The Promise and Peril of Emerging Technology: Operating at the Intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity
Many conversations today frame AI + cyber as a looming arms race—faster attackers, smarter malware, more breaches. But what if the real opportunity is to make the cybersecurity aftermarket obsolete by addressing its root cause: insecure, defect-ridden software? For nearly 40 years, the world has been patching the same types of software flaws that caused the first Internet crash in 1988. The truth is: We don’t have a cybersecurity problem. We have a software quality problem. That can finally change.
Jen Easterly
Combat veteran, cybersecurity pioneer, and keynote speaker operating at the nexus of cybersecurity, AI, and innovation, Jen brings decades of leadership experience at the intersection of technology, security, and risk. Recognized globally as a thought leader on cybersecurity, secure-by-design innovation, emerging technologies, and national resilience, she helps organizations, governments, and innovators navigate disruption and prepare for the challenges ahead.
Jen’s career spans more than three decades across the public and private sectors. Most recently, Jen served as the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency—America’s premier cyber defense agency—where she led efforts to protect and defend U.S. critical infrastructure from cyber threats. At Morgan Stanley, Jen led Firm Resilience and built the company's Cybersecurity Fusion Center. In uniform, she helped establish U.S. Cyber Command and commanded the Army's first cyber operations battalion, deploying multiple times, including to Haiti, the Balkans, Iraq, and Afghanistan. In addition, Jen served twice at the White House and held senior leadership roles at the National Security Agency.
Currently, Jen is a Visiting Fellow at the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford. She also serves as a Strategic Advisor to Huntress and as Chair of Dataminr’s Corporate Advisory Board. An acclaimed speaker, she has delivered dozens of keynotes around the world on topics including Al-driven cybersecurity, organizational resilience, emerging threats, secure-by-design innovation, and leading through disruption.
A graduate of West Point and a Rhodes Scholar, Jen is a two-time recipient of the Bronze Star and has received numerous awards, including the George C. Marshall Award in Ethical Leadership, the Champion of Internet Freedom Award, and the James W. Foley American Hostage Freedom Award.
Outside of her professional life, Jen is a proud mom and dog-mom, mental health advocate and crisis counselor, Rubik's Cube enthusiast, and aspiring electric guitarist.
