Code, Chaos, and Conflict: Hacking the Future of AI and Cyber Warfare
General Paul M. Nakasone (Ret.)
The game has changed. In today’s high-speed, high-stakes world, conflict isn’t just on the battlefield—it’s in the code. From AI’s game-breaking potential to the razor-thin edge between opportunity and threat, this keynote dives into the future of hacking and cyber warfare. Together, we’ll explore how these shifts are playing out in real-world hotspots like Ukraine and the Middle East, where cyber warfare and AI are reshaping the fight.
Armed with stories from the frontlines of U.S. Cyber Command and NSA, Gen. (Ret.) Paul Nakasone breaks down how the rules are shifting and how hackers like you are rewriting them. As Founding Director of the Vanderbilt Institute of National Security, he’ll explore what it takes to outpace today’s threats and build the next generation of strategic disruptors.
SPEAKER BIO:
General Paul M. Nakasone (Ret.)
Founding Director, Vanderbilt Institute for National Security
Former Commander, U.S. Cyber Command & Director, National Security Agency
General Paul M. Nakasone, a retired U.S. Army four-star general, serves as the Founding Director of Vanderbilt University's Institute for National Security. He is also a Distinguished Research Professor of Engineering Science and Management and Special Advisor to the Chancellor.
From 2018 to 2024, General Nakasone led U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency, overseeing national cyber defense and global signals intelligence operations. A career military leader with more than three decades of experience, he has commanded at all levels, with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, and has held key intelligence and joint staff roles.
A recognized authority on cyber operations and national security, General Nakasone has been a featured speaker at DEFCON 32 and Vanderbilt’s Summit on Modern Conflict and Emerging Threats. A Minnesota native, he holds advanced degrees from USC, the National Defense Intelligence College, and the U.S. Army War College. Now at Vanderbilt, General Nakasone continues to advance dialogue and research on emerging global security challenges, inspiring innovation and leadership in this critical field.
