Workshops - Kentucky Cybersecurity And Forensics Conference (KCFC)

Adrian Lauf is an associate professor in the Computer Science & Engineering department at the University of Louisville’s J. B. Speed School of Engineering. He is a core faculty member at the Louisville Automation and Robotics Research Institute (LARRI) as a part of the Autonomous Intelligent Mobile Systems (AIMS) lab. Dr. Lauf’s research expertise is in cooperative autonomous aerial robotics, which has the goal of enabling swarms of autonomous UAVs to accomplish objectives in a cooperative and collaborative manner. These robot swarms use multi-domain mesh networking, decentralized decision-making, and node clustering to improve communication efficiency. Dr. Lauf also has research interests in cyber and network security, with research efforts in embedded and IoT security, as well as several projects in cybersecurity workforce development.

Dr. Cheryl Purdy is the lead digital forensic examiner/analyst for the Daviess County Sheriff’s Department in Owensboro, KY. She has been with the department for 11 years and has performed hundreds of examinations, many of which have led to convictions in both the state and federal systems. In addition, she is the Owensboro Community and Technical College project manager for a National Security Agency coalition grant with the University of Louisville and 4 other colleges and universities that have been awarded the prestigious Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense designation by the NSA.

In addition to her Ph.D. in Information Technology with a specialty area in digital forensics, Dr. Purdy has completed training with the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training, the National White Collar Crime Center, the Secret Service funded National Computer Forensics Institute, and the American Academy of Applied Forensics.

Recent awards for her accolades include being selected as the 2021 National Sheriff’s Association Reserve Deputy of the Year, the 2021 New Beginnings (Sexual Assault Support Services) Voice for Change Award, and the 2021 Owensboro Noon Optimist Respect for Law Award. She a member of the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security Cyber Threats Working Group and the International High Technology Crime Investigation Association.

Ross Patz is a highly skilled Director with a wealth of experience in designing, troubleshooting, and managing complex IT environments. Currently serving as a Director in the IT Risk and Cybersecurity practice, Ross plays a vital role in overseeing our consulting team and ensuring the successful delivery of projects on a day-to-day basis.

With a diverse background encompassing IT, cybersecurity, privacy, management, and operational services, Ross brings a comprehensive skill set to his role. He has a proven track record of evaluating, developing, and delivering strategic business services that align with organizational objectives. Ross consistently leverages innovative solutions to meet customer requirements and prides himself on delivering high-quality results.

Abhishek Bhave

Founder @ CodePioneers

Senior at Mason High School looking to expand my horizons on computer science, psychology, public policy, & entrepreneurship.