Strengthening Public Safety Cyber Readiness Through Collective Defense
Public safety agencies operate in mission‑critical, 24x7x365 environments where cyber incidents can directly impact emergency response, life safety, and public trust. As cyber threats against 911 systems, law enforcement networks, and emergency communications continue to increase, agencies need more than tools—they need continuous monitoring, rapid response, and trusted partnership.
Thursday, May 28th at 11am ET (1 hour)
In this webinar, you will learn:
- How today’s cyber threats are specifically impacting public safety agencies and mission‑critical operations
- Why collective defense and analyst‑led security operations are essential in 24x7x365 public safety environments
- How CIS Managed Detection and Response (MDR) and Malicious Domain Blocking and Reporting Plus (MDBR+) deliver always‑on monitoring, human‑validated threat detection, and rapid response aligned to public safety realities
- How the MS‑ISAC peer community strengthens CIS services with shared intelligence, real‑world lessons learned, and a defense‑together approach
Join CIS experts to explore how public safety agencies across the country are improving cyber readiness, reducing risk, and ensuring continuity of operations through collective defense.
About Our Presenters
John Cohen
Executive Director, Program for Countering Hybrid Threats
John D. Cohen currently serves as the Executive Director for the Program for Countering Hybrid Threats at the Center for Internet Security. In that role, he works closely with law enforcement, mental health, and civil society organizations across the Nation to address issues relating to the impact of social media and the Internet on crime, violence, community safety, and constitutional protections. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the Georgetown University Security Studies Program. From January 2021 through April 2022, he served as the Assistant Secretary for Counter-terrorism and Law Enforcement Policy, Coordinator for Counterterrorism and the Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary of Intelligence and Analysis at the United States Department of Homeland Security. Prior to his most recent service at DHS, Cohen is also an on-air expert for ABC News on homeland security, terrorism, counter-intelligence, and law enforcement issues.
Cohen has four decades of experience in law enforcement, counter-intelligence, and homeland security. He has studied mass casualty attacks and is currently studying the impact of Internet-based communications technologies on crime and homeland/national security. During the Obama Administration he served as the Acting Under-Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) and Counterterrorism Coordinator for the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS). During his time at DHS, Mr. Cohen was a direct adviser to the Secretary and he oversaw the development and implementation of a number of high visibility Department-wide crime prevention, counterterrorism, counter-intelligence and border and transportation security initiatives. Mr. Cohen also led the Department’s efforts to establish multi-disciplinary programs focused on: countering violent extremism; preventing and responding to mass casualty/active shooter attacks; improving information sharing; and expanding DHS’ interactions and collaboration with state and local law enforcement organizations, private sector companies and faith-based organizations.
During the Administration of George W. Bush, Mr. Cohen served as the Senior Advisor to the Program Manager for the Information Sharing Environment, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, where he authored and coordinated the implementation of key components of the 2007 White House National Strategy for Information Sharing.
Mr. Cohen has an extensive background in homeland security and law enforcement operations and policy development. He was Senior Homeland Security Policy Advisor to a number of State and local officials including Governor Mitt Romney of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Janet Napolitano, Governor of the State of Arizona. In 2004 he was selected by the National Journal as one of the “100 Key People in Homeland Security.” He was also named “Law Enforcement Person of the Year,” by Law Enforcement News for his work in developing and establishing a national non-emergency number, 3-1-1. During the Clinton Administration, worked closely with drug treatment providers, educators and law enforcement agencies in Maryland, DC, and Virgina while establishing the Washington – Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program. He also served as an advisor to the Maryland State Government on criminal justice issues and drafted the State’s first homeland security strategy after the attacks of 9-11. He has worked within the private sector and has held a variety of government positions including: Special Agent, Office of Naval Intelligence; Police Detective and Patrol Officer, City of Gardena, CA; Senior Investigator, House Judiciary Committee, U.S. House of Representatives; and Senior Policy Advisor to the Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy, Executive Office of the President of the United States. He is the recipient of a number of awards and commendations including the Drug Enforcement Administration “Administrator’s Award,” The South Bay “Medal of Valor,” and the Department of Homeland Security’s “Distinguished Service Medal.”
Kevin Saupp
Senior Advisor, Office of Strategic Programs and Initiatives
Kevin Saupp currently serves as an Advisor at CIS. He brings more than 22 years of experience supporting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the broader national security enterprise with a focus on domestic security integration between the Intelligence Community and law enforcement. Most recently, he served as Senior Advisor for Partnerships within DHS’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A), where he provided strategic guidance on engagement with federal, state, local, international, and private sector partners to advance I&A’s unique mission to integrate and share intelligence across all levels of government and industry. Over the course of his career, Mr. Saupp has held several senior leadership roles within DHS, including Chief of Staff for I&A and National Security Counselor to the Secretary of Homeland Security, where he advised the Secretary on a wide range of national security, law enforcement, and intelligence priorities. He also served as the Deputy Under Secretary for Intelligence Partnerships, overseeing more than 130 intelligence officers deployed across the United States. In addition, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism and Threat Prevention, where he led several departmental efforts, including counterterrorism, emerging threats, counter–unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS), and targeted violence and terrorism prevention. Prior to joining DHS, Mr. Saupp served at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Lauren McFayden
Multidimensional Threat Intelligence Team Lead
Lauren McFayden currently serves as the team lead for CIS’s Multidimensional Threat Intelligence team. Prior to joining CIS, she spent over seven years at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as a tactical specialist working both criminal and national security violations, including counterintelligence, weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and complex cybercrime. During her time at the FBI, Lauren also served as a detailee to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA’s) Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB), which reviewed major cybersecurity incidents and issued actionable recommendations for improving the nation’s cybersecurity.