Ambassador Cofer Black to Keynote Next Week at Black Hat USA 2011

SEATTLE, July 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Black Hat, produced by UBM TechWeb, today announced that Ambassador Cofer Black, Vice President for Global Operations, Blackbird Technologies will keynote at this year's Black Hat USA 2011, the world's leading information security event. In a former role as Director of the CIA's Counterterrorist Center, Black warned against frightening risks of terrorist attacks in 2001. He will be keynoting at Black Hat to provide his viewpoint and discuss the topic of: "Perspectives on 9/11 - Ten Years Later and Beyond." Black Hat USA 2011 will host more than 6000 high-level security professionals for the most timely, actionable security presentations of the year. Black Hat USA is taking place July 30-August 4 at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, NV. To register, visit: https://www.blackhat.com/.

"We're honored to have Ambassador Black keynote at Black Hat this year," said Travis Carelock, Black Hat Technical Director. "Hearing from someone who's lived security at the highest levels for over two decades, is an inspiration for those of us in the trenches today."

Ambassador Cofer Black is an internationally acknowledged, 30-year career U.S. Government leader and expert in counterterrorism and national security. Since 2009 he has been Blackbird Technologies' Vice President for Global Operations. During 2005–2008, he provided strategic guidance and business development as Vice Chairman of Blackwater Worldwide and as Chairman of Total Intelligence Solutions. During 2002–2005, at the Assistant Secretary of State level, he reported to the Secretary of State for developing, coordinating, and implementing American counterterrorism policy as Coordinator. He served a 28-year career at CIA, reaching Senior Intelligence Service (SIS-4) level as Director, Counterterrorist Center (D/CTC), over the 9/11 period. He completed six successful operational CIA tours abroad in field management positions focusing on counterterrorism, but also addressing regional security issues, counterintelligence, and covert action.

In addition to keynote presentations from Ambassador Cofer Black and DARPA's Peiter "Mudge" Zatko, this year's event includes Arsenal selections for the 2011 Briefings which will feature six pods filled with tools being presented by shareware/freeware developers and independent researchers.

Black Hat USA 2011 will host digital security experts, bringing together public and private sector security professionals and underground hackers in Las Vegas to uncover groundbreaking new vulnerabilities and new security tools debuting for the first time. With the highest number of exhibitors ever and a sold out exhibit hall, sponsors of Black Hat USA include Diamond Sponsor: Qualys; Platinum Sponsors: Accuvant, Blue Coat Systems, Cisco, Microsoft, LogRhythm, NitroSecurity, RSA, Rackspace, Symantec; Gold Sponsors: ArcSight, Core Security Technologies, IBM, IOActive, McAfee, NetWitness Corporation, Norman, Novell, Rapid7, Red Lambda, Solera Networks, and Trustwave.

About Black Hat

Black Hat provides briefings and training to leading corporations and government agencies around the world. Black Hat differentiates itself by working at many levels within the corporate, government, and underground communities. This unmatched informational reach enables Black Hat attendees to be continuously aware of the newest vulnerabilities, defense mechanisms, and industry trends. Black Hat Briefings and Trainings are held annually in Abu Dhabi, Barcelona, Las Vegas, and Washington DC. Black Hat is produced by UBM TechWeb. More information is available at http://www.blackhat.com.

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SOURCE UBM TechWeb