White House, FBI, and CISOs from 16 states address AI threats, critical infrastructure, and national cyber strategy
More than 1,000 government officials and technology leaders will gather in Washington, D.C. from March 9-11 for the 3rd Billington State and Local CyberSecurity Summit, featuring cyber leaders from states, cities, the White House, FBI, HHS, and DOT. The summit brings together over 86 speakers across 25 sessions to address the escalating cyber threats facing state and local governments and the critical infrastructure they support. Topics will include President Trump’s new national cyber strategy, artificial intelligence, critical infrastructure protection, the Salt and Volt Typhoon attacks, and supply chain security.
The Ronald Reagan Building event convenes chief information security officers from Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Billington is also partnering with GovRAMP to host its 2026 GovRAMP Symposium on March 9, immediately prior to the summit.
Key Insights at a Glance
- High-Profile Government Participation: White House National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross headlines alongside FBI Cyber Division leadership and CISA’s Executive Assistant Director Nick Andersen.
- State Leadership Representation: CISOs and CIOs from 16 states plus the District of Columbia will share frontline perspectives on defending municipal and state government networks.
- Threat-Focused Agenda: Sessions specifically address the Salt Typhoon and Volt Typhoon attacks that have targeted critical infrastructure and government systems.
- Critical Infrastructure Focus: Discussions cover protection of state and local systems that underpin essential services from healthcare to transportation.
Federal and State Leadership Converge on Cyber Defense
The summit’s agenda reflects the growing recognition that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility across all levels of government. White House National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross will provide federal perspective on national strategy, while CISA’s Executive Assistant Director Nick Andersen addresses operational collaboration between federal agencies and state partners. FBI Cyber Division Unit Chief Colleen Ferranti brings law enforcement insights on threat actor tactics and investigation priorities. State leaders including J.R. Sloan, State CIO of Arizona; John Godfrey, CISO of Kansas; and retired Admiral TJ White, Chief of Texas Cyber Command, will share practical experiences defending state networks against increasingly sophisticated adversaries. This combination of federal policy direction and state-level operational reality provides attendees with comprehensive view of the threat landscape.
Addressing the Salt Typhoon and Volt Typhoon Threats
The inclusion of sessions specifically addressing the Salt Typhoon and Volt Typhoon attacks signals the severity of nation-state cyber operations targeting U.S. critical infrastructure. These threat actor campaigns have demonstrated sophisticated capabilities to compromise government networks, telecommunications infrastructure, and essential services. State and local governments have proven particularly vulnerable due to resource constraints, legacy systems, and the challenge of defending distributed networks spanning thousands of facilities. Summit sessions will examine attack methodologies, indicators of compromise, and defensive strategies that state and local entities can implement to harden their environments against similar campaigns. The presence of FBI representatives ensures attendees receive timely threat intelligence directly from investigators tracking these actors.
National Cyber Strategy and State Implementation
President Trump’s new national cyber strategy provides the policy framework for federal cybersecurity efforts, but its implementation depends heavily on state and local partners who own and operate much of the nation’s critical infrastructure. The summit offers a rare opportunity for state CISOs to engage directly with White House leadership on how federal strategy translates into practical support for state-level defenders. Topics include information sharing mechanisms, grant funding for cybersecurity improvements, and coordination during significant incidents. Tony Sauerhoff, Chief AI and Innovation Officer for the State of Texas, will explore how emerging technologies like artificial intelligence can enhance defensive capabilities while introducing new risks. Supply chain security discussions address the challenge of vetting vendors and software used across state government enterprises.
Future Outlook
The Billington State and Local CyberSecurity Summit arrives at a moment of heightened threat and evolving policy. State and local governments face the dual challenge of defending against sophisticated nation-state actors like those behind Salt Typhoon and Volt Typhoon while managing the rapid adoption of AI technologies that introduce both defensive opportunities and new attack surfaces. The convergence of federal leadership, state practitioners, and industry partners in a single forum enables the cross-sector collaboration essential to improving the nation’s cybersecurity posture. As critical infrastructure attacks become more frequent and damaging, the insights shared at this summit will inform both immediate defensive actions and longer-term strategic planning across thousands of state and local entities.
Conclusion
The 3rd Billington State and Local CyberSecurity Summit brings together more than 1,000 government and industry leaders to address the most pressing cybersecurity challenges facing states, cities, and critical infrastructure. With 86 speakers from the White House, FBI, and state CISOs across the country, the event provides a comprehensive forum for sharing threat intelligence, defensive strategies, and policy guidance. Sessions on national cyber strategy, AI, and specific threat actor campaigns equip attendees with actionable insights for protecting their communities.
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Founded in 2010, Billington CyberSecurity is the leading cyber education company for executives, hosting high-caliber summits and workshops that explore key cyber issues that advance the cybersecurity of the U.S. government, its allied partners, and critical infrastructure. These events convene seniormost government officials and industry partners, highlighted by its signature conference—the annual Billington CyberSecurity Summit held each fall. https://billingtoncybersecurity.com/
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