Calling all computer scientists, programmers, data scientists, engineers, and others interested in learning more about the intersection between national security and technology...

There is no question that how cyber policy is made today—both in Washington, D.C. and at the state level—is fundamentally broken, particularly when it comes to security policy.  Too often the government seeks to act when it probably shouldn’t, limiting opportunities for private sector insight and innovation.  Worse, when the government does act, it often does so without due regard for the long-term effects on innovation and real-world security.  This is due, in part, to the fact that policymakers who are crafting policy in a broad range of areas often have a glancing—at best—familiarity with technology development.  And while their staff may have relatively more depth than the policymakers themselves, access to technologists with real, deep expertise—at least outside of the heads of major companies, not all of whom are technologists—is fairly limited.  And to the extent that technologists are involved in the policy conversation in the nation’s capitol (or in statehouses across the country), it often tends to be a crowd that’s been around a long time and often has fairly limited flexibility in their views and face barriers in their own willingness to consider new, innovative ideas.

With the support of the Hewlett Foundation and Samsung NEXT, the National Security Institute is excited to host, “Decompiling the Government: Getting Technologists and Policymakers to Speak the Same Language.”  Donald Dixon, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Trident Capital Cybersecurity, the world's largest venture capital fund dedicated solely to cybersecurity early stage investing, will be discussing how technologists can get involved in policy and the how NSI is supporting the work of technical experts. This event brings together technologists and leading policymakers, lawyers, and journalists to bridge the gap between non-technical and technical cyber professionals.