FBI director keynotes cybersecurity conference at Boston College
Christopher A. Wray addressed the fourth annual event organized by the FBI and BC's M.S. in Cybersecurity Policy and Governance Program.
For the past eight years, Boston College and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have hosted the Boston Conference on Cyber Security, a one-day event featuring compelling lectures and panel discussions from international leaders in the disciplines of emerging technologies, operations and enforcement, and real-life cyber and national security concerns. At a time of growing concern about the vulnerability of our nation’s information systems, this conference provides an opportunity for leaders in cybersecurity from the academic, analytic, operations, research, corporate, and law enforcement arenas to come together and coordinate their efforts, creating a more secure cyber-space.
Learn more about the Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S.) in Cybersecurity, Risk, and Governance.
Full agenda and registration coming soon
October 15, 2025
The 9th Annual BCCS
In Person and Streaming
8:00 AM - 1:30 PM
Keynote Speaker:
Brett Leatherman
Assistant Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation - Cyber Division
Hear Expert Speakers and Panelists From:
FBI, Google, Boston Celtics, The Kraft Group & Affiliates, Boston Red Sox, Boston College Law SchoolBain Capital Ventures, Hinckley Allen, Blue Mantis, HYCU, FINRA, DOJ
Special thanks to our 2025 Conference Sponsors!
BCCS 2024 ARCHIVE
Gasson Hall | Wednesday, June 5, 2024 | 8:45 a.m. EST
BCCS 2024 was a one-day conference that focused on the disciplines of emerging technologies, operations and enforcement, and real life cyber and national security experiences involving risk, compliance, policy, threat trends, preparedness, and defensive strategies. Also included were sponsors’ exhibitions and exceptional networking opportunities.
ABOUT
- Keynote Address: The Honorable Paul M. Abbate, FBI Deputy Director
- Featured Speaker: Lieutenant General Kevin B. Kennedy, U.S. Air Force, Commander, Sixteenth Air Force; Commander, Air Forces Cyber; and Commander, Joint Force Headquarters-Cyber (Air Force), Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
- Expert Speakers and Panelists from: FBI, U.S. Air Force, Boeing, MIT Sloan School of Management, U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Google, Bain Capital, Sophos, and Jones Day.
Wednesday, June 5, 2024PROGRAM | |
|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m.–8:45 a.m | REGISTRATION & CONTINENTAL BREAKFASTSponsored by HYCU, Inc. (Backed by Bain Capital Ventures) IDA Ireland, & Recorded Future |
| 8:45 a.m.–9:00 a.m. | INVOCATION, WELCOME, AND OPENING REMARKS Invocation: Father Donald A. MacMillan, S.J., Chaplain, Boston College High School Professor Kevin R. Powers, J.D., Founder & Director, M.S. in Cybersecurity Policy and Governance Programs, Boston College |
| 9:00 a.m.–9:50 a.m. | KEYNOTE ADDRESSThe Honorable Paul M. Abbate, FBI Deputy Director |
| 9:50 a.m.–10:00 a.m. | BREAK & REFRESHMENTSSponsored by Sophos, Blue Mantis, iProov & Jones Day |
| 10:05 a.m.–11:05 a.m. | SPEAKER Lieutenant General Kevin B. Kennedy, U.S. Air Force, Commander, Sixteenth Air Force; Commander, Air Forces Cyber, and Commander, Joint Force Headquarters-Cyber (Air Force), Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas |
| 11:10 a.m.–12:10 p.m. | PANEL DISCUSSION“Cybersecurity: Understanding & Maximizing Government & Private Industry Partnerships” Moderator: Lisa Ropple, Partner and Practice Leader, Cybersecurity, Privacy & Data Protection Group, Jones Day Panel: John C. Demers, Vice President, Assistant General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary, Boeing Keri Pearlson, D.B.A., Executive Director, Cybersecurity at MIT Sloan – The Interdisciplinary Consortium for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity (IC)3, MIT Sloan School of Management David D’Addio, Trial Attorney, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission – Boston; Adjunct Faculty Member, M.S. in Cybersecurity Policy & Governance Program, Boston College Erin Joe, Senior Executive Cybersecurity Readiness, OCISO, Google Cloud Mark Sutton, Managing Director and Chief Information Security Officer, Bain Capital Chester Wisniewski, Director & Global Field Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Sophos |
| 12:10 p.m.–1:30 p.m. | CLOSING REMARKS & NETWORKING SESSIONSponsored by Google Mandiant, Goodwin, Thrive & Guidehouse Refreshments and hors d’oeuvres |
Keynote Speaker: Paul M. Abbate, Deputy Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Paul Abbate was named deputy director in February 2021. As deputy, he oversees all FBI domestic and international investigative and intelligence activities.
Mr. Abbate began his FBI career in March 1996 as a special agent assigned to the New York Field Office, where he worked in the Criminal Division and served as a member of the SWAT Team.
In December 2003, Mr. Abbate transferred to the Counterterrorism Division at FBI Headquarters as a supervisory special agent in the Iraq Unit, overseeing FBI counterterrorism operations and personnel deployments in Iraq. In October 2005, he deployed to Iraq, serving as senior FBI liaison officer to the U.S. Department of Defense and leading a group of FBI personnel conducting counterterrorism operations in-theater.
From February 2006 to December 2009, Mr. Abbate served as a supervisory special agent within the Newark Division’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. In February 2008, he deployed to Afghanistan, where he served as FBI deputy on-scene commander, leading FBI counterterrorism and personnel in-theater.
In December 2009, Mr. Abbate returned to the Counterterrorism Division as assistant section chief, providing national-level oversight and guidance of all United States-based international terrorism investigations. During this time, he was a member of a team that received the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service.
In July 2010, Mr. Abbate reported to the Los Angeles Field Office and served as assistant special agent in charge for counterterrorism matters, overseeing the primary branch of the Los Angeles Joint Terrorism Task Force.
In August 2011, Mr. Abbate again returned to the Counterterrorism Division, where he served as section chief, providing oversight of all FBI international terrorism investigations and counterterrorism operations external to the United States.
In October 2012, Mr. Abbate was appointed special agent in charge of the Washington Field Office’s Counterterrorism Division. During this time, he also served as the FBI on-scene commander in Libya.
From October 2013 to September 2015, Mr. Abbate served as the special agent in charge of the Detroit Division, covering the state of Michigan. In September 2015, he was appointed assistant director in charge of the Washington Field Office, where he served until his appointment in December 2016 as the executive assistant director for the Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing all FBI criminal and cyber investigations worldwide, international operations, critical incident response, and victim assistance.
In February 2018, Mr. Abbate was named associate deputy director of the FBI, where he was responsible for the management of all FBI personnel, budget, administration, and infrastructure.
Speaker: Lieutenant General Kevin B. Kennedy, U.S. Air Force
Commander, Sixteenth Air Force; Commander, Air Forces Cyber; and Commander, Joint Force Headquarters-Cyber (Air Force), Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texan
Lt. Gen. Kennedy is responsible for more than 49,000 personnel conducting worldwide operations. Sixteenth Air Force airmen deliver multisource intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance products, applications, capabilities, and resources. In addition, they build, extend, operate, secure, and defend the Air Force portion of the Department of Defense global network. Furthermore, Joint Forces Headquarters-Cyber (Air Force) personnel perform operational planning as part of coordinated efforts to support Air Force component and combatant commanders and, upon approval of the President and/or Secretary of Defense, the execution of offensive cyberspace operations. In his position as Sixteenth Air Force commander, Lt. Gen. Kennedy also serves as the commander of the Service Cryptologic Component. In this capacity, he is responsible to the director, National Security Agency, and chief, Central Security Service, as the Air Force’s sole authority for matters involving the conduct of cryptologic activities, including the spectrum of missions related to tactical warfighting and national-level operations. Lt. Gen. Kennedy leads the global information warfare activities spanning cyberspace and information operations, electronic warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, targeting, public affairs, and weather for nine wings, one technical center, and an operations center.
Lt. Gen. Kennedy received his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1990. Following graduation, he served in flying positions, including U.S. Air Force Weapons School instructor, 34th Bomb Squadron commander, 28th Operations Group deputy commander, and 28th Bomb Wing commander at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. He served as the vice commander for the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia. His staff experience includes service on the U.S. Air Force headquarters staff, Joint Chiefs of Staff, United States Cyber Command, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
Keynote Address
Bryan A. Vorndran
Assistant Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation (Cyber Division)
Fireside Chat | Cybersecurity - State of Affairs
Moderator: Professor Kevin R. Powers, J.D.
Founder & Director, M.S. in Cybersecurity Policy and Governance Programs, Boston College
Guest: Lieutenant General Kevin B. Kennedy, U.S. Air Force
Commander, Sixteenth Air Force; Commander, Air Forces Cyber, and Commander, Joint Force Headquarters-Cyber (Air Force), Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
Special thanks to our 2024 Conference Sponsors, and to the FBI Boston Division-Cyber Program, the Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drums, and our student volunteers from the Boston College, Boston College Law School, and Boston College High School for all of their support of BCCS 2024.
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