Tom Ridge, the first U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary, will deliver a keynote address at CUNA's Governmental Affairs Conference in March.
Ridge is the co-founder of the cybersecurity firm, Ridge Schmidt Cyber LLC, and the CEO of Ridge Global, which specializes in emergency preparedness and crisis management.
"Tom Ridge's extensive cybersecurity background will provide invaluable insight at a time when data breaches and digital security are of paramount concern. It's a pleasure to welcome him to this year's CUNA GAC speaker lineup," CUNA President/CEO Jim Nussle said.
Former President George W. Bush named Ridge the first assistant to the president for Homeland Security on Sept. 11, 2001. Ridge was later confirmed as the first secretary of the newly created U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Ridge was governor of Pennsylvania from 1995 to 2001. He served in the House of Representatives from 1983 to 1995.
He earned the Bronze Star for Valor, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and the Combat Infantry Badge for his service as a U.S. Army infantry staff sergeant in Vietnam.
Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer and Arianna Huffington, editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post, will also speak at the GAC, which takes place March 8-12 in Washington.
Gen. Stanley McChrystal, USA (Ret.), former commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan, will speak at the CUNA ED (Filene) Talk.
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