2026 agenda
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August 31, 2026
10:00-5:00
Exhibit Hall
1:00-5:00
San Diego Public Marina
On-Water Technology and Vessel Demonstrations
2:00-3:30
Coronado room
Cyber Security Workshop
Security Beyond Compliance: How Cyber and Social Engineering Threats Could Circumvent Your Physical Security
As maritime facilities continue implementing the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) cybersecurity requirements, many organizations remain focused on regulatory compliance rather than operational resilience. Yet today’s adversaries increasingly exploit the convergence of cyber vulnerabilities, publicly available information, and human behavior to bypass traditional physical security measures without ever breaching a fence line.
This workshop examines how sophisticated threat actors can leverage social engineering, phishing, spoofed communications, operational reconnaissance, and cyber enabled deception to circumvent access control procedures, manipulate trusted personnel, and gain unauthorized access to sensitive maritime environments. Drawing from real-world observations, maritime exercise development, and security assessments conducted across ports and critical infrastructure facilities, the session will demonstrate how vulnerabilities often emerge not from failures in technology, but from gaps between policy, operational execution, and organizational culture.
Julio R. Gonzalez
Manager, Consulting and Security Services
Terminal Protective Services
Quinton L. DuBose, LCDR USCG (ret.)
Director of Operations
Sentinel Resilience Group
Michael Ziesemer
Director of Operation
Terminal Protective Services
3:45-5:15
Coronado room
Cyber Security Workshop
From Disruption to Recovery: Building an OT Disaster Recovery Program for Maritime Operations
This hands-on workshop provides a structured approach to designing, launching, and sustaining an Operational Technology (OT) Disaster Recovery Planning (DRP) program within maritime environments.
With increasing dependence on digital and automated systems across ports, terminals, and vessels, the ability to recover safely and efficiently from disruption is now a core operational and regulatory requirement.
Captain John Ballentine, C/CISO, CISSP, CISA, CSSA, GLEG
OT/ICS Cybersecurity Program Lead – Technology Department
Port Authority of New York & New Jersey
U.S. Merchant Marine Reserve
Chris Wolski
President & CEO
Applied Security Convergence LLC
September 1, 2026
7:30-6:30
Exhibit Hall
7:30-8:45
Exhibit Hall
8:45-9:00
Ballroom
Pledge of Allegiance and Opening Remarks

Sareth Neak
President
Neak Media LLC
9:00-9:15
Ballroom
Welcoming Remarks: Port of San Diego
Chief Magda Fernandez
Police & Public Safety
Port of San Diego Harbor Police
9:15-9:45
Ballroom
Opening Keynote: Coast Guard Leadership TBA
9:45-10:30
Ballroom
Regional Leadership Introduction and Roundtable Discussion
10:30-11:15
Exhibit Hall
Networking Break
11:15-12:00
Ballroom
Port Security Leadership Roundtable: Challenges and priorities
David Foster
Director of Homeland Security
Port of San Diego
Jessica Thomas
Director of Security
Port of Houston Authority

Anita Gill
Port Security Director
Port of Vancouver
Bridgett D. Lewis
Manager of Security Operations
Port of Long Beach
Lacy Edwards
Port Security Manager
Port of Stockton
12:00-12:45
Kona Kai Terrace
Networking Lunch
12:45-1:15
Ballroom
Gold Sponsor Presentation


1:15-1:45
Ballroom
Afternoon Keynote: U.S. Cyber Command/Cyber Forces
1:45-2:30
Coronado Room
Marine Exchange Roundtable: Maritime Safety and Security in an Era of Emerging Technologies and Evolving Threats
Captain Kip Louttit, USCG Retired
Executive Director
Marine Exchange of Southern California
Curtis Cannizzaro
Executive Director
Merchants Exchange
Patrick Gallagher
Executive Director
Marine Exchange of Puget Sound
2:30-3:15
Exhibit Hall
Networking Break
3:15-4:00
Ballroom
AI Threat Landscape in Maritime Security
Craig Whittinghill, Ph.D
Deputy Director for Applied Research and Services, McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security
Auburn University
David Forbes
Director, Cyber Physical Defense
Booz Allen Hamilton

Additional Panelists TBA
3:15-4:00
Ballroom
Maritime Security Solution Presentations
4:00-4:30
Ballroom
GPS and AIS Spoofing: Border and Port Case Studies and Results
Captain Kip Louttit, USCG Retired
Executive Director
Marine Exchange of Southern California
Chuck Stoffer
Director, Sales & Business Development
UHU Technologies LLC
4:00-4:45
Coronado Room
Lost in Translation: Aligning Cyber and Operational Risk Across Maritime Organizations
Captain John Ballentine, C/CISO, CISSP, CISA, CSSA, GLEG
OT/ICS Cybersecurity Program Lead – Technology Department
Port Authority of New York & New Jersey
U.S. Merchant Marine Reserve
4:30-5:15
Ballroom
Maritime Security Solution Presentations
4:45-5:15
Coronado Room
U.S. Coast Guard Cyber Security Guidance and Resources: Managing Cybersecurity in the Maritime Transportation System
5:00-6:30
Exhibit Hall
Networking Social
SEPTEMBER 2, 2026
8:00-4:00
Exhibit Hall
Maritime Security and Law Enforcement Solutions Exhibition
8:00-8:30
Ballroom
Networking Breakfast
8:30-9:00
Ballroom
Keynote: U.S. Navy Support of Maritime Security Missions
9:00-9:45
Ballroom
Building Maritime Domain Dominance: From the Maritime Border to the U.S. Coastline
9:45-10:15
Ballroom
California Maritime Security Council (CMSC) Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) Subcommittee: Enhancing security through collaborative intelligence sharing, vessel tracking, and risk assessment
9:45-10:15
Ballroom
The Coast Guard’s Eye on the Horizon: How the Blue Technology Center of Expertise Connects Emerging Technology with Mission Needs
Jennifer Ibaven
Program Manager, Blue Technology Center of Expertise
Futures Development and Integration, Office of Wargaming and Innovation
U.S. Coast Guard
Peter Vandeventer, Ph.D
Program Manager, Blue Technology Center of Expertise
Futures Development and Integration, Office of Wargaming and Innovation
U.S. Coast Guard
10:30-11:00
Exhibit Hall
11:00-11:30
Ballroom
U.S. Coast Guard’s Deployment of Robotics and Autonomous Systems
11:30-12:00
Ballroom
Drones and Unmanned Surface Systems Use for Maritime Domain and Situational Awareness
12:00-1:00
Kona Kai Terrace
Networking Lunch
1:00-1:30
Ballroom
Port of San Diego Cruise Terminal Lockdown and Evacuation: Multi Agency Response Efforts and Lessons Learned
Chris Anderson
Facilities Security Manager
San Diego Unified Port District

Additional Panelists TBA
1:30-2:15
Ballroom
Managing Maritime Security Risks and Tradeoffs: An Assessment of Port Security Grants, TWIC, and other DHS Efforts
Paul Hobart
Assistant Director, Homeland Security and Justice Issues
U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)
Andrew Curry
Assistant Director, Homeland Security and Justice Issues
U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)
2:15-2:45
Exhibit Hall
2:45-3:30
Ballroom
Counter Drones Measure Rules and Regulations for Ports and Critical Infrastructure
3:30-4:00
Ballroom
Open Topic
4:00
Conference Adjourn





















