Experts Converge at National Press Club on Cyber & Economic Security

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - June 4, 2009) - On the heels of the Obama administration's Cyberspace Policy Review, calling for public-private sector collaboration, former Director, National Intelligence Mike McConnell will be joined by leaders from government, academia, technology, and the venture capital community to address the importance of innovation to U.S. cyber and economic security.

With U.S. innovation on the decline, experts from these diverse sectors are convening to offer perspectives and recommendations for government-entrepreneurial partnership for spurring the development of new technologies to bolster national cyber defense, and to reinvigorate U.S. economic growth and global leadership.

The June 25th event, "Bridging the Gaps in Our Nation's Cyber Security: Connecting Leadership, Policy, and Innovation," is being hosted by the Security Innovation Network (SINET), a non-profit founded to advance innovation through collaboration, supported by the Department of Homeland Security S&T and seed funded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. The panels and participants include:

Report from the Front Lines -- a Non-'Beltway' Perspective

Moderated by the National Security Agency (NSA), Chief Information Security Officers from some of the largest corporate targets including Intuit, eBay and Heartland Payment Systems share their concerns and challenges on the cyber threats confronting their organizations, and efforts to gain the asymmetrical advantage over cyber adversaries. Opportunities and challenges in working with and sharing information with the Federal Government and the importance of advancing innovation into our nation's critical infrastructures will be addressed.

   Panel Chair: Tony Sager -- Chief Vulnerability Analysis & Operations
    Group, NSA
   Dave Cullinane -- CISO, eBay
   Steve Elefant -- Executive Director End to End Encryption, Heartland
    Payment Systems
   Jerry Archer -- CISO, Intuit

The Innovation Crisis in America -- Implications for Cyber Security

The global financial crisis has exacerbated long-term negative trends undermining the foundations of America's economic growth engine. Declining spending on basic research by the U.S. Government and universities, reduced corporate R&D expenditures, and systemic risks to the integrity of the venture capital growth engine are converging to undermine the development of cutting edge future solutions needed to protect our country's cyber security, with implications for compromised economic growth and national security.

   Panel Chair: Pascal Levensohn -- Founder & Managing Partner,
    Levensohn Venture Partners
   Dave Robbins -- CEO, Bigfix
   Bob Ackerman -- Managing Director & Co-Founder, Allegis Capital
   Randy H. Katz -- United Microelectronics Corporation Distinguished
    Professor, EE & Computer Science Department UC Berkeley

Advancing Innovation through Collaboration -- Bridging the Gap Between Entrepreneurs and Government

Without waiting for a perfect, all or nothing approach to cyber security, reasonable and achievable steps to accelerate the introduction of innovative technologies into our government and industry IT operating systems can be taken. Speakers will address the vital role of innovation, and how progressive policy initiatives can unite the innovators and entrepreneurs with government, research, and venture capital communities for expedited development and absorption of cyber solutions.

   Panel Chair: Robert Rodriguez -- Chairman, Security Innovation Network
   John Weinschenk -- CEO, Cenzic
   Dr. Douglas Maughan -- Program Manager, Department of Homeland
    Security, S&T
   Dr. Jim Finley -- CEO, The Finley Group, Former Deputy Under Secretary
    Defense, Acquisition & Technology, Dept. of Defense
   Dave Bryan -- EVP, ManTech International Corporation, Defense Systems
    Group (Major General, US Army, Retired)

For a detailed agenda and to register: http://security-innovation.org/npce-overview.htm

This first-in-Washington, DC event at the National Press Club is limited to 200 attendees. Panels are 1:30 - 5:30 p.m. Networking Reception 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

About The Security Innovation Network:

The Security Innovation Network (SINET), is a non-partisan, nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization bridging the knowledge and cultural gaps between entrepreneurs, policy-makers, VCs, researchers, academics and private industry. Its annual IT Security Entrepreneurs' Forum, mostly recently held March 18th at Stanford University and keynoted by NSA Director Lt. Gen. Keith B. Alexander, has become a 'must attend' conduit for advancing innovation through collaboration.

SINET was founded by Robert D. Rodriguez, a former Secret Service Special Agent who served on several Presidential details and oversaw the development of one of the first electronic crimes taskforces, and a CSO Magazine 2009 Compass Leader Award recipient. SINET has become a catalyst, connecting individuals and organizations involved with the technical, strategic, legal, economic, and policy aspects of cyber. It has built a community of thought leaders in positions of influence who are seeking to collaborate as a single strategic ecosystem to form a unified approach to cyber security.

More information about the Security Innovation Network can be found at: www.security-innovation.org.

Contact Information: Media Contact: Joel Greenberg DCPR 202-363-1065 cell 202-669-3639