Cyber Security Awareness Month 2026
Cyber Crossfire – Cyber Security in the New Era of AI and Quantum
Join the conversation on October 8th: Cyber Crossfire - RPI Alumni Panel Discussion
On October 8th, at 3 pm, join us in the Center for Biotech and Interdisciplinary Studies (CBIS) Auditorium for a discussion panel from RPI Alumni of topics including Cyber Security, Technology, and Risk Management.
This will be an engaging discussion from our panelists who have Industry Insights and subject matter expertise in the Cyber Security field.
Our distinguished RPI Alumni panel includes:
Jude Kaiser ‘02
Director – Chief Information Security Officer – New York State Police
Jude Kaiser is a RPI alumnus and a Cybersecurity leader specializing in public sector information security and law enforcement IT infrastructure. Jude has served in central roles building New York States law enforcement cyber program as the Director for Criminal Justice Information Services, and CISO for the New York State Police. Throughout Jude’s career, he has focused on enterprise risk management, strategic cyber governance, and modernizing digital safety standards for government and public safety initiatives.
Kyle Gracey ‘06
AI Strategy Program Leader – Rethink Priorities
Kyle Gracey ‘06 is the AI Strategy Program Leader at Rethink Priorities, an international think tank, consultancy, and incubator, and is part of a coalition of organizations responding to recent cybersecurity incidents by frontier AI models. Kyle’s team research high-leverage, neglected strategies for successfully navigating transformative AI, and then incubates the best strategies as new projects and organizations. Kyle was previously the Head of AI & Biosecurity at Future Matters and worked at the Center for AI Safety. Kyle also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Rensselaer Alumni Association (RAA).
Don Burgio ’89, PhD
Vice President - MCI Communications/Executive Director – Verizon
Don has 30+ years of technology and executive leadership experience in cybersecurity, communications networks, data science, AI/ML, and IT. His cybersecurity focus dates to the 1990s, with early applications of algorithms, including neural networks, to detect network intrusions, malware, fraud, and other anomalies. He led Verizon’s Fraud, Identity, and Security product engineering team, creating network-based cybersecurity solutions for global enterprises. Since semi-retiring, he has advised and worked with startups applying AI/ML to cybersecurity and other emerging challenges. Don holds a BSEE from RPI, an MS in Security Engineering and MBA from SMU, and a PhD in Information Assurance from NSU.
Brian Callahan ’18, PhD
Director – Monmouth University Cybersecurity Research Center
Brian Callahan is a cybersecurity expert, systems programmer, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) alumnus who earned his Ph.D. from RPI. He currently serves as a Specialist Professor and Director of the Cybersecurity Research Center at Monmouth University. Previously, Dr. Callahan was a Senior Lecturer and Founder of the Rensselaer Cybersecurity Collaboratory at RPI. Dedicated to open-source software and reverse engineering, Brian has built a Career in higher education, mentoring students to solve complex, real-world security challenges through hands-on technical research.
Steven Silberstein ‘76
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – FS-ISAC/Professor – Fordham University
Steven Silberstein is a RPI alumnus and leader in financial technology and cybersecurity, serving as the CEO of the Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FS-ISAC) until 2025. Steven’s executive background also includes serving as CTO of SunGard, CEO of Sheltered Harbor, and COO of BlueVoyant. Steven has also served on the Leadership Council for RPI's Lally School of Management, Board Director for the International Association for Quantitative Finance, and a former Professor at Fordham University's Gabelli School of Business.
