About us
Information Systems Security Association (ISSA) is a not-for-profit, international professional organization of information security professionals and practitioners. It was founded in 1984 by Sandra M. Lambert and Nancy King (albeit work on its establishment started in 1982). ISSA promotes the sharing of information security management practices through educational forums, publications and networking opportunities among security professionals. ISSA is present in more than one hundred countries, including Europe and Asia, with more than 10,000 members.
As the founding chapter of ISSA, ISSA Los Angeles (ISSA-LA) has become the premier catalyst and community resource in Southern California for improving the practice of information security. The Chapter provides various training classes and lectures for information Security and IT professionals throughout the year and at the annual Summit. We accomplish this by providing:
- Education, networking and support to information security practitioners
- IT practitioners with information security responsibilities
- Information security vendors
- Outreach, advocacy and education to the broader Los Angeles community
ISSA-LA meets monthly for lunch and dinner and regularly collaborates with other IT and InfoSec organizations, having joint meetings with ISACA, OWASP, the Cloud Security Alliance, HTCIA, and the Association of IT Professionals to name a few.
Upcoming events
2

Building Future Cybersecurity Leaders Today
Veteran's Building, 4117 Overland Ave, Culver City, CA, USYou must register and pay to attend: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/building-future-cybersecurity-leaders-today-tickets-1977659979235
### Topic One: Building Future Cybersecurity Leaders Today
Organizations across all industries eventually reach a critical juncture: the realization that relying on luck is no longer sufficient to protect their vital information and systems. At this point, they must choose a path forward—whether to hire seasoned professionals, develop talent internally, or outsource to trusted experts.
Given the current shortage of cybersecurity professionals and the urgent demand for skilled talent, how can organizations accurately assess the experience of potential candidates? More importantly, how can established professionals ensure their teams are set up for long-term success?
This session will share key observations and foster discussion about the career development strategies necessary to achieve excellence in cybersecurity leadership. We will also explore the distinction between leaders and managers, and why cultivating leadership qualities in yourself and those you mentor is essential.
You will learn how to:
- Identify the stages of cybersecurity talent development
- Recognize and address gaps in team growth
- Communicate to management the value of nurturing cybersecurity leadership organically
When executed effectively, developing future cybersecurity leaders will position your organization for sustained success and create pathways for talent development that extend beyond your company, driving positive change throughout the profession.
Speaker One: Frederick Beck
Frederick Beck is a retired Air Force Major with 22 years of service and a former Director of Cybersecurity Infrastructure Services and Operations. With over 34 years of experience in IT, cybersecurity, and leadership, Fred has held numerous key positions, including Section Chief for Defensive Counter-Information Warfare, Deputy Flight Commander for Network Operations and Security at the US Air Force Academy, Test Director for RQ-4 Global Hawk Operational Test and Evaluation, and Section Manager for Global Cyber Security Operations and Infrastructure at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab.
Currently, Mr. Beck is CISO - Americas for NMB (USA).
### Topic Two: Cybersecurity Leaders Panel
This exciting cybersecurity leaders panel brings together seasoned experts to unpack emerging threats, evolving defense strategies, and the organizational shifts needed to stay resilient. The conversation blends strategic insight with real‑world experience, offering a rare look at how top security minds navigate rapidly changing digital risks and high‑stakes decision making.
Speakers: Richard Greenberg, CISO @ Security Advisors LLC; Abe Cohen, Sr. Director of Information Security @ iHerb; Carol Fawcett, Corporate Vice President and Chief Information Officer @ Golden State Foods; Yev Avidon, Former Director – Cybersecurity, Data Protection and AI Security @ Kroger; Veronica Caban, SVP Cybersecurity, Insider Threat, Crisis Management @ Universal Music Group
10 attendees
Cybersecurity's Dirty Secret: Why Most Budgets Go to Waste
Burton Chace Park, 13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey, CA, USYou must register and pay to attend: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cybersecuritys-dirty-secret-why-most-budgets-go-to-waste-tickets-1982368480489
### Come and network with your friends, make new friends, and hear 2 great speakers. A buffet dinner will be available.
### Topic One: Cybersecurity's Dirty Secret: Why Most Budgets Go to Waste
What if you could save your company thousands to millions in wasted cybersecurity spending? That’s not hype, it’s the reality when you stop treating spending dollars like a bottomless pit and start treating it like a business strategy.
Most executives assume the more money they throw at cybersecurity, the safer they’ll be. Wrong. In fact, the bigger your budget, the more likely you’re bleeding cash on shelfware, pointless meetings, and “solutions” that solve nothing. This talk flips the script: it shows you how to slash costs, cut risk, and still move faster than your competition.
You Will Learn:
How to finally answer the question, “How much should we spend on cybersecurity?”
Why your ROI math is broken and the simple fixes that make sense in the boardroom.
Which budget cuts backfire, and how to cover yourself with smart risk approvals.
When to switch tools, when to double down, and when to pull the plug.### Speaker One: Ross Young
From CIA officer to enterprise CISO, Ross Young has spent two decades at the forefront of cybersecurity. He’s the co-host of CISO Tradecraft, creator of the OWASP Threat and Safeguard Matrix (TaSM), and a recognized leader who has served as CISO in Residence at Team8, CISO of Caterpillar Financial, instructor at Johns Hopkins University, and divisional CISO at Capital One. Ross also brings over a decade of frontline experience from the CIA, NSA, and the Federal Reserve Board.
Ross holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Johns Hopkins University, Idaho State University, and Utah State University. He is Boardroom Certified as a Qualified Technology Expert (QTE) and a CISSP.
### Topic Two: Defending Against Offensive AI with Autonomous Cybersecurity
Explore how AI is transforming the cyber threat landscape, highlighting adversarial use cases and 2026 trends. Discover how defenders and security teams leverage AI, the types of AI in security, and their strengths and weaknesses. Learn evaluation methods and delve into Darktrace's unique AI approach and platform. This presentation offers insights into the evolving role of AI in cybersecurity and its future implications.
### Speaker Two: Collin Chapleau
Collin Chapleau is the Senior Director of Security & AI Strategy and Field CISO at Darktrace, where he helps the world’s largest and most complex organizations harness AI-driven cybersecurity to defend against an evolving threat landscape. With a foundation in computer engineering, advanced mathematics, and cybersecurity, Collin specializes in translating AI research into real-world security strategies for customers and key partners.
He has architected AI-powered security deployments across complex global enterprises and led technical solution teams across North and South America. Collin has engineered integrations and novel solutions across customers’ full security stacks to enhance AI modeling and improve cyber resilience. He has implemented agentic security solutions that actively detect, investigate, and stop threats in real time.
A frequent speaker at industry conferences and partner events, Collin shares insights on adversarial AI, cutting-edge strategies for AI in security operations, and the future of AI in cybersecurity. He holds a Master’s in Information Technology from Virginia Tech.
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Please Park in Lot 77, right next door to the Community Center.
6 attendees
Past events
198

