Artificial intelligence, critical infrastructure protection and the evolving cyber threat landscape will headline discussions at the 3rd Billington State and Local CyberSecurity Summit, taking place in Washington, DC from 9 to 11 March 2026.
Hosted at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, the three-day event will convene more than 1,000 government officials, chief information security officers, technology leaders and academic specialists. The summit is designed to strengthen coordination between federal, state and local authorities, with a particular focus on operational resilience and the defence of essential services.
According to organiser Billington CyberSecurity, the programme will address how public sector bodies can identify and counter increasingly sophisticated adversaries while integrating emerging technologies such as AI into secure environments.
Cyber Threats
“Shoring up our cyber defences at all levels of government is imperative to protecting the US and its allies,” said Troy Schneider, President of Billington CyberSecurity. He added that the summit would explore a range of cyber threats and provide insight into strategies for exposing and countering hostile activity across all tiers of government.
Key sessions on 10 March include a panel examining how contemporary cyber adversaries exploit growing digital interconnectivity, automation and geographically dispersed systems. Another session will consider the preparatory steps required to ensure data is fit for use in AI systems, highlighting the governance and integrity measures needed to reduce risk.
Software supply chain security will also feature prominently. Panellists are expected to assess recent incidents, regulatory developments and practical measures to improve transparency and resilience across technology ecosystems that underpin government and critical infrastructure networks.
On 11 March, attention will turn to cybersecurity in secondary education. With schools facing constrained resources and increased reliance on digital platforms, speakers will review recent incidents and outline approaches to safeguarding student data and administrative systems. A separate session will address persistent cloud attack methodologies and mitigation strategies, reflecting continued concerns over misconfiguration and third party vulnerabilities in cloud environments.
Key Priorities
The summit will include fireside discussions with federal officials on national cyber priorities and their practical implications for state and local authorities. In addition, the head of Texas Cyber Command, Retired Admiral TJ White, is scheduled to discuss the development of a statewide cyber organisation intended to enhance coordinated defence across state and local systems. Tony Sauerhoff, Chief of AI and Innovation for the State of Texas, is also among the confirmed speakers.
Symposium Engagement
Billington CyberSecurity is partnering with GovRAMP to host the 2026 GovRAMP Symposium on 9 March, immediately preceding the summit. The exhibition hall will provide engagement opportunities between sponsors and delegates. Lead sponsors include Cisco, Cohere and GDIT.
Founded in 2010, Billington CyberSecurity positions itself as a cyber education company focused on senior government and industry leaders. Its annual autumn summit in Washington is regarded as its flagship event.
Registration details are available via the event website.
