Watchtower National Forum

National CISO & Cybersecurity Leaders Forum

CISOs and Security Leaders came together for two days of intensive intelligence briefings, strategic discussions, and executive networking at the premier CISO forum.

Date

March 7-9, 2027

Location

Dallas, Texas · Venue TBA

Forum opens

Sunday, March 7, 2027 · 2:00 PM CT

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About the forum

Cybersecurity Forum Driven by Community Leadership and Elevated Networking

Watchtower Cybersecurity Forums provide our community members with an unparalleled opportunity to connect and collaborate in an exclusive, intimate environment over two and a half days of strategic sessions, premium networking experiences, and invitation-only boardroom discussions.

Attendance is strictly limited to enterprise Directors, Vice Presidents, and Chief Information Security Officers. Approved attendees experience this transformative forum completely complimentary: lodging, travel, and all meals are fully covered.

Executive Council

14 members

  • Bradley J. Schaufenbuel

    Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer

    Paychex, Inc.

  • Dana Kilcrease

    Chief Information Security Officer

    Berkeley College

  • Dr. Carnell A. Council II

    Chief Information Security Officer

    Arctic Slope Regional Corporation

  • Ed Yousfi

    Business Information Security Officer

    Gallagher

  • Greg Journey

    Chief Information Security Officer

    MetroHealth

  • Brian Lee

    Chief Information Security Officer

    Oil States International

  • Dana Turner

    Chief Information Security Officer

    Union Bank & Trust

  • Jasmine Hicks

    Chief Information Security Officer

    Gaming Sector

  • Ken Foster

    Chief Information Security Officer

    Executive Cybersecurity Leader

  • Amit Basu

    Chief Information Officer and CISO

    International Seaways

  • Edward Marchewka

    Chief Administrative Officer

    PryorHealth

  • Chuck Layton

    Information Resource Manager

    San Jacinto College

  • Allen Ohanian

    Chief Information Security Officer

    Los Angeles County DCFS

  • Altaf Uddin

    Chief Information Officer and CISO

    Kansas Secretary of State

Agenda

Three days, one agenda

Session topics are drawn from the top-ranked priorities of the Executive Council. Times are Central.

2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Registration & app orientation

Arrival

Check in, collect your credentials, and set up the onsite peer engagement app.

5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Welcome reception

Networking

Meet peers over cocktails before the forum opens.

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Networking & engagement dinner

Networking

Open seating dinner with the full attendee group.

Request an invitation

Secure your seat

Seats are limited to keep every room small enough for real discussion.

Eligibility

01

Senior leaders only

Enterprise Directors, Vice Presidents, and CISOs. Every request is reviewed by our team.

Director level and up

Agenda

02

Council led

Session topics come from the top-ranked priorities of our Executive Council.

Peer driven

Closed room

03

Off the record

Boardroom sessions run under the Chatham House Rule. No press, no recordings.

Chatham House Rule

Registration · March 7-9, 2027

What to expect

Two and a half days, built by peers

Everything you need to know before you request an invitation.

Who attends

Enterprise CISOs, Vice Presidents, and Directors of security from the Fortune 1000, public sector, healthcare, and critical infrastructure.

How the agenda is set

The Executive Council ranks the year’s top priorities. Keynotes, boardrooms, and workshops are built from that list.

How sessions run

Boardroom sessions are small, closed, and held under the Chatham House Rule. Workshops are hands-on and capped by room size.

What you leave with

A peer network you can call, a set of program priorities pressure-tested by peers, and the session materials to share with your team.

Panel session at a Watchtower Forum
Watchtower Forum

Formats

Five ways to engage

Every format is designed for decision-makers who want to leave with something they can use.

Intelligence briefings

Current threat activity and what it means for enterprise programs.

Briefing

Boardroom sessions

Small, closed discussions under the Chatham House Rule.

Closed

Workshops

Practical sessions with frameworks you can take back to your team.

Hands-on

Strategic planning

Peers pressure-test priorities and build the year’s roadmap.

Peer-led

Live simulations

Facilitated incident exercises run in teams, in real time.

Live

Venue

Dallas, Texas

The venue will be announced to approved attendees and published here first.

Dates

7-9

March 2027

Venue

TBA

Dallas-Fort Worth

Minutes from DFW

  • Airport. Fly into Dallas Fort Worth International or Dallas Love Field.
  • Travel. Ground transfers are arranged for approved attendees.
  • Lodging. All forum nights are onsite at the venue.

Venue to be announced

From the room

What peers say

Attendees on what they took back to their teams.

Already wrote an email summary to our leaders, with 7 action items for various folks to follow up on.

Darrel Raynor

LCRA

Some of the topics will spur strategic discussions within my division as well with agency leadership.

Dave Boyd

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

Several takeaways that I will be able to use to enhance our strategy, optimize current processes, and improve our day to day.

Dana Kilcrease

Berkeley College

I share the presentations with my team for review as well as to gauge if any vendors might meet our needs.

Kaseem Mabry

Tampa International Airport

I like to hear from those that are living the issues... those that are doing it confirm real world discussions.

Ed Moore

Carnival Corporation

For solution providers

Partner with the forum

Lead a workshop, host a boardroom, or anchor the evening program with 70+ CISOs and security executives in the room.

Sponsorship options

  • Diamond and Platinum. Keynote and evening program presence.
  • Boardroom. A closed session with a curated peer group.
  • Gold. A hands-on workshop on the agenda.
  • Silver. Onsite presence and peer meetings.