Opening Session: Disruption, Defense and Operational Readiness
Nick Andersen, Katherine E. Sutton, Brett Leatherman, Daniel Kroese
Black Hat USA 2026 · Day 1 · Main Stage
This Black Hat USA session, "Disruption, Defense and Operational Readiness," brought together top cybersecurity leaders from U.S. government agencies and industry to discuss the evolving threat landscape and the collaborative strategies being deployed to strengthen national cybersecurity. Moderated by Daniel Kroese of Palo Alto Networks, the panel featured Nick Andersen from CISA, Brett Leatherman from the FBI, and Katherine E. Sutton from the Department of War. The discussion centered on the foundational principles of the National Cyber Strategy for America, emphasizing a proactive approach to deterrence, robust defense, and enhanced operational readiness through unprecedented interagency and public-private partnerships.
AI review
Government keynote that reads like a comms team deck. Lots of program names dropped (Cyber Command 2.0, Gold Eagle, Clearinghouse), almost zero specificity about what any of them actually do, when they ship, or what resources back them. The FBI enforcement stuff is the only part with concrete numbers.