Former U.S. National Intelligence Director and Furman graduate Mike McConnell will kick off a daylong conference in Charleston Friday, Feb. 9 on whether cybersecurity is keeping America safe or making the country more vulnerable.<\/p>\n
The conference at the Charleston Music Hall, which includes other internationally-recognized computing experts, is hosted by the Charleston Law Review<\/em> of the Charleston School of Law and the Riley Institute at Furman.<\/p>\n \u201cIf there\u2019s anyone in America who is keenly aware of cyber-threats and cyber-safety in the United States, it\u2019s Admiral McConnell,\u201d said Ed Bell, president of the Charleston School of Law.\u00a0 \u201cWe and the Riley Institute are honored that he will be here to give a realistic view to a topic on the leading edge of law to our students as well as area attorneys, educators and information technology experts who are attending the Law & Society symposium.\u201d<\/p>\n McConnell, a retired vice admiral who managed more than 100,000 people in the U.S. intelligence community from 2007 to 2008, had a 40-year Navy career, including 29 years as an intelligence officer.\u00a0 Currently, he serves as a senior executive advisor at Booz Allen and Hamilton. McConnell graduated from Furman in 1966.<\/p>\n \u201cNow in its tenth year, this series is unique in the country in focusing on critical societal issues within a legal framework,\u201d said Don Gordon, executive director of the Riley Institute. \u00a0\u201cThis year is no exception.\u00a0 The topics are more relevant than ever.\u201d<\/p>\n Following McConnell\u2019s 9 a.m. keynote address at the Charleston Music Hall, three panels of experts and attorneys will address critical issues.<\/p>\n 10 a.m.: \u201c<\/strong>Staying Safe While Keeping Secrets: National Security, Law Enforcement, and Civil Liberties.\u201d\u00a0 <\/strong>Panelists include Charleston County Sheriff Al Cannon and retired Army Col. Chuck Eassa,\u00a0lead researcher at the Georgia Tech Research Institute\u2019s Cyber and Information Technology Lab<\/p>\n 11:15 a.m.: \u201cThe Next 9\/11: Cyberattacks as Acts of Terrorism.\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0 McConnell and Mark Senell, vice president of global sales for Raytheon, will participate in the panel discussion.,<\/p>\n 1:45 p.m.: \u201c<\/strong>Corporate Cybersecurity: Does Encryption Fully Protect You and Your Clients?\u201d\u00a0 <\/strong>Participants include Charleston forensic specialist Steve Abrams, a Charleston School of Law graduate, and J.W. Choi, <\/strong>manager of SK Telecom\u2019s Quantum Technology Lab in Korea.\u00a0 He will address next-generation quantum computer issues.<\/p>\n The symposium is free and open to the public<\/u>, but registration is required.\u00a0 Space is limited.<\/p>\n Attorneys who attend can receive Continuing Legal Education credits at no cost.\u00a0 The symposium qualifies for four hours of CLE credits in South Carolina. Registration for the CLE (Course 181363) starts at 8:30 a.m.\u00a0 A complete schedule of events is online<\/a>.<\/p>\n About the Charleston Law Review<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The Charleston Law Review<\/em> is the flagship journal of the Charleston School of Law.\u00a0 In its past issues, the Charleston Law Review<\/em> has published significant public figures ranging across the political spectrum from President-elect Barack Obama to John Yoo, former presidential legal advisor to President George W. Bush.\u00a0 The Law Review<\/em> will publish a companion issue to the symposium that may be ordered here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n