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"It's not about who's on stage.
2025 THREAT
CONFERENCE
October 18–21, 2025
It's about who's in the room."
National Security is Everyone's Business.
Join The Cipher Brief and national security leaders from government and the private sector as we engage in exercises and expert-led conversations on issues including China, Taiwan, Ukraine, Russia, Quantum, AI/ML, Cyber, Emerging Tech, Espionage, Alliances, Digital Transformation and Foreign Malign Influence.
Cipher Brief sessions are expertly crafted and focused on ways the public and private sectors can most efficiently work together to address key national security challenges.
To keep conversations at the highest level possible, attendance is by invitation only and is limited to professionals working in the national security space.
Come prepared to engage in exercises meant to raise awareness of key national security threats and leave more connected than ever to the national security community.
What Experts are saying about the Cipher Brief Threat Conference
2024 Conference Speakers
William Burns
Director of the CIA
Bill Burns was officially sworn in as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency on March 19, 2021, making him the first career diplomat to serve as Director. Director Burns holds the highest rank in the Foreign Service—Career Ambassador—and is only the second serving career diplomat in history to become Deputy Secretary of State.
Director Burns retired from the State Department U.S. Foreign Service in 2014 before becoming president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Director Burns is a crisis-tested public servant who spent his 33-year diplomatic career working to keep Americans safe and secure. Prior to his tenure as Deputy Secretary of State, he served as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs from 2008 to 2011; U.S. Ambassador to Russia from 2005 to 2008; Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs from 2001 to 2005; and U.S. Ambassador to Jordan from 1998 to 2001. He was also Executive Secretary of the State Department and Special Assistant to former Secretaries of State Warren Christopher and Madeleine Albright; Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow; Acting Director and Principal Deputy Director of the State Department’s Policy Planning Staff; and Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Near East and South Asian Affairs at the National Security Council.
Director Burns received three Presidential Distinguished Service Awards and the highest civilian honors from the Pentagon and the U.S. Intelligence Community. He is the author of the best-selling book, The Back Channel: A Memoir of American Diplomacy and the Case for Its Renewal (2019). He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from LaSalle University and master’s and doctoral degrees in international relations from Oxford University, where he studied as a Marshall Scholar.
Bill Burns was officially sworn in as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency on March 19, 2021, making him the first career diplomat to serve as Director. Director Burns holds the highest rank in the Foreign Service—Career Ambassador—and is only the second serving career diplomat in history to become Deputy Secretary of State.
Director Burns retired from the State Department U.S. Foreign Service in 2014 before becoming president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Director Burns is a crisis-tested public servant who spent his 33-year diplomatic career working to keep Americans safe and secure. Prior to his tenure as Deputy Secretary of State, he served as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs from 2008 to 2011; U.S. Ambassador to Russia from 2005 to 2008; Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs from 2001 to 2005; and U.S. Ambassador to Jordan from 1998 to 2001. He was also Executive Secretary of the State Department and Special Assistant to former Secretaries of State Warren Christopher and Madeleine Albright; Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow; Acting Director and Principal Deputy Director of the State Department’s Policy Planning Staff; and Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Near East and South Asian Affairs at the National Security Council.
Director Burns received three Presidential Distinguished Service Awards and the highest civilian honors from the Pentagon and the U.S. Intelligence Community. He is the author of the best-selling book, The Back Channel: A Memoir of American Diplomacy and the Case for Its Renewal (2019). He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from LaSalle University and master’s and doctoral degrees in international relations from Oxford University, where he studied as a Marshall Scholar.
Gen Timothy D. Haugh, USAF
Commander, U.S. Cyber Command; Director, National Security Agency/Chief, Central Security Service
General David Petraeus (Ret.)
Former Director of the CIA
General David Petraeus (US Army, Ret) served over 37 years in the U.S. military, culminating his career with six consecutive commands, five of which were combat, including command of the Multi-National Force-Iraq during the Surge, U.S. Central Command, and Coalition and U.S. Forces in Afghanistan. He subsequently served as Director of the CIA. He is now a partner in a global investment firm (and chairs the firm’s global institute), a member of a number of private and public boards, engaged in several academic appointments, a private venture capitalist, and a regular contributor to discussions on global security and economic issues. He graduated with distinction from the U.S. Military Academy in 1974 and later earned a Ph.D. in international relations and economics from Princeton University.
General David Petraeus (US Army, Ret) served over 37 years in the U.S. military, culminating his career with six consecutive commands, five of which were combat, including command of the Multi-National Force-Iraq during the Surge, U.S. Central Command, and Coalition and U.S. Forces in Afghanistan. He subsequently served as Director of the CIA. He is now a partner in a global investment firm (and chairs the firm’s global institute), a member of a number of private and public boards, engaged in several academic appointments, a private venture capitalist, and a regular contributor to discussions on global security and economic issues. He graduated with distinction from the U.S. Military Academy in 1974 and later earned a Ph.D. in international relations and economics from Princeton University.
General Michael Hayden (Ret.)
Former CIA Director / Former NSA Director
General Michael Hayden is a retired four-star general who served as director of both the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency. General Hayden also served as the country’s first principal deputy director of national intelligence and the highest-ranking military intelligence officer in the country. Hayden previously served as commander of the Air Intelligence Agency and Director of the Joint Command and Control Warfare Center and served in senior staff positions at the Pentagon, U.S. European Command, and the National Security Council.
General Michael Hayden is a retired four-star general who served as director of both the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency. General Hayden also served as the country’s first principal deputy director of national intelligence and the highest-ranking military intelligence officer in the country. Hayden previously served as commander of the Air Intelligence Agency and Director of the Joint Command and Control Warfare Center and served in senior staff positions at the Pentagon, U.S. European Command, and the National Security Council.
Harry Coker Jr.
National Cyber Director, ONCD
Harry Coker Jr was nominated by President Biden in July 2023 and confirmed by the Senate on December 12, 2023 as the National Cyber Director in the White House. Director Coker is a retired Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) senior executive, former National Security Agency (NSA) senior executive and career Naval Officer.
As National Cyber Director, Coker’s priorities include strengthening federal coherence and collaboration in cyberspace; implementing America’s National Cybersecurity Strategy; developing a robust cyber workforce; advancing cyber regulatory harmonization; and building Sector Risk Management Agency (SRMA) and State, Local, Tribal and Territorial (SLTT) cybersecurity capability and capacity.
In his previous government assignment, Coker served as the Executive Director of the National Security Agency (NSA) where he directly supported NSA’s Director and Deputy Director in the strategic and day-to-day leadership of the Agency. Coker’s service to the Nation and NSA was recognized with the awarding of the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, the NSA Director’s Distinguished Service Medal, and the IC EEOD Outstanding Leadership Award.
During his service with the CIA, Coker was assigned to leadership positions in the Directorate of Digital Innovation; the Directorate of Science & Technology; and the Director’s Area. Key assignments included service as Director of the Open Source Enterprise, which is responsible for leveraging publicly available information; and as Deputy Director of CIA’s Office of Public Affairs, which is responsible for the Agency’s internal and external communications and media relations. Coker was also a member of the small, hand-selected team of senior officers that architected the Agency’s organizational construct and operating model. He also had a key role in formulating and executing the Diversity in Leadership Study; and served on the Executive Diversity & Inclusion Council. Coker’s leadership and contributions earned him the Presidential Rank Award and CIA’s Don Cryer Award for Diversity & Inclusion leadership.
Coker, a proud native of Parsons, KS and resident of Baltimore, MD, is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, the Naval Postgraduate School, and Georgetown University Law Center.
Harry Coker Jr was nominated by President Biden in July 2023 and confirmed by the Senate on December 12, 2023 as the National Cyber Director in the White House. Director Coker is a retired Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) senior executive, former National Security Agency (NSA) senior executive and career Naval Officer.
As National Cyber Director, Coker’s priorities include strengthening federal coherence and collaboration in cyberspace; implementing America’s National Cybersecurity Strategy; developing a robust cyber workforce; advancing cyber regulatory harmonization; and building Sector Risk Management Agency (SRMA) and State, Local, Tribal and Territorial (SLTT) cybersecurity capability and capacity.
In his previous government assignment, Coker served as the Executive Director of the National Security Agency (NSA) where he directly supported NSA’s Director and Deputy Director in the strategic and day-to-day leadership of the Agency. Coker’s service to the Nation and NSA was recognized with the awarding of the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, the NSA Director’s Distinguished Service Medal, and the IC EEOD Outstanding Leadership Award.
During his service with the CIA, Coker was assigned to leadership positions in the Directorate of Digital Innovation; the Directorate of Science & Technology; and the Director’s Area. Key assignments included service as Director of the Open Source Enterprise, which is responsible for leveraging publicly available information; and as Deputy Director of CIA’s Office of Public Affairs, which is responsible for the Agency’s internal and external communications and media relations. Coker was also a member of the small, hand-selected team of senior officers that architected the Agency’s organizational construct and operating model. He also had a key role in formulating and executing the Diversity in Leadership Study; and served on the Executive Diversity & Inclusion Council. Coker’s leadership and contributions earned him the Presidential Rank Award and CIA’s Don Cryer Award for Diversity & Inclusion leadership.
Coker, a proud native of Parsons, KS and resident of Baltimore, MD, is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, the Naval Postgraduate School, and Georgetown University Law Center.
The Hon. Susan M. Gordon
Former Principal Deputy Director for National Intelligence, ODNI
The Honorable Susan M. Gordon is former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence (PDDNI). Prior to ODNI, Gordon served in multiple leadership roles in the IC including as Deputy Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and 27 years at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), where she held senior executive positions in four of the Agency’s directorates. In 1998, she designed and drove the formation of In-Q-Tel, a private, non-profit company created to deliver innovative technology solutions for the agency and the IC.
The Honorable Susan M. Gordon is former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence (PDDNI). Prior to ODNI, Gordon served in multiple leadership roles in the IC including as Deputy Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and 27 years at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), where she held senior executive positions in four of the Agency’s directorates. In 1998, she designed and drove the formation of In-Q-Tel, a private, non-profit company created to deliver innovative technology solutions for the agency and the IC.
Michael Vickers
Former Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence
Dr. Michael Vickers served as the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence from 2011 to 2015, the Chief Executive Officer of the Defense Intelligence Enterprise, an $80 billion, 180,000-person, global operation that includes the National Security Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, National Reconnaissance Office, Defense Security Service, and the intelligence components of the Military Services and Combatant Commands. He played a major policy and planning role in the operation that killed Usama bin Ladin. From 2007 to 2011, he served as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations, Low-Intensity Conflict and Interdependent Capabilities. Earlier in his career, he served in the Special Forces and in the CIA’s Clandestine Service, and had operational and combat experience in Central America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Central Asia.
Dr. Michael Vickers served as the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence from 2011 to 2015, the Chief Executive Officer of the Defense Intelligence Enterprise, an $80 billion, 180,000-person, global operation that includes the National Security Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, National Reconnaissance Office, Defense Security Service, and the intelligence components of the Military Services and Combatant Commands. He played a major policy and planning role in the operation that killed Usama bin Ladin. From 2007 to 2011, he served as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations, Low-Intensity Conflict and Interdependent Capabilities. Earlier in his career, he served in the Special Forces and in the CIA’s Clandestine Service, and had operational and combat experience in Central America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Central Asia.
Admiral James Stavridis (Ret.)
Former Supreme Allied Commander, NATO
Admiral Stavridis (Ret.) was the 16th Supreme Allied Commander at NATO and 12th Dean of The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, where he earned a PhD in international affairs. He is currently Vice Chair, Global Affairs and Managing Director at The Carlyle Group and Chair of the Board of the Rockefeller Foundation. Admiral Stavridis is the author of twelve books, including Sea Power: The History and Geopolitics of the World’s Oceans and Sailing True North: Ten Admirals and the Voyage of Character. 2034: A Novel of the Next World War speculates about a US-China conflict. His latest book, To Risk It All: Nine Conflicts and the Crucible of Decision, was released in May 2022.
Admiral Stavridis (Ret.) was the 16th Supreme Allied Commander at NATO and 12th Dean of The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, where he earned a PhD in international affairs. He is currently Vice Chair, Global Affairs and Managing Director at The Carlyle Group and Chair of the Board of the Rockefeller Foundation. Admiral Stavridis is the author of twelve books, including Sea Power: The History and Geopolitics of the World’s Oceans and Sailing True North: Ten Admirals and the Voyage of Character. 2034: A Novel of the Next World War speculates about a US-China conflict. His latest book, To Risk It All: Nine Conflicts and the Crucible of Decision, was released in May 2022.
VADM Frank Whitworth
Director, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
Kiril Petkov
Former Prime Minister, Bulgaria
Douglas Lute
Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO
Ambassador Douglas Lute is the former United States Ambassador to NATO. Appointed by President Obama, he assumed the Brussels-based post in 2013 and served until 2017. During this period, he was instrumental in designing and implementing the 28-nation Alliance responses to the most severe security challenges in Europe since the end of the Cold War.
A career Army officer, in 2010 Lute retired from active duty as a lieutenant general after 35 years of service. In 2007 President Bush named him as Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor to coordinate the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2009 he was the senior White House official retained by President Obama and his focus on the National Security Council staff shifted to South Asia. Across these two Administrations, he served a total of six years in the White House.
Before being assigned to the White House, General Lute served as Director of Operations (J3) on the Joint Staff, overseeing U.S. military operations worldwide. From 2004 to 2006, he was Director of Operations for the United States Central Command, with responsibility for U.S. military operations in 25 countries across the Middle East, eastern Africa and Central Asia, in which over 200,000 U.S. troops operated.
Through his military-diplomatic career, he received numerous honors and awards, including three awards of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the State Department’s Distinguished Honor Award, the Grand Officer of the Order of Merit for the Italian Republic, and the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit for the Federal Republic of Germany.
General Lute holds degrees from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and United States Military Academy at West Point, which named him a Distinguished Graduate in 2018. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations; a charter member of the Senior Military Advisory Group of the United States Institute of Peace; a member of the American Academy of Diplomacy; and a member of the board of the Atlantic Council of the United States.
Ambassador Douglas Lute is the former United States Ambassador to NATO. Appointed by President Obama, he assumed the Brussels-based post in 2013 and served until 2017. During this period, he was instrumental in designing and implementing the 28-nation Alliance responses to the most severe security challenges in Europe since the end of the Cold War.
A career Army officer, in 2010 Lute retired from active duty as a lieutenant general after 35 years of service. In 2007 President Bush named him as Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor to coordinate the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2009 he was the senior White House official retained by President Obama and his focus on the National Security Council staff shifted to South Asia. Across these two Administrations, he served a total of six years in the White House.
Before being assigned to the White House, General Lute served as Director of Operations (J3) on the Joint Staff, overseeing U.S. military operations worldwide. From 2004 to 2006, he was Director of Operations for the United States Central Command, with responsibility for U.S. military operations in 25 countries across the Middle East, eastern Africa and Central Asia, in which over 200,000 U.S. troops operated.
Through his military-diplomatic career, he received numerous honors and awards, including three awards of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the State Department’s Distinguished Honor Award, the Grand Officer of the Order of Merit for the Italian Republic, and the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit for the Federal Republic of Germany.
General Lute holds degrees from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and United States Military Academy at West Point, which named him a Distinguished Graduate in 2018. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations; a charter member of the Senior Military Advisory Group of the United States Institute of Peace; a member of the American Academy of Diplomacy; and a member of the board of the Atlantic Council of the United States.
Shannon Corless
Assistant Secretary,
Office of Intelligence and Analysis (OIA) United States Department of Treasury
Shannon Corless was selected to serve as the Assistant Secretary
for OIA in January 2022.
Prior to joining the Department, Ms. Corless was an accomplished
member of the Senior National Intelligence Service at the Office of
the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), where she served for
over 15 years. For the last five years, Ms. Corless held
management positions at the ODNI supporting the highest levels of
government, including serving as the Intelligence Community’s
first Economic Security and Financial Intelligence Executive. In this role, she directed and oversaw
national intelligence activities, led engagements with foreign governments and private sector partners to
collaborate on issues of shared concern, and coordinated IC efforts on economic security and financial
intelligence threats. Prior to her selection to lead EFX, Ms. Corless served as the Director of the National
Intelligence Council’s (NIC) Investment Security Group (ISG), overseeing multi-agency intelligence
assessments in support of U.S. Government-led investment security reviews.
A native of Tampa, Florida, Ms. Corless received her Bachelor of Arts degree in International Affairs and
Business from the Florida State University and her Master’s in Business Administration from the
University of Tampa.
Office of Intelligence and Analysis (OIA) United States Department of Treasury
Shannon Corless was selected to serve as the Assistant Secretary
for OIA in January 2022.
Prior to joining the Department, Ms. Corless was an accomplished
member of the Senior National Intelligence Service at the Office of
the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), where she served for
over 15 years. For the last five years, Ms. Corless held
management positions at the ODNI supporting the highest levels of
government, including serving as the Intelligence Community’s
first Economic Security and Financial Intelligence Executive. In this role, she directed and oversaw
national intelligence activities, led engagements with foreign governments and private sector partners to
collaborate on issues of shared concern, and coordinated IC efforts on economic security and financial
intelligence threats. Prior to her selection to lead EFX, Ms. Corless served as the Director of the National
Intelligence Council’s (NIC) Investment Security Group (ISG), overseeing multi-agency intelligence
assessments in support of U.S. Government-led investment security reviews.
A native of Tampa, Florida, Ms. Corless received her Bachelor of Arts degree in International Affairs and
Business from the Florida State University and her Master’s in Business Administration from the
University of Tampa.
Brett Holmgren
Acting Director of the National Counterterrorism Center
Dana Madsen
Deputy Director, Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Center
Dana Madsen serves as the Deputy Director of the Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Center, where he drives the integration of cyber intelligence to inform national security interests, supports national cyber policy and planning efforts, and coordinates an Intelligence Community-wide approach to collection and analysis.
Mr. Madsen previously served as the National Intelligence Manager for Cyber at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. In this role, Mr. Madsen drove the integration of cyber collection and analysis; shaped the alignment of resources to cyber mission through the Intelligence Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution System; and supported the Director of National Intelligence in her role as the principal advisor to the President on intelligence matters.
Mr. Madsen previously led a cyber threat program at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) that integrated multi-disciplinary expertise to provide strategic warning and opportunity analysis of the global cyber threat landscape. From 2012-2014, he served as the deputy chief of a National Clandestine Service program, where he refocused and revitalized a program that had been lagging in relevance. As the deputy chief of a CIA cyber threat program from 2009-2012, he established a program from scratch during a period of high policy and consumer interest. In 2006, Mr. Madsen was accepted into CIA’s Senior Analytic Service, which is CIA’s expert track for analysts.
Mr. Madsen joined the IC in 2000 as a cyber threat analyst, following five years of service in the US Air Force. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy in from Cornell University, a Master of Science from Stanford University, and a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University, each in electrical engineering. He lives in Arlington with his wife and two dogs.
Dana Madsen serves as the Deputy Director of the Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Center, where he drives the integration of cyber intelligence to inform national security interests, supports national cyber policy and planning efforts, and coordinates an Intelligence Community-wide approach to collection and analysis.
Mr. Madsen previously served as the National Intelligence Manager for Cyber at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. In this role, Mr. Madsen drove the integration of cyber collection and analysis; shaped the alignment of resources to cyber mission through the Intelligence Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution System; and supported the Director of National Intelligence in her role as the principal advisor to the President on intelligence matters.
Mr. Madsen previously led a cyber threat program at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) that integrated multi-disciplinary expertise to provide strategic warning and opportunity analysis of the global cyber threat landscape. From 2012-2014, he served as the deputy chief of a National Clandestine Service program, where he refocused and revitalized a program that had been lagging in relevance. As the deputy chief of a CIA cyber threat program from 2009-2012, he established a program from scratch during a period of high policy and consumer interest. In 2006, Mr. Madsen was accepted into CIA’s Senior Analytic Service, which is CIA’s expert track for analysts.
Mr. Madsen joined the IC in 2000 as a cyber threat analyst, following five years of service in the US Air Force. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy in from Cornell University, a Master of Science from Stanford University, and a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University, each in electrical engineering. He lives in Arlington with his wife and two dogs.
David Cattler
Director of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency
Timothy Barrett
Assistant DNI, Strategic Comunications
Timothy Barrett transitioned from uniformed to career, civilian intelligence service in 2009, moving from the Navy to the National Counterterrorism Center. He served in a wide variety of positions, including as a Presidential Daily Briefer, before enjoying a year as a National Security Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School. After Harvard, Timothy pivoted to public affairs, blending his education as a graduate of Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism with his professional experiences as an intelligence officer, first for NCTC, then ODNI, then CIA. After three wonderful years as CIA's Press Secretary, serving under Directors Gina Haspel and Bill Burns, Timothy returned to ODNI to lead Intelligence Community communications.
Timothy Barrett transitioned from uniformed to career, civilian intelligence service in 2009, moving from the Navy to the National Counterterrorism Center. He served in a wide variety of positions, including as a Presidential Daily Briefer, before enjoying a year as a National Security Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School. After Harvard, Timothy pivoted to public affairs, blending his education as a graduate of Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism with his professional experiences as an intelligence officer, first for NCTC, then ODNI, then CIA. After three wonderful years as CIA's Press Secretary, serving under Directors Gina Haspel and Bill Burns, Timothy returned to ODNI to lead Intelligence Community communications.
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If you are interested in becoming a 2025 Threat Conference sponsor, please send a message to info@thecipherbrief.com. More details coming soon.
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