Surging energy needs and expansion of Georgia’s energy grid
Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce – Panel on Critical Infrastructure in Aerospace and Defense
Please register for the conference at: Atlanta AFCEA National Security Conference
or reach out to us at; Paul@sherpawerx.com or 770-331-5494.