KCFC 2026 | Kentucky Cybersecurity and Forensics Conference

Hosted by Kentucky State University

2026 Agenda

2026 Kentucky Cybersecurity and Forensics Conference

Building Cyber Resilience Through Collaboration — Academia, Industry, and Government.

Sponsored by
Digital Transformation Center logo University of Louisville logo KY-CAE Kentucky State University logo

Conference Agenda

Friday, October 30th, 2026
7:30 am – 4:30 pm

Registration and Breakfast
7:30 am – 7:50 am
  • Check-in for registered attendees
  • On-site registration available
Welcome and Logistics
8:00 am – 8:30 am
  • Opening remarks: message from Governor Andy Beshear
  • Welcome from Kentucky State University President
  • Logistics for the day
Keynote Address
8:45 am – 9:30 am
  • CISA topic — Speaker: Mr. Rick Nord, Regional Security Specialist from Commonwealth of Kentucky Office of the Attorney General - Counter Exploitation Division (PT)
Cybersecurity in AI
9:45 am – 10:30 am
  • Cybersecurity in AI — Speaker: Dr. Adel S. Elmaghraby, Director of Research and Innovation from University of Louisville
Industry Panel
10:45 am – 11:45 am
    Speaker 1: Dr. Machica McClain, Chairman of KY-CAE, Dean from University of the Cumberlands
    Speaker 2: Mr. Cody Bennett, Technical Special Agent from the Kentucky and Southern Indiana Cyber Fraud Task Force
    Speaker 3: Mr. Jeff Jareki, Chief Information Security Officer from Volta, Inc.
    Speaker 4: Mr. Colton Tate, Sr. Account Executive from CanIPhish
    Speaker 5: Mr. James Meece, Chief Information Security Officer from Louisville Metro Government
Poster Sessions and Lunch
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
  • Student Poster Presentations and Judging
Hands-On Session
1:15 pm – 2:15 pm
    Speaker 1: Dr. Adrian Lauf, Associate Professor of CS and Engineering from University of Louisville
    Speaker 2: Dr. Cheryl Purdy, Digital Forensic Examiner/Analyst from University of the Cumberlands
    Speaker 3: Mr. Michael Williams, Senior Director from Cyber Security at Computer Services, Inc.
Cyber Law, Privacy, and Policy
2:30 pm – 3:15 pm
  • AI in Digital Crime, Cyber Law, Privacy, and Policy — Speaker: Dr. Jeff Sallee from University of the Cumberlands, Co-chair of the Kentucky Bar Association’s AI Committee
Digital Forensics
3:30 pm – 4:15 pm
  • Forensics topic — Speaker: Dr. Jeremy Straub, Associate Professor of Cybersecurity and AI from University of West Florida
Awards and Closing
15 mins
  • Poster awards
  • Closing comments from KY-CAE President
  • Thanks to all participants
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