Safeguarding America’s Research Workshop

Safeguarding America’s Research Workshop

Join the Southeast Defense Innovation Center for a two-day workshop focused on national security, research protection, and emerging threats. The event brings together senior national security officials, intelligence experts, and academic research leaders to address foreign intelligence threats and practical research security.

Notably for our community, Pillar Society member Dan Stanton (Instructor, National Security Programs, uOttawa PDI, and retired Senior CSIS officer) will be participating as a featured panelist.

When & Where

• Dates: Wednesday, October 14 – Thursday, October 15, 2026

• Reception Location (Oct 14): NC Research Campus, Core Lab Bldg, Kannapolis, NC

• Workshop Location (Oct 15): Kannapolis City Hall, Laureate Room, Kannapolis, NC

Key Topics

• Updated National Security Presidential Memo (NSPM-33) policy and implementation guidance

• Countering PRC/CCP intelligence threats targeting university research

• Protecting sensitive research in the quantum information science era

• Practical university best practices and immediate campus implementation steps

• Networking with university and industry peers

Agenda Overview

Featured Speakers & Panelists

• Dan Stanton, Instructor, National Security Programs, Ottawa PDI; Retired Senior CSIS

• George "Wes" Street, Director, National Counterintelligence & Security Center (NCSC)

• Rachel Hunt, Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina

• Paul Jarrett, Director, Research Security, University of Toronto; Former CSIS

• Dr. Greg Strouse, Director of Research Security, NIST

• Joshua Obstfeld, Senior Executive, FBI Counterintelligence & Espionage Division

• John Sava, Special Agent/Program Manager, NCIS National Security Division

• Nicholas Eftimiades, Author & Subject Matter Expert on Chinese Intelligence; President, Shinobi Enterprises

• Katie Arrington, Quantum Technical Evangelist, IonQ

• Paul Zebb, III, Senior Counsel, U.S. House Select Committee on the CCP

• Erik Yost, Director of Research Security, MIT

• Dr. Angelica Martins, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Research Protections & Integrity, UNC Charlotte

• Dr. Bruce LaMattina, Executive Director, Defense & Special Programs, University of Tennessee Knoxville

• Ted Stanich, Executive Director, Intelligence Studies, Mercyhurst University

• Joe Simon, Founder & CEO, The Simon Group LLC

• Garrett Melich, Founder, The Intelligence Edge

Registration & Host Information

• Host: Southeast Defense Innovation Center (501(c)(3))

• Host Website: sedefense.org

• Registration: Register via Eventbrite