Revolutionizing State & Local Cybersecurity: A Data-Driven, AI-Powered Approach

MK Palmore

Director, Office of the CISO, Google Cloud

MK Palmore currently serves as Director, Office of the CISO, for Google Cloud. His responsibilities include support of strategic customers engaged in a digital transformation journey. Prior to joining Google Cloud, MK served as the Field Chief Security Officer (Americas) for Palo Alto Networks. MK spent an extensive career in the U.S. Federal Government prior to entering the private sector. In a 22-year career in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), MK provided leadership and conducted investigations in a number of areas including Cybersecurity, Crisis Response/Management, Risk Management Advisory, and Counter-Terrorism. MK’s cybersecurity certifications include the CISM, CISSP, GCCC and the Carnegie Mellon University CISO Certification. He earned a B.S. from the United States Naval Academy and an MBA from Pepperdine University, Graziadio Business School. MK began his professional career as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Jon Cook

Senior Intelligence Analyst, Mandiant at Google Public Sector

Sean McSpaden — Moderator

Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government

Sean McSpaden is an executive level information technology professional with over 30 years of experience in the private, non-profit, and public sectors. His background includes the start-up and management of several small businesses and he has served on the Board of Directors or in Executive Director positions for several 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations. Sean’s public service experience includes progressively responsible positions as an IT analyst, and in statewide coordination, management and leadership positions within the Executive and Legislative branches of Oregon state government. From June 2008 to September 2013, Sean served as the state of Oregon’s Deputy State Chief Information Officer. Since 2013, Sean has served as a Principal Legislative IT Analyst with the Oregon Legislative Fiscal Office and as the Committee Administrator for Oregon’s Joint Legislative Committee on Information Management and Technology. In addition, Sean serves as a member Oregon’s Task Force on Artificial Intelligence and as Oregon’s representative to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Taskforce on Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Privacy. Throughout his 26-year tenure in Oregon state government, Sean and the teams he has led have received several state, regional and national recognitions and awards. In addition, Sean has represented the state of Oregon on numerous state, regional and national project steering committees, task forces, governing boards, committees, commissions and associations, and has presented on various topics at local, state, regional, national, and international meetings and conferences. Sean earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree and Certificate of Public Management from the Willamette University, Atkinson Graduate School of Management. Sean is an ISACA Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) and holds a PMI Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.