Kentucky State will host the Oct. 30 conference featuring expert presentations, hands-on demonstrations, career discussions, and student research
FRANKFORT, Ky. 鈥� Cyber threats increasingly reach across organizations, industries, and national borders. Addressing them requires collaboration that extends just as widely.
麻豆直播 will convene experts from academia, industry, government, and law enforcement for the 2026 Kentucky Cybersecurity and Forensics Conference on Friday, Oct. 30. The event will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the University鈥檚 Harold R. Benson Research and Demonstration Farm, 1525 Mills Lane in Frankfort.
Organized around the theme 鈥淏uilding Cyber Resilience Through Collaboration 鈥� Academia, Industry, and Government,鈥� the conference will explore evolving threats, emerging technologies, digital investigations, and the workforce needed to protect modern information systems.
The daylong program will feature presentations, panel discussions, practical demonstrations, and opportunities for students to share their work. Sessions will connect technical knowledge with real-world challenges facing businesses, public agencies, educational institutions, and other organizations.
Scheduled speakers include Kentucky State President Koffi C. Akakpo; Abdul R. Yarali, president and founder of the Kentucky Center for Academic Excellence; Rick Nord, regional security specialist with the U.S. Secret Service; Adel Elmaghraby, director of research and innovation and professor of computer science and engineering at the University of Louisville; Machica McClain, dean of the School of Computer and Information Science at the University of the Cumberlands and chair of the Kentucky Cybersecurity and Forensics Conference; Tyson Brooks, technical director of the Artificial Intelligence Security Center at the National Security Agency; and Cody Bennett, technical special agent with the U.S. Secret Service.
Other presenters include Adrian Lauf, associate professor of computer science and engineering at the University of Louisville; Cheryl Purdy, digital forensic examiner and analyst with the Daviess County Sheriff鈥檚 Office; Michael Williams, senior director of security operations at Computer Services Inc.; Detective Grant Riggs of the University of Kentucky Police Department, who serves as a task force officer assigned to the FBI; and Jeremy Straub, associate professor of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence at the University of West Florida.
Conference topics will span cybersecurity and digital forensics, including emerging approaches to investigation, evidence, defense, and organizational resilience. Presenters also will examine how artificial intelligence can strengthen cybersecurity while creating new demands for protecting AI systems against manipulation and attack.
Additional sessions will address security across cloud, edge, and distributed computing environments, including connected devices and critical infrastructure. Discussions involving digital crime, cyber law, privacy, and policy will place technical developments within their broader legal and societal context.
An industry panel will offer perspectives on emerging cybersecurity challenges, career pathways, and the skills employers need. Hands-on demonstrations involving cybersecurity, digital forensics, and AI security will give participants opportunities to see practical tools and techniques in action.
High school and college students may participate in a poster presentation highlighting their research, projects, and developing expertise. Students interested in presenting should submit an abstract of 120 to 200 words to Dr. Chi Shen, dean of the College of Business, Engineering, and Technology, at chi.shen@kysu.edu by Oct. 23.
The conference supports Kentucky State鈥檚 efforts to connect education and research with workforce development in fields that continue to grow in importance across the public and private sectors. By bringing established professionals together with students and educators, the event will encourage knowledge sharing while introducing participants to educational and career opportunities.
Kentucky State faculty and staff are welcome to attend the conference at no cost. Until the registration categories are updated, University employees should select 鈥淜SU Student鈥� when registering to receive free admission.
Registration and additional information are available through the .
For questions, contact Dr. Shen at chi.shen@kysu.edu or Sandamala Hettigoda at sandamala.hettigoda@kysu.edu.