Cyber Focus: Cybersecurity, National Security, and Critical Infrastructure

Who's in Control of the AI Race? with Bill Evanina and Matt Hayden

Can the United States compete with China in AI while managing the risks the technology creates? Host Frank Cilluffo welcomes McCrary Institute senior fellows Bill Evanina

Can the Private Sector Go on Cyber Offense? with Armadin's Stacy O'Mara

The federal government wants private companies to play a more active role in cyber operations. A new White House memo would allow vetted firms to support government actio

25 Years After 9/11: Lessons in Modern Homeland Defense with Michael Chertoff

Twenty-five years after the September 11 attacks, former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff joins Frank Cilluffo for a firsthand account of that day and the nat

How DARPA Is Preparing for the Next Technological Surprise with Patrick Lincoln

Cybersecurity has spent decades in a reactive cycle: find a vulnerability, patch it and wait for the next one. Dr. Patrick Lincoln joins Frank Cilluffo to discuss DARPA's

CI Fortify: Isolation, Recovery and a Minimum Viable America with CISA's Matt Rogers

If communications fail and operational technology is damaged during a cyber attack, critical infrastructure operators may have to keep essential services running without

Boarding the Dark Fleet: Coast Guard Cyber and Maritime Security with RADM Jason Tama

The maritime world is more connected than ever, creating new efficiencies—and new ways for cyber incidents to move quickly from shore-based networks to ships operating ar

Private Sector Cyber Offense: What the New White House Memo Does—and Doesn't Do with Mike McLaughlin

A new White House memorandum aims to bring the private sector more directly into cyber operations against transnational criminal organizations. But turning that policy go

AI, Risk, and the Future of the Federal Workforce with OPM Director Scott Kupor

The federal government is competing for technology and cybersecurity talent at the same time AI is beginning to reshape how that workforce operates. OPM Director Scott Ku

How Do You Rebuild Systems That Can't Go Offline? with Peraton's Tom Afferton

Tom Afferton [00:00:00]: If you're introducing security controls or a maintenance activity or modernization that interrupts that operation, then you're no better off than

Who Will Defend America in the Cyber Age? with Rep. Chrissy Houlahan

Because cybersecurity has become central to national security and military strategy, Rep. Chrissy Houlahan says the United States needs to create a dedicated Cyber Force

Who Should Control the Airspace Around Critical Infrastructure? with Scott Parker

Drones are a serious operational concern for critical infrastructure owners and operators. In this episode of Cyber Focus, Frank Cilluffo sits down with Scott Parker, fou

How Universities Like Auburn Help Defend the Nation

National security challenges increasingly cut across technology, economic competitiveness, critical infrastructure, manufacturing and workforce development. Universities

Why the Human Element Still Matters in Cyber Defense with Nightwing's Chris Jones

AI is changing the speed and scale of cyber conflict, but the burden on defenders remains the same: they have to protect complex systems all the time, while attackers onl

The Army's "No Fail" Cyber Mission with Brandon Pugh

Note: This episode was first released on December 2, 2025 This week Army Principal Cyber Advisor Brandon Pugh joins Frank Cilluffo to address a stark reality: if critic

Anthropic and the Fight Over Frontier AI Risk with CyberScoop's Greg Otto

As frontier AI models become more capable at finding vulnerabilities, cybersecurity is entering a period where old timelines, disclosure norms, and governance tools may n

Inside the FBI's Push to Disrupt Hackers Before They Strike with Brett Leatherman

In this episode of Cyber Focus, Frank Cilluffo sits down with Brett Leatherman, Assistant Director for Cyber at the FBI, for a wide-ranging conversation about how the Bur

The New AI Executive Order and the Race to Harden America's Systems with Daniel Kroese

A new executive order on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity sends a clear signal: advanced AI now sits at the center of how the United States thinks about cyber de

AI Is Not Your Friend: Geoffrey Fowler on Rating AI for Kids

In this episode of Cyber Focus, Frank Cilluffo speaks with Geoffrey Fowler, head of public engagement for the Youth AI Safety Institute at Common Sense Media, about why A

Estonia's Lessons for the Cyber Future with Ambassador Kristjan Prikk

For Estonia, cyber resilience is not an abstract policy goal. It is a national survival issue shaped by history, geography, and the reality of living next to Russia. In t

Who's Accountable When AI Acts? — With Walter Haydock

In this episode of Cyber Focus, Frank Cilluffo speaks with Walter Haydock, founder of StackAware, about the accountability, governance, and national security challenges e