Back at SECON NJ 2026
Some speaking invitations you accept once. A few become a standing appointment on the calendar. SECON NJ is the second kind for me, and this year makes it official: I’ll be returning to the keynote stage at SECON NJ 2026 on Thursday, June 11, at Kean University my fourth consecutive year keynoting New Jersey’s flagship cybersecurity conference.
The event is run by the ISC2 New Jersey Chapter, together with ISACA and the Kean Center for Cybersecurity, and this is its 8th annual edition. It has earned its reputation honestly: a room full of practitioners rather than vendors reading slides, a genuine career track for people trying to break in or move up, and the kind of hallway conversations that are usually worth more than the sessions themselves. That mix is why I keep coming back.
My keynote this year is “Weaponized AI vs. Autonomous Defense.” We have spent two years talking about AI as a productivity story. The harder conversation — the one defenders actually have to win is what happens when the same capabilities are turned into tooling for the attacker: faster reconnaissance, adaptive malware, social engineering that no longer reads like a scam. I’ll lay out where that asymmetry is already showing up, what “autonomous defense” really means once you strip away the marketing, and what a security program should be doing about it now rather than in three budget cycles.
I’m in good company on the keynote roster, sharing the stage with Alissa Knight (CEO & Chief AI Officer at Assail) and Michael Geraghty (CISO for the State of New Jersey), alongside 20-plus practitioner-led sessions and panels across the day.
If you’re in the New York / New Jersey area and work anywhere near security, come find me. Whether you want to argue with my take on AI, talk shop about building out a SOC, or just say hello, the hallway track is open. Free headshots and a career track are part of the deal too, so there’s no shortage of reasons to make the trip to Union.
SECON NJ 2026 — Thursday, June 11, 2026, Kean University (NAAB Building), Union, NJ. Registration and the full schedule are at njsecon.org.
See you there.
TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN YOUR CYBERSECURITY JOURNEY
NJ SECON 2026 offers a packed agenda of sessions, panels, and keynotes by top cybersecurity professionals. Get a front-row seat to the latest trends, best practices, and career insights. Plan your day today!
FAQs
Learn from the Industry’s Leading Cybersecurity Experts
- What is NJ SECON 2026?NJ SECON 2026 is a premier cybersecurity conference taking place on June 11th at Kean University. The event will feature expert speakers, panels, workshops, and career-building opportunities for professionals in the cybersecurity field.
- How do I register for the event?
- You can easily register for NJ SECON 2026 by clicking the “Register Now” button on our homepage or by visiting www.isc2chapternj.org
- Can I attend virtually?
- Yes! NJ SECON 2026 is a hybrid event, and select sessions will be available online
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Take a look at the exciting moments from past conferences. From thought-provoking sessions to dynamic networking events, explore the experience that awaits you at NJ SECON 2026.