MARITIME RISK SYMPOSIUM
Introduction: Maritime Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence and Keynotes
Session Abstract
This high-level discussion explores the rapidly evolving cyber risk landscape shaping the maritime ecosystem. Against the backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions and new cybersecurity mandates, regulators and industry leaders convene to share insights from compliance, examine emerging Information and Operational Technologies and AI-driven threats, and discuss strategies for addressing risks and strengthening resilience across ports, vessels, and supply chains.
Session Takeaway
To align policy, technology, and operations to safeguard critical maritime infrastructure while ensuring the continuity and competitiveness of U.S. commerce.
Session Speakers
Dr. Joe DiRenzo
U.S. Coast Guard
Dr. DiRenzo is the Director of Research Partnerships at the Coast Guard Research and Development Center in New London CT. He is a retired Coast Guard officer, who spent nine years in the Navy, in both the submarine and surface warfare communities. In 1991 he transitioned to the United States Coast Guard and was assigned to several cutters including command of USCGC JEFFERSON ISLAND. In 1999, Dr. DiRenzo was detailed as the inaugural Coast Guard Liaison Officer assigned to the CONSTELLATION Strike Group deployed to the Arabian Gulf. In 2000 he was assigned to Atlantic Area, held seven different positions including Division Chief before rising to the Senior Advisor to the Commander for Science, Technology, Innovation and Research position. Dr. DiRenzo is one of the most published authors in Coast Guard history. A five-time winner of the service’s prestigious JOC Alex Haley award he has published over 400 articles on various maritime terrorism and port security topics. He has served on the Advisory Board of the DHS Center of Excellence - Critical Infrastructure Resilience Institute at the University of Illinois Champaign Urbana and the DHS Center of Excellence at the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill). He is the co-founder and sixteenth-time national Co-Chair of the Maritime Risk Symposium. In 2017 he co-edited the book – Issues in Maritime Cyber Security. Dr. DiRenzo is a 1982 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, holds a master’s in business administration from California Coast University, and is a graduate of both the Naval War College and Marine Corps Command and Staff College. He completed his doctoral studies in 2007 at Northcentral University in Prescott AZ. He teaches part-time for American Military University and National University. Dr. DiRenzo is married to retired Navy Nurse Corps Captain and Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran Karen DiRenzo. They have two children.
Scott Blough
Mandiant, Part of Google Cloud
Marco Ayala
ABS Consulting
Marco "Marc" Ayala is Technical Director in the Cybersecurity Center of Excellence at ABS Consulting, with over 30 years of experience in instrumentation, automation, control, and safety systems across energy, oil and gas, chemicals, maritime, and offshore industries. An ISA Fellow (2025) and ISA Executive Board member, he is recognized for advancing global standards and integrating cybersecurity with cloud, edge, and AI technologies. He has trained more than 1,000 professionals worldwide through multiple certification programs. Marc serves as President of the InfraGard Houston Members Alliance and InfraGard National Sector Chief for Energy, partnering with the FBI, CISA, and government stakeholders on critical infrastructure resilience. He is also Cyber & Threat Intel Chair for the AMSC Outer-Continental Shelf for the Gulf.
T.J. White - Keynote Speaker
(Vice Admiral, U.S. Navy Retired) Chief, Texas Cyber Command
Timothy James “TJ” White, of Boerne, is a retired vice admiral in the U.S. Navy and founder of OneNetworkConnection, LLC. He is a Professor-of-Practice at the Naval Postgraduate School, affiliated with the Military Cyber Professionals Association and the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society, and a trustee of the Southwest Research Institute. Joining the Navy in 1983 from Spring, Texas, he was honorably discharged in 2020 after 37 years of service. During his time in the Navy, he served as the Commander, United States Fleet Cyber Command/United States TENTH Fleet/United States Navy Space Command and previously as the Commander, United States Cyber National Mission Force/USCYBERCOM. He is the former Director of Intelligence for United States Indo-Pacific Command. White received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Naval Academy, a Master of Science in Systems Technology from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a Master of Science in Strategic Resource Management from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
Amy Grable - Keynote Speaker
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard
RDML Grable assumed the duties as the Assistant Commandant for Capability (CG-7) in July 2025 and as the Assistant Commandant for USCG Futures Development and Integration (FD&I) in September 2025. Rear Admiral Grable’s previous assignments include Assistant Commandant for Engineering and Logistics (CG-4) in June 2023. As the Coast Guard's "Chief Engineer", she is responsible for all civil, aeronautical, naval, and industrial engineering, including logistics for the service's 25,000 facilities, 2,100 cutters and boats, and 200 aircraft. Likewise, she was the Commanding Officer of Base Boston, Deputy Commander of Coast Guard Cyber Command (CGCYBER), Product Line Manager for Enterprise Information System Infrastructure, Commanding Officer of Electronic Systems Support Unit Boston, Assignment Officer at the Coast Guard Personnel Service Center, Executive Officer at Coast Guard Electronic Systems Support Unit Seattle, Assistant Technical Manager for the Rescue 21 Acquisition program, Communications Engineer at the Coast Guard Research & Development Center and Engineer Officer in Training and Damage Control Assistant aboard USCGC SPENCER (WMEC 905). Rear Admiral Grable graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. In 1998, she graduated from the University of Rhode Island with an M.S. in Electrical Engineering. She completed a one-year program and was honored as an Excellence in Government Senior Fellow in 2015. She was selected for Senior Service School and earned an M.S. in Government Information Leadership from the National Defense University College of Information and Cyberspace in 2018. Rear Admiral Grable’s honors include one Legion of Merit, three Meritorious Service Medals, two Coast Guard Commendation Medals, and the Coast Guard Achievement Medal. She was named the 2002 Coast Guard Elite Athlete of the Year for her accomplishments in the sport of distance running and was selected as the winner of the 2017 Women in Technology, Women in Defense Leadership award.
