Join us for the College of Computing Speaker Series. All events are free to attend and will include speakers from Illinois Tech, industry, and other universities. The series will be offered in-person and live online. Below are details about the next session.
Upcoming Events
Join Illinois Institute of Technology’s College of Computing an online panel discussion
The Future of Cyber Defense: AI as Ally and Adversary
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. CDT
Virtual via Zoom (*Registration required)
Artificial Intelligence is rapidly reshaping how we protect our digital world. Join our virtual panel to explore how AI strengthens cybersecurity, how attackers are using AI in new ways, and essentials in securing AI systems. This conversation gives you a straightforward look at the future of both AI, cyber defense, and how they work together.
Gain insight into the following topics:
How AI Helps Defenders Detect and Respond
How AI is Impacting, Accelerating, and Advancing the Threat Landscape
Beyond Attack and Defense: The Imperative to Secure AI Itself
AI for Proactive Threat Hunting and Continuous Risk Checking
Welcome/Opening
Erika C. Burt
Assistant Dean
Illinois Tech, College of Computing
Moderator
Nicole Beebe
Dean and Professor of Information Technology and Management
Illinois Tech, College of Computing
Nicole Beebe has nearly 20 years of experience in academia, preceded by several years in private industry, and 12 years of service in the U.S. Air Force. Beebe’s research interests relate to cybersecurity, cyber analytics, and digital forensics, with applications to insider threat detection and analysis, IoT security and forensics, and cyber threat hunting. She has published nearly 60 peer-reviewed articles in top journals and conferences that have been cited over 2,700 times. Her research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the Department of Homeland Security, various Department of Defense agencies, and several industry partners.
Panelists
Brett Hawkins
Distinguished Red Team Operator
Armadin
Brett Hawkins is an offensive security leader with more than10 years of experience at JPMorgan Chase, Mandiant, and IBM X-Force Red. He leads offensive network security services at Armadin, focusing on advanced attack techniques and emerging AI-driven threats, while contributing open-source tools and speaking at leading global security conferences.
Mike Saylor
Chief Executive Officer and Incident Response Lead
Blackswan Cybersecurity
Mike Saylor is a 32-year IT/cyber veteran and 26 years as a university professor of cyber and digital forensics and incident response. He is a 25-year FBI InfraGard member, past president, and current chief of the N. Texas InfraGard Healthcare Sector. He is a member of the North Texas Crime Commission’s Cybercrime Committee, U.S. Secret Service Cyber Fraud Taskforce, and a fusion liaison officer for the North Texas DHS Fusion Center. A former VP of IT at Cornerstone Credit Union League, Director for Pricewaterhouse, and Global Audit Manager for CitiGroup, Saylor is now the CEO and incident response lead for Blackswan Cybersecurity, Executive Director for the U.S. Cyber Defense Center, and chair of the business and computer science programs at Weatherford College.
Bich-Thuy Le
Founder, President; LeLumin
Bich-Thuy Le is an award-winning technology executive and AI patent holder with more than 25 years of experience leading enterprise transformation across Fortune 100 and mid-market organizations. She is known for turning strategy into execution by developing novel AI solutions when commercial options did not exist, building high-performing global organizations, and driving more than $20 million in revenue growth. Her expertise spans enterprise software, data platforms, and AI lifecycle oversight, with a focus on operation optimization, governance, risk management, and measurable business value in regulated industries.
David Neuman
Partner, Chief Operating Officer, and Cybersecurity Practice Leader: Acceligence
David Neuman is Partner, COO, and cybersecurity practice leader at Acceligence, with 40 years of experience in cyber operations and business resiliency. A former Fortune 50 BSO, two-time Fortune 500 CISO, and EY Americas Cyber COO, he is a retired U.S. Air Force officer who commanded the service's first cyber hunting unit.
Philip Hartlieb
Founding Member and Director of Research and Development
Black Lantern Security, LLC
Philip Hartlieb is a founding member and director of research and development (R&D) for Black Lantern Security LLC. He previously served as the director of an NSA-certified Red Team where he led a team of 18 individuals providing red teaming and penetration testing services for the Department of Defense (DoD). Prior to that, he was responsible for a team of individuals providing technical expertise and guidance for the development, integration, and testing of IT services and capabilities for the war fighter, business, and intelligence communities. Philip holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from North Carolina State University and a B.A. in Physics from the State University of New York, College at Geneseo.
