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Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Communities to nominate UK traditions for new inventory

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Communities to nominate UK traditions for new inventory

    Nominations will open this summer for traditions like Notting Hill Carnival, Hogmanay and artisanal crafts to be officially recognised

    • New inventory of traditions will champion UK values and heritage 
    • Follows ratification of the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Culture Heritage last year

    Communities across the UK will soon be able to nominate their favourite traditions to be included within official inventories of our living heritage. 

    Traditions that are central to the rich tapestry which makes up the UK’s many cultures and identity – from Eisteddfodau to Notting Hill Carnival, Hogmanay and Highland dancing – are among those expected to be put forward for a UK-wide official inventory. Artisanal crafts such as basket-weaving, thatching and the art of creating tweed, will also be considered.

    Today the Government has published its response to a consultation asking the public for their views on making sure the new inventory of living heritage encompasses the broad spectrum of traditions practised in the UK. 

    The response sets out how the Government will, together with the Devolved Governments, create inventories of living heritage across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Submissions to the inventories will be encouraged from communities and groups practising living heritage, including from those who practise traditions brought to the UK by immigrant communities. 

    This follows the UK ratifying the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage last year, which requires each member state to compile their own inventory of living heritage practiced by communities in their country. This can include the folklore, performance, customs and crafts that play an important role in telling our national story and making people feel proud of where they live. 

    Heritage Minister Baroness Twycross said:  

    The UK is rich with wonderful traditions, from Gloucestershire’s cheese rolling to folk music and dancing and the many heritage crafts that we practice, such as tartan weaving and carving Welsh love spoons.  

    I would encourage everyone to think about what traditions they value so that we can continue to celebrate them, tell our national story to the rest of the world and safeguard the traditions that make us who we are.

    This UK-wide inventory will start a national conversation about the crafts, customs and celebrations that are valued across the UK and raise awareness of them, in order to help protect them for future generations. Nominations for the inventory are expected to open later this year. 

    DCMS ran a public consultation from January to February 2024 to inform the development of an Inventory of Living Heritage in the UK. This included 16 roundtables, which sought the views of those interested in recognising living heritage, such as grassroots organisations, non-governmental organisations, museums and academics as well as government representatives from across the UK. 

    Following this engagement, it has been agreed that nominations will be accepted under seven categories, which are: 

    • Oral expressions, which could include poetry and storytelling
    • Performing Arts
    • Social Practices, which could include festivals and customs
    • Nature, Land and Spirituality, which could include land practices and living heritage knowledge and practice relating to nature and the environment
    • Crafts
    • Sports and Games
    • Culinary Practices 

    Further information about how to nominate traditions and crafts to be included on the inventories, including gaining support and consent from the community, will be available when the call for submissions opens later this year.

    Notes to editors: 

    • DCMS announced that the UK would ratify the UNESCO Convention on the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in December 2023. Further details of the 2003 Convention for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage here.
    • The UK ratified the 2003 Convention on the 7th March 2024 and the Convention officially came into force on 7th June 2024. 
    • The full response to the consultation is available on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/2003-unesco-convention-for-the-safeguarding-of-the-intangible-cultural-heritage 
    • Whilst we ratify international treaties such as the 2003 Convention as the UK, policy responsibility for culture and heritage devolved from the UK Government to the Devolved Governments.  DCMS therefore worked closely with counterparts in the Devolved Governments to agree on ratification and the consultation.

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    Updates to this page

    Published 12 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    April 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: California Restaurant Owner Sentenced for COVID-19 and Tax Fraud Schemes

    Source: US State of California

    A San Diego restaurant owner was sentenced today to 42 months in prison for schemes to defraud COVID-19 relief programs and filing false tax returns.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Leronce Suel was the majority owner of Rockstar Dough LLC and Chicken Feed LLC, both of which operated restaurants in the San Diego area, including Streetcar Merchants in the North Park neighborhood. He conspired with others to underreport over $1.7 million in gross receipts on Rockstar Dough’s 2020 corporate tax return and COVID-19 relief applications. Suel’s businesses fraudulently received $1,773,245 in COVID-related Paycheck Protection Program loans and Restaurant Revitalization Fund grants, two programs created to provide financial assistance to American suffering economic harm as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Suel and his co-conspirator misappropriated COVID-19 relief program funds by making substantial cash withdrawals from their business bank accounts, purchasing a home in Arkansas, and keeping more than $2.4 million in cash in Suel’s bedroom.

    Suel did not file timely tax returns for 2018 and 2019, despite being legally required to do so. On his 2020 through 2023 tax returns, Suel also did not report the income from his businesses including millions of dollars in cash he withdrew. Finally, in 2023, Suel filed false original and amended tax returns for multiple years, including personal tax returns for 2016 and 2017 that included false depreciable assets and business losses.

    In September 2024, Suel was convicted by a federal jury of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, tax evasion, conspiracy to defraud the United States, filing false tax returns, and failing to file tax returns. Following the convictions, Suel agreed to forfeit $1,466,918 in U.S. currency.

    In addition to this prison sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Ruth Bermudez Montenegro for the Southern District of California ordered Suel to pay approximately $1,773,245 in restitution to the Small Business Administration and forfeit $1,466,918. Restitution to IRS will be heard on June 6.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon for the Southern District of California made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney Julia Rugg of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Beeler for the Southern District of California prosecuted the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: California Restaurant Owner Sentenced for COVID-19 and Tax Fraud Schemes

    Source: United States Attorneys General 8

    A San Diego restaurant owner was sentenced today to 42 months in prison for schemes to defraud COVID-19 relief programs and filing false tax returns.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Leronce Suel was the majority owner of Rockstar Dough LLC and Chicken Feed LLC, both of which operated restaurants in the San Diego area, including Streetcar Merchants in the North Park neighborhood. He conspired with others to underreport over $1.7 million in gross receipts on Rockstar Dough’s 2020 corporate tax return and COVID-19 relief applications. Suel’s businesses fraudulently received $1,773,245 in COVID-related Paycheck Protection Program loans and Restaurant Revitalization Fund grants, two programs created to provide financial assistance to American suffering economic harm as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Suel and his co-conspirator misappropriated COVID-19 relief program funds by making substantial cash withdrawals from their business bank accounts, purchasing a home in Arkansas, and keeping more than $2.4 million in cash in Suel’s bedroom.

    Suel did not file timely tax returns for 2018 and 2019, despite being legally required to do so. On his 2020 through 2023 tax returns, Suel also did not report the income from his businesses including millions of dollars in cash he withdrew. Finally, in 2023, Suel filed false original and amended tax returns for multiple years, including personal tax returns for 2016 and 2017 that included false depreciable assets and business losses.

    In September 2024, Suel was convicted by a federal jury of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, tax evasion, conspiracy to defraud the United States, filing false tax returns, and failing to file tax returns. Following the convictions, Suel agreed to forfeit $1,466,918 in U.S. currency.

    In addition to this prison sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Ruth Bermudez Montenegro for the Southern District of California ordered Suel to pay approximately $1,773,245 in restitution to the Small Business Administration and forfeit $1,466,918. Restitution to IRS will be heard on June 6.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon for the Southern District of California made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney Julia Rugg of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Beeler for the Southern District of California prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

    April 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Murkowski, Houlahan, Bacon Renew Bipartisan, Bicameral Push to Give Public Health Crisis Responders Essential Leave Benefits Enjoyed by All Other Uniformed Services

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
    April 11, 2025
    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC)—U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and U.S. Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06) and Don Bacon (R-NE-02) reintroduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would help expand leave benefits for the millions of devoted health professionals serving in the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned Corps. Despite being responsible for leading our nation’s emergency response to dangerous public health crises, PHS officers are still the only federal entity—civilian or uniformed—without access to essential leave benefits, including extended parental leave, emergency leave, court appearance leave and rest and recuperation leave. The lawmakers’ Uniformed Services Leave Parity Act would rectify this issue by ensuring PHS officers have access to the same authorized leave that is available to members of the Armed Services.
    “When disease or disaster threatens our public safety, PHS officers are on the front lines helping keep the American people healthy and out of harm’s way—there’s no reason they shouldn’t have the same leave benefits that officers of the Army, Navy or any of our other uniformed services do,” said Duckworth. “Our bipartisan legislation would help right this wrong and ensure these devoted health professionals have equal access to the benefits they deserve.”
    “The United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps shows up when the nation needs them most, from natural disasters to public health emergencies. Despite their work to mitigate the health impacts of the most intense crises, these everyday heroes don’t have access to critical leave benefits,” said Senator Murkowski. “This legislation rectifies this oversight, and gives Public Health Service officers leave benefits on par with their peers across other uniformed services.”
    “It is past time that all our servicemembers, including our U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, have equal access to paid parental leave,” said Houlahan. “This gap in our law has put our highly qualified public health officers at a disadvantage at a time when their role on the front lines of public health prevention has never been more important. I am proud to reintroduce this bipartisan and bicameral legislation to right this wrong, and I will continue fighting until these honorable officers, and all Americans in fact, have access to paid leave.”
    “Our Public Health Service officers serve alongside other uniformed service members during national emergencies, yet they don’t receive the same basic leave benefits,” said Rep. Bacon. “I’m honored to co-lead the bipartisan Uniformed Services Leave Parity Act to ensure these dedicated healthcare professionals, who are vital to protecting American public health, are granted the same essential leave benefits as their uniformed service counterparts.”
    When it comes to leave benefits, the inequity that persists between PHS and the other uniformed services undermines PHS’s ability to recruit and retain qualified professionals that help our nation tackle public health crises like natural disasters, COVID-19 or Ebola. Not only does this inequity compromise the wellbeing of PHS officers, but it also ultimately threatens our nation’s public health emergency preparedness.
    The Uniformed Services Leave Parity Act is endorsed by the Commissioned Officers Association, Military Officers Association of America and Reserved Officers Association.
    Full text of the legislation can be found on the Senator’s website.
    Duckworth has long been a leader in pushing for better benefits and support for members of the armed and uniformed services. Last week, she renewed her push to ensure IVF treatment costs are covered on servicemembers’ and military families’ health care plans. Last December, Duckworth helped pass the bipartisan Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that gave servicemembers a pay raise and included a Duckworth-led provision to improve access to high-quality medical care for servicemembers and their families in the Indo-Pacific region, among other wins for military families. Duckworth also successfully passed a provision in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) make sure each service is paying its Guard and Reserve members the same monthly incentive pay for maintaining critical skills and taking on hazardous duty as those in the active component. Since this defense bill was signed into law, Duckworth has also pushed to hold DoD accountable for implementing her pay parity provision.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Durbin Join Introduction of Legislation to Increase Value of Tax Credits that Help Working Class Americans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
    April 11, 2025
    The American Family Act and the Tax Cut for Workers Act would expand the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit to give Americans much-needed financial relief 
    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined their Senate colleagues to introduce two bills, the American Family Act and the Tax Cut for Workers Act, aimed at expanding tax credits for American families. 
    “When Democrats expanded the Child Tax Credit in the American Rescue Plan, we lifted millions of children out of poverty with the stroke of a pen, bringing child poverty rates to the lowest recorded levels in our history,” Duckworth said. “As costs continue to rise, middle-class families are the ones that need relief, not billionaires like Elon Musk and the corporations shipping jobs overseas. I’m proud to join my colleagues in this push to put money back in the pockets of Americans.”
    “As costs have risen, wages haven’t kept up. And now Republicans want to give tax cuts to billionaires. What we need to do instead is give workers and families more tools to help make ends meet,” said Durbin. “The American Family Act and the Tax Cut for Workers Act would put money back into the pockets of hardworking Americans so they can afford to put food on the table, keep their lights on, and access high-quality child care.”
    The American Family Act, led by U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) and cosponsored by Duckworth and Durbin, would permanently expand the Child Tax Credit (CTC) for middle-class and low-income families, one of the most effective tools to reduce poverty and put money back in the pockets of working families.  The 2021 expansion of the CTC in the American Rescue Plan Act, based on the American Family Act, led to a historic reduction in poverty in the United States, particularly for children. Research showed that child poverty fell immediately and substantially to 5.2 percent, its lowest level on record.
    Specifically, the American Family Act would:
    Increase the value of the CTC from the current level of $2,000 per child to $6,360 for newborns, $4,320 for children ages one through six, and $3,600 for children age six through 17;
    End the longstanding, discriminatory policy that reduces the value of the CTC for low-income families, ensuring that the families of 17 million low-income children left out of the CTC under current law will receive the same credit as families in the middle class;
    Provide for monthly delivery of the credit so families have access to the credit as bills arrive; and
    Index the CTC for inflation to preserve the value of the credit moving forward.
    The Tax Cut for Workers Act, led by U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and cosponsored by Duckworth and Durbin, would cut taxes for working class American without children, who currently receive a much smaller Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) than workers with children.  The bill would also extend eligibility for the tax cut to workers under the age of 25 and over the age of 64.
    The text of the American Family Act is available HERE and a summary of the bill is available HERE.
    The text of the Tax Cut for Workers Act is available HERE.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Banking: More human-centered retail with AI

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: More human-centered retail with AI

    Retail has always been about people and processes coming together to deliver unique and relevant shopping experiences. Now with AI, retailers can enhance engagement, delight customers, and empower employees to solve problems like never before. Imagine the potential for significant gains from AI investments across retail operations—from increased productivity and faster employee onboarding to improved skills development and streamlined store processes. These improvements lead to happier associates and more satisfied customers.

    By using more intuitive, natural interfaces to knowledge and information, retailers can start addressing some of retail’s age-old challenges—like finding and retaining the best talent, getting them up to speed quickly, and simplifying store operations so associates can focus on delighting and assisting shoppers.

    Accelerate retail growth with Microsoft Cloud for Retail

    No matter the size of the retailer, choosing which AI technologies to prioritize and where to start can be challenging. However, there are many ways retailers are now using AI to deliver measurable value and real return on investment (ROI). Research shows that for every $1 a company invests in generative AI, the ROI is 3.7 times across industries and regions (compared to 3.5 times in 2024).1 Top leaders using generative AI are realizing significantly higher returns, with an average ROI of $10.30—nearly three times more.1

    To build a foundation for AI success, focus on your business strategy—how AI supports your business goals. Start by identifying the business outcomes you’re aiming for and how AI can help you achieve them.

    Here’s a glimpse into how you can start making gains with your AI investments today by focusing on store operations and the frontline.

    The frontline is first in line with AI

    As the face of retail, frontline workers play a crucial role in the shopper experience. According to recent research by McKinsey, there is a strong relationship between the employee and customer experience, as empowered employees are more likely to deliver superior customer service.2 Yet many frontline workers spend too much time searching for information, and this is one of the top five reported obstacles to their productivity.3

    Generative AI offers significant potential for enhancing frontline productivity and wellbeing, with evidence that most frontline workers think it could help, and they would be comfortable using AI for administrative tasks.3 Generative AI can automate routine tasks, allowing associates to engage more with customers. This shift can lead to a more stimulating work environment, which leads to higher job satisfaction and can help retailers combat ongoing challenges with employee turnover, seasonal hiring, and training.

    At a more macro level, generative AI can also allow retailers to continuously learn and feed insights back into their business processes and to grow their products, services, and competitive differentiation. Retailers can do that by identifying patterns in recurring employee questions so they can get to the root cause of operational challenges and address key gaps in training and store processes.

    Here are some other ways retailers are using generative AI today:

    • Swedish retailer Lindex created Lindex Copilot to offer tailored support to store associates and better understand store needs. Generative AI facilitates this bidirectional learning.
    • MediaMarktSaturn lets associates to have voice conversations with generative AI, accessing details for every product, service, and warranty while staying engaged with the in-store customer, maximizing conversion and increasing customer satisfaction—all while wearing an earbud.
    • Store associates at gourmet chocolatier Venchi use detailed product knowledge and customer insights to address the diverse chocolate preferences of shoppers, achieving a customer satisfaction score of 4.9 out of 5.

    While generative AI technologies are still relatively new, these examples offer a glimpse of what’s possible, and help retailers build an AI foundation for more powerful capabilities emerging with agentic AI.

    Agents are revolutionizing retail operations

    Investing in generative AI is crucial for retailers looking to reinvent customer engagement, empower store leadership and employees, and stay competitive—and now that opportunity has skyrocketed with agents.

    Agents use AI to automate and execute business processes, working alongside or on behalf of a person, team, or organization. Now retailers can leverage agents to help their teams work more efficiently and effectively by giving them faster access to information so they can better support customers and be more productive.

    Agents vary in levels of complexity and capabilities depending on the need. Agents can help frontline workers with a variety of time-saving tasks—from quickly surfacing real-time product information or details about store policies and procedures to support Q&A or troubleshooting. In addition to helping speed information retrieval, agents can help frontline workers with more advanced features like automated task creation or even advising and summarizing information—such as listing open tasks for a shift handover or flagging missed communications. Agents can also operate independently to dynamically plan, orchestrate other agents, and learn to improve over time. For example, an automated stock transfer agent might scan sales velocity across multiple stores and automatically transfer goods between locations if one store is oversupplied while another is understocked, minimizing manual intervention.

    Find in-the-moment answers fast

    One important way to get business value from agents is to help store associates find information about company policies or procedures when a customer is waiting for an answer.

    SharePoint agents can help store associates find quick answers from internal company sources in seconds. Using the power of natural language, associates simply ask what they’re looking for on their tablet or mobile device and the agent responds in natural language with a link to the policy documentation for reference.

    These agents go beyond information retrieval to also generate step-by-step instructions, synthesize product information, and support frontline managers to create and smart-assign shifts, and auto-validate task completion.

    Agents can help associates reduce customer wait time, increase information accuracy, and possibly facilitate sales.

    Simplify store processes

    Complex business processes are another ongoing operational challenge and opportunity for custom agents to help improve productivity.

    Custom-built agents can help retailers connect to external data sources and systems so store associates can find information such as product inventory availability in or near their store, shipping status, or how to initiate a return.

    Frontline workers simply ask, “Help me initiate a return,” and the agent guides them through the process by clarifying the worker’s intent and providing them with next steps, all through a chat interface.

    Custom agents are best suited to also streamline complex workflows like task management, that often involves multiple steps. Using custom agents built with Microsoft Copilot Studio, frontline workers can easily create a task and send it through a task management system that sends automatic alerts as needed, all from a single pane of glass.

    Meeting you where you are on your AI journey

    Microsoft offers AI solutions that you can customize to meet your unique needs and scale. There are several ways agents can be deployed, from no code to low code and pro code. Here are a couple options available today.

    Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat is a new offering that adds pay-as-you-go agents to our existing free chat experience for Microsoft 365 commercial customers. Copilot Chat empowers retailers to get started on their AI journey today and includes querying the public web (such as a retailer’s website) for free. To enhance Copilot Chat, retailers can also build custom agents using Copilot Studio and SharePoint agents that enable access to retail systems such as enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), and product information management (PIM), and to documents on SharePoint. These paid agents are available on a metered basis, so you only pay for what you use.

    Store Operations Agent is a pre-built agent available on Copilot Studio enabling retailers to get started fast with a prebuilt solution that acts as an “associate” to your store associate. With this agent, retail employees can:

    • Access data from LOB systems: Look up product inventory, check order status, find customer information and compare products.
    • Access store policies and procedures: Quickly find answers to questions from knowledge bases such as SharePoint, websites, and across select internet portals.
    • Raise incidents for quick resolution: Connect to incident management tools by using more than 1,000 connectors in Power Platform to raise incidents and alert store teams.

    Using Store Operations Agent, employees at leading Nordic retailer Kappahl can quickly and securely surface product information, store policies and procedures, and more, increasing store associate productivity and upleveling the shopping experience for customers.

    A new era of retail fueled by AI, powered by people

    The range of potential gains with AI extends across retail operations—from people to processes to customers, helping make retail more human at every step of the way. From delighting shoppers to helping associates feel more supported and productive, AI can boost store operations efficiency, creating an environment where both shoppers and workers thrive.

    Savings achieved using AI can be reinvested to create a better employee experience, fostering a work environment where employees are enthusiastic ambassadors of the brand, bringing the life of the store to customers every day.

    Microsoft is the proven leader for AI transformation with the full technology stack and portfolio to help retail and consumer goods organizations power their business with AI. We can help you assess your agent environment, ideate on agent use cases, and establish success criteria for evaluating ROI so you can decide what agent is best for you.

    Learn more

    Learn more about how these forward-thinking companies are driving ROI with Microsoft 365 Copilot and agents—and illuminating the path ahead for every organization.

    Microsoft Cloud for Retail

    Connect your customers and your data

    1 Generative AI delivering substantial ROI to businesses integrating the technology across operations: Microsoft-sponsored IDC report – Middle East & Africa News Center.

    2How retailers can build and retain a strong frontline workforce in 2024.

    3Work Trend Index: Will AI Fix Work?

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

    April 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Banking: The ultimate guide to Microsoft Security at upcoming RSAC 2025 event

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: The ultimate guide to Microsoft Security at upcoming RSAC 2025 event

    So you just finished watching Microsoft Secure. That means by now, you’ve heard about our new protections for AI and Microsoft Security Copilot agents. These innovations will be the focus of Microsoft Security’s sessions and activities at RSACTM 2025 Conference (RSAC 2025).  

    The can’t-miss conference is just around the corner. Microsoft Security is bringing an exciting lineup of sessions, expert panels, and exclusive networking opportunities to empower security professionals in the era of AI. Our entire presence at RSAC 2025 is designed to help you boost your AI skills so you can stay ahead of threats and manage security more effectively.  

    Whether you’re interested in protecting all your AI investments, AI-driven security, threat intelligence, or securing cloud environments, we’ve got something for you. To help you plan your time from Sunday, April 27 to Thursday, May 1, 2025, in San Francisco, here’s a quick and easy guide to all the key Microsoft Security moments at RSAC 2025.

    Microsoft Pre-Day | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Palace Hotel 

    For the fourth year in a row, Microsoft Pre-Day kicks off the full lineup of Microsoft events and activities throughout RSAC 2025. We will host these at the Microsoft Security Hub at Palace Hotel, just a short walk from Moscone Center.  

    Hear directly from Microsoft Security leaders as they share reporting on emerging cyberthreat trends and the product innovations designed to protect against them. See the lineup below:  

    • Vasu Jakkal, Corporate Vice President (CVP), Microsoft Security Business 
    • Charlie Bell, Executive Vice President, Microsoft Security 
    • Sherrod DeGrippo, Director of Threat Intelligence Strategy 
    • Dorothy Li, Corporate Vice President (CVP), Microsoft Security Copilot 
    • Ann Johnson, Corporate Vice President (CVP) and Deputy CISO 
    • And more.  

    Register for Pre-Day today.  

    Networking Reception | 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM | Microsoft Security Hub, Palace Hotel, Second Floor 

    Stick around after Microsoft Pre-Day to attend the Networking Reception—a lively evening designed to connect with the security community, engage with Microsoft leaders, and exchange ideas in a relaxed atmosphere. It’s the perfect way to kick off an inspiring week at RSAC 2025. 

    On Monday we ease into things by focusing on what’s new all around. We’ll share lots of goodness about agents and our new innovations announced in March. 

    Security Demo Experience at the Microsoft Security Booth #5744 | All day, every day | Moscone Center North Expo Hall  

    Monday is the first day to explore the show floor. Stop by the Microsoft Security Booth #5744 in Moscone Center North Expo Hall to explore live demos, meet Microsoft Security experts, and get hands-on with the latest tools. 

    Become a defender against cyber threats in a fast-paced, interactive game. You’ll be a part of a mission, navigating realistic incident response scenarios using Microsoft Security solutions, including our new AI Agents. Engage in quick skill challenges and wrap up with expert insights. Are you ready to beat the bad actors? 

    Keynote: Security in the Age of Agentic AI | 4:40 PM | Moscone Center (West Stage) 

    Agentic workflows will dramatically reshape what is possible in security. By enabling more complex problem-solving, agent collaboration, and iterative learning, agentic AI will empower a new paradigm for security that was once the domain of science fiction. Vasu Jakkal will take an imaginative look at the future of security AI agents, and the very human-driven way they will change the game. 

    Microsoft Sessions at RSAC 2025 | All day | Moscone Center 

    Our top Microsoft Security experts were chosen by RSAC to share their insights and best practices to help you level up your own security strategy. These sessions are designed for learning, not selling. So, you’ll hear more about what’s happening in the security space and less about products. 

    • Practical Strategies for Security Architecture in a Changing World​ @ 8:30 AM – 9:20 AM 

    This session will delve into the core pillars of security architecture and share practical strategies that uphold foundational principles. Will discuss holistic system thinking and provide a practical playbook for navigating the complexities of security architecture while maintaining a focus on the fundamentals and essential considerations for a secure digital environment. 

    Speaker: Abhilasha Bhargav-Spantzel, Partner Security Architect, Microsoft 

     

    • RSAC Innovation Sandbox @ 9:30 AM – 12:40 PM ​ 

    Ten of cybersecurity’s boldest new innovators compete in Innovation Sandbox for the title of “Most Innovative Startup.” ISB celebrates 20 years & spotlights startups with potentially game-changing ideas. The Finalists have 3 minutes to share groundbreaking products & solutions with a panel of judges. Interact first-hand with these companies as the judges deliberate before the winner is crowned. 

    Speakers: Christopher Young, Executive Vice President, Business Development, Strategy and Ventures, Microsoft; David Chan, Managing Director, Morgan Stanley; Dorit Dor, Chief Technology Officer, Check Point Software Technologies; Niloofar Razi Howe, Operating Partner, Capitol Meridian Partners; Hugh Thompson, Executive Chairman & RSAC Conference Program Committee Chair, RSAC; Paul Kocher, Researcher, Independent Researcher; and Nasrin Rezai, SVP & CISO, Verizon 

     

    • AI Era Authentication: Securing the Future with Inclusive Identity @ 1:10 PM – 2:00 PM 

    This session explores the security and usability risks of authentication techniques for users with diverse needs. Emergence of AI agents, a new user identity acting on our behalf, also necessitates a rethink of authentication methods. Discover AI-era authentication using sensors like location and behavior and learn about the shift from active to passive authentication with prototypes in action.  

    Speakers: Abhilasha Bhargav-Spantzel, Partner Security Architect, Microsoft and Aditi Shah, Senior Data & Applied Scientist, Microsoft 

     

    • DPRK Remote IT Workers – Have You Hired One and Are You at Risk? @ 2:20 PM – 3:10 PM 

    The DPRK actively deploys remote IT workers to generate revenue for the regime while circumventing sanctions. DPRK IT workers pose risks to companies, including insider access, potential intellectual property theft, and exposure to other malicious cyber activity. This panel will discuss best practices for identifying and preventing the hiring of DPRK IT workers. 

    Speakers: Greg Schloemer, Senior Threat Intelligence Analyst, Microsoft; Elizabeth Pelker, Special Agent, FBI; Chris Horne, Director, Trust & Safety Intelligence & Investigations, Upwork; Adam Meyers, SVP Intelligence, CrowdStrike; and Bryan Vorndran, Assistant Director, FBI 

     

    Microsoft Expert Sessions | All day Monday – Wednesday | Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor) 

    Don’t miss our deep-dive sessions happening at the Microsoft Security Hub. Build your AI cybersecurity skills as Microsoft Security experts will share what they’ve learned and provide insights you can apply in your own organization. 

    • Harnessing Diversity – Strengthening the Cybersecurity Workforce in the Age of AI ​@ 10:30AM – 11:30AM​ 

    Speakers: Amanda Minnich, Principal Research Manager, Microsoft; Nicole Ford VP, Customer Security Officer, Microsoft; Kyla Guru, Founder/CEO, Bits N’ Bytes Cybersecurity Education; Tanell Ford, Assistant General Counsel, Microsoft; and Sherrod Degrippo, Directory of Threat Intelligence Strategy, Microsoft 

     

    • Reshaping SecOps for the Cloud AI Era @ 10:30AM – 11:30AM​ 

    Speakers: Scott Woodbridge, General Manager, Product Marketing, Microsoft and Corina Feuerstein, Principal Product Manager for Copilot in Defender and Sentinel 

     

    • Practical use of CoPilot AutoFix to address Security Backlog @ 12:00PM – 1:30PM​ 

    Speakers: Alexis Wales, CISO, GitHub and Marcelo Oliveira, VP, Product Management, GitHub 

     

    • Executive Lunch: Scaling Compliance for Global Regulations @ ​12:00PM – 1:30PM​ 

    Speakers: Bret Arsenault, CVP, Chief Cybersecurity Advisor, Microsoft  

     

    Theatre Sessions | Location: Microsoft Security Booth #5744 

    Here’s where we talk products. These 15-20 minute informal, come-and-go sessions run all day at the Microsoft Security booth. They’re demo-heavy product showcases to help you learn how to better use the tools you’ve got now. 

    • Identity Security in the Era of AI with Security Copilot @ 5:35PM – 5:55 PM 
    • Security Copilot Agents: Autonomous, adaptive, with you in control @ 6:05PM – 6:25 PM 
    • From Risk to Resilience: The Next Evolution in Multicloud Security @ 6:35 PM– 6:55PM 

    MISA Awards| Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor) 

    It’s time to suit up in heroic attire for an epic celebration at the 6th annual Microsoft Security Excellence Awards! Just like the Avengers, assembling to save the world, we’re coming together to honor the extraordinary achievements of our MISA members who work so diligently to protect customers from external threats!  Congratulations to the incredible finalists for the sixth annual Microsoft Security Excellence Awards presented by MISA! 

    Customer Meetings | Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor) 

    Take advantage of the opportunity to connect with Microsoft Security experts and enhance your cybersecurity knowledge. From April 28 to April 30, 2025 customers and CISOs can schedule one-on-one meetings at the Palace Hotel to discuss your most pressing security product and threat intelligence questions. Secure your spot by visiting the Microsoft Security Experiences at RSAC 2025 Home Page.  

    Tuesday is the busiest day of the conference, with lots of choices in front of you, so plan ahead. 

    Keynote: AI Safety: Where Do We Go From Here? | 8:30 AM | Moscone Center (West Stage) 

    During this keynote session, Google, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and the UK AI Safety Institute leaders come together for this blockbuster panel to explain the evolving landscape of AI safety. Attendees will gain insights into key developments in AI safety that should matter to organizations, its intersection with existing security initiatives, and time-tested approaches to translate AI safety to practice.  

    Speakers: Ram Shankar Siva Kumar, Data Cowboy, Microsoft; Jade Leung, Data Cowboy, Microsoft; and Daniel Rohrer, VP Software Product Security, Architecture & Research, NVIDIA 

     

    Microsoft Sessions at RSAC 2025 | All day | Moscone Center 

    RSAC has chosen top Microsoft Security experts to share insights and best practices, letting you learn about the latest in security without the sales pitch. 

    • Incident Response Dilemmas: Sharing Intel Across Sectors in Critical Times​ @ 9:40 – 10:30 AM ​ 

    An incident may be a singular event affecting one entity. What happens when it affects our critical infrastructure and has the possibility of sector-wide impact and cascading effects? How do companies share information and meet regulatory expectations? The session will dive into the work that financial services companies, the government, and cloud service providers are taking to mature IR. 

    Speakers: Ann Johnson, CVP & Deputy CISO, Customer Security Managment Office, Microsoft; Ted Conklin, Chief AI Officer & Deputy Assistant Secretary, US Treasury; Heather Hogsett, Senior Vice President, Deputy Head of BITS, Bank Policy Institute; and Erez Liebermann, Partner, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP 

     

    • XPIA Attacks – Rethinking Defense in Depth for an AI-Powered World @1:15 – 2:05 PM​ 

    As adversaries rapidly develop sophisticated AI attacks, the solutions also need to evolve rapidly. This panel will explore Cross/Indirect Prompt Injection Attacks (XPIA) and the need to rethink traditional defense in depth strategies. Gain insights into XPIA trends, risk analysis, and innovative solutions to protect critical infrastructure. Join for practical strategies and expert insights.  

    Speakers: Abhilasha Bhargav-Spantzel, Partner Security Architect, Microsoft; Aanchal Gupta, CVP, Microsoft; John Leo, Jr, Managing Director – Threat and Vulnerability Management Leader, EY; and Stefano Zanero, Professor, Politecnico di Milano 

     

    • A Year(ish) of Countering Malicious Actors’ Use of AI: What Have We Learned? @ 2:25 –3:15 PM​ 

    Artificial Intelligence has changed the game when it comes to how cyber adversaries operate, and how defenders respond. This panel will explore lessons learned from the past year of countering malicious cyber actors’ use of AI, challenges and limitations of legal actions involving AI, and what roadblocks might appear going forward as AI, and the actors who use it, continues to evolve. 

    Speakers: Sherrod DeGrippo, Director, Threat Intelligence Strategy, Microsoft; Morgan Adamski, Executive Director, US Cyber Command; Cynthia Kaiser, Deputy Assistant Director, FBI; and Sean Newell, Chief, National Security Cyber Section, National Security Division, Department of Justice 

     

    Microsoft Expert Sessions | All day | Monday – Wednesday Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor) 

    Join Microsoft Security product leaders as they share their learnings and how you can apply them in your organization.  

    • Defending Against Modern Threats: Enhancing Endpoint Security and IT Resilience @ 8:00AM – 9:30AM 

    Speakers: Archana Devi Sunder Rajan, Partner Group Product Manager, Microsoft and Peter M. Thompson, Principal PM Manager, Microsoft   

    • Secure and Govern AI to safeguard your data, reduce risks, and support compliance @ ​10:30AM – 11:30AM​ 

    Speakers: Herain Oberoi, GM, Data & AI Security, Microsoft; Rudra Mitra, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Purview; and Neta Haiby, Director of AI Security, Microsoft 

    • Microsoft Security Copilot @ 12:00PM – 1:30PM 

    Speaker:  Dorothy Li, CVP, Microsoft Security Copilot

    • Secure your data in the era of AI with Microsoft Purview @ 2:30PM – 3:30PM 

    Speakers: Talhah Mir, Principal Group Product Manager, Microsoft Purview and Maithili Dandige, Partner Group Product Manager, Microsoft Purview 

    • ​AI and Automation Panel: The Startup Innovation for Enterprise Resilience – moderated by FC @ 2:30PM – 3:30PM 

    **Attendees will have the opportunity to receive a copy of FC’s book, How I Rob Banks, and the chance to have it signed by the author at the end of the session.

    Speakers: Kevin Magee, Director Cybersecurity Startups, Microsoft for Startups; FC, Co-founder & CEO, Cygenta; Shane Coleman, Chief Data Security Evangelist; Christ “Tito” Sestito, CEO, HiddenLayer; Ravid Circus, Co-founder & CPO, Seemplicity; and Jeremy Vaughan, CEO, Start Left Security 

     

    Theatre Sessions | Location: Microsoft Security Booth #5744 

    Stop by the Microsoft Security booth to catch a short demo of your favorite product. 

    • See Beyond Silos and Protect Better with Microsoft Security Exposure Management 11:00 AM –11:20 AM              
    • Accelerate your Zero Trust journey with the Microsoft Entra Suite 11:30 AM – 11:50 AM 
    • Automating Vulnerability Management: The Power of “Endpoint Vulnerability Remediation Agent” in Microsoft Intune 12:00 PM – 12:20 PM  
    • From Risk to Resilience: The Next Evolution in Multicloud Security 12:30 PM – 12:50 PM 
    • Accelerating post-breach deep content analysis and mitigation with Microsoft Purview @ 1:00 PM – 1:20 PM  
    • Microsoft Sentinel Uncovered: Advanced Capabilities to Transform the SOC @ 1:30 PM – 1:50 PM     
    • Protect AI Workloads from Code to Runtime with Microsoft Defender for Cloud @ 2:00 PM – 2:20 PM    
    • Security Copilot Agents: Autonomous, adaptive, with you in control @ 2:30 PM – 2:50 PM 
    • Unified SecOps: Defending Critical Infrastructure with Microsoft Defender @ 3:00 PM – 3:20 PM  
    • Be Fast as Lighting: Automate Microsoft Defender XDR and Microsoft Sentinel Service Delivery @ 3:30 PM – 3:50 PM  
    • Mastering Cloud Threats: Detect, Investigate, and Respond in real-time with Microsoft Defender for Cloud and Defender XDR integration @ 4:00 PM – 4:20 PM  
    • Practical Strategies for Securing AI-Driven Data: Enhancing Cyber Resilience and Insider Risk Management @ 4:30 PM – 4:50PM  
    • Secure and govern access to GenAI apps with the Microsoft Entra Suite @5:00 PM – 5:20 PM  
    • Bolster your SOC with Microsoft’s Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR) @ 5:30 PM – 5:50PM  

    Networking and Fun | Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor) 

    • Secure & Sip: DevOps Edition @ 4:30PM – 6:30PM  

    Speaker: Alexis Wales, CISO, GitHub 

    Gather with GitHub’s security leaders and experts for meaningful conversations, thoughtfully crafted cocktails, and a custom ramen bar to round out your day at RSAC. 

    Customer Meetings | Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor) 

    Day 2 of meetings with Microsoft Security experts continues. Secure your spot by visiting the Microsoft Security Experiences at RSAC 2025 Home Page.  https://MicrosoftSecurityEvents.eventbuilder.com/MicrosoftRSAC2025events?source=blog_techcomm 

    As the conference starts to wrap up, don’t miss your chance to get hands-on with Microsoft Security solutions and ask questions at the Hub and booth and in 1:1 meetings. 

    Microsoft Sessions at RSAC 2025 | Location: Moscone Center 

    • Guardians of the Cyber Galaxy: Allies Against AI-Powered Cybercrime​ @ 8:30 – 9:20 AM  

    ​AI is revolutionizing cybercrime, putting traditional defenses to the test. Expert panelists unite to detail innovative public-private strategies and real-world case studies from their experience in INTERPOL, the FBI, Microsoft, and the Privacy & Cybersecurity Group of an international law firm. Gain actionable insights to protect the global community and fortify cybersecurity defenses.  

    Speakers: Sean Farrell, Lead Counsel, AI Strategy, Digital Crimes Unit, Microsoft Corporation; Garylene Javier, Privacy & Cybersecurity Counsel, Crowell & Moring LLP; Craig Jones, Immediate Past Director Cybercrime, INTERPOL; and Andrew Sczygielski, Supervisory Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation 

     

    • Green and Sustainable AI for Cybersecurity​ @1:15 – 2:05 PM​ 

    The session will consider the carbon cost of AI and analytics. It will focus on the estimated energy and carbon costs of many cybersecurity use cases and approaches that can be taken to build more sustainable solutions. This will be illustrated through the use of a threat hunting and detection analytical solution and how that could be designed to be most power efficient.  

    Speakers: Lesley Kipling, Chief Security Advisor, Microsoft and Sian John, CTO, NCC Group 

     

    • Scaling AppSec With an SDLC for Citizen Development​ @ 1:15 – 2:05 PM​ 

    AppSec programs are difficult. Filled to the brim with vulnerabilities. Overloaded staff and inadequate budget. The common “solution” is to narrow scope and focus on crown jewels and their devs. Increasing the scope to 100x devs and 1000x apps surprisingly worked, resulting in program remediation of >50K vulnerabilities in 3 months. 18K of them in a single night. This session will show how. 

    Speakers: Ryan McDonald, Principal Program Manager, Microsoft and Michael Bargury, Co-Founder & CTO, Zenity 

     

    Microsoft Expert Sessions | All day Monday – Wednesday | Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor) 

    Don’t miss the final few Microsoft Security focused sessions at our Hub. 

    • Threat intelligence trends and insights panel: Exclusive briefing from Microsoft Threat Intelligence @10:30AM – 11:30AM​  

    Speakers: Sherrod De Grippo, Director of Threat Intelligence Strategy, Microsoft; Jeremy Dallman, Senior Director of Security Research in Microsoft Threat Intelligence; and Steven Masada, Assistant General Counsel, DCU 

    • Secure access for your employees with Entra Suite @ ​10:30AM – 11:30AM​ 

    Speaker:  Irina Nechaeva, General Manager, Identity and Network Access 

    • Securing the AI Powered Enterprise Executive Panel Lunch @​12:00PM – 1:30PM​ 

    Speakers: Bret Arsenault, Chief Cybersecurity Advisor, Microsoft; Brandon Dixon, Partner Product Manager, Security AI Strategy, Microsoft; Manny Sahota, Director, Global Cloud Privacy, Microsoft; Herain Oberoi, General Manager, Data Security, Governance, Compliance, Privacy Business and Marketing, Microsoft; and Sarah Bird, Chief Product Officer of Responsible AI, Microsoft 

     

    Theatre Sessions | Location: Microsoft Security Booth #5744 

    Don’t miss your chance to see demos and ask questions casually at the booth. 

    • Make Windows endpoints more secure and prevent downtime 11:00 AM – 11:20 AM            
    • Unlocking Opportunities: A Guide to Partnering with Microsoft 11:30 AM – 11:50 AM            
    • EY Security Copilot Empowered Solutions 12:00 PM – 12:20 PM 
    • Microsoft Security Copilot: Protect at the speed and scale of AI 12:30 PM – 12:50 PM           
    • Phishing-Resistant Authentication, Trusted Onboarding & Recovery @ 1:00 PM – 1:20 PM 
    • Building a multi-layered approach to data security SOC @ 1:30 PM – 1:50 PM     
    • Secure your email and collaboration tools against sophisticated cyber attacks @ 2:00 PM – 2:20 PM  
    • The latest intelligence on North Korean remote IT workers @ 2:30 PM – 2:50 PM 
    • Secure and govern M365 Copilot with Microsoft Purview @ 3:00 PM – 3:20 PM 
    • Proactively Mitigate Risks with Microsoft Security Exposure Management @ 3:30 PM – 3:50 PM 
    • Windows 365: The security of Windows, the scale of the cloud@ 4:00 PM – 4:20 PM 
    • Shift your SOC from manual incident response to automatic attack disruption @ 4:30 PM –4:50PM  
    • A Look Inside Microsoft’s Secure Future Initiative: Progress, Innovations, and Best Practices @ 5:00 PM – 5:20 PM 
    • Simplifying Data Security for the Modern Network with Microsoft Purview and Netskope One @ 5:30 PM – 5:50 PM 

    Customer Meetings | Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor) 

    It’s your final chance to ask your questions and give your suggestions directly to Microsoft Security experts. Book your meeting here: Microsoft Security Experiences at RSAC 2025 Home Page. 

    Microsoft Sessions at RSAC | Location: Moscone Center 

    Last but certainly not least. 

    • Shaping Cybersecurity: How Regulation Shapes Operational Cyber Defense​ @ 10:50 – 11:40AM​  

    In 2024, elections and growing cyberthreats pushed cybersecurity to the forefront of government priorities. The panel will explore governments’ efforts to strengthen cybersecurity and resilience through regulation, the impact on operational cyber defense, and discuss where greater alignment is possible. Attendees will gain an understanding of the quickly evolving global regulatory landscape.  

    Speakers: Ted Maurer, Senior Director, Global Cybersecurity Policy, Microsoft; Christiane Kirketerp de Viron, Director for Digital Society, Trust & Cybersecurity, DG Connect, European Commission; Ari Schwartz, Managing Director, Cybersecurity Services, Venable LLP; Josephine Wolff, Associate Professor of Cybersecurity Policy, Tufts University, The Fletcher School; and Florian Schütz, Director, NCSC – National Cybersecurity Centre 

     

    • Taking the Fight Upstream: Pursuing Systemic Defense Against Phishing​ 12:20 – 11:10 PM​  

    Three decades into the public internet, cybercrime is booming and phishing remains a key vector. With AI-enhanced attacks rising, common users are increasingly ill-equipped to defend themselves. What can be done upstream to protect society? This session explores systemic defense strategies across the ICT ecosystem that hold the potential for significant ecosystem-wide impact.

    Speakers: Kelly Bissell, CVP Security & Fraud, Microsoft; Tal Goldstein, Head of Strategy, World Economic Forum Centre for Cybersecurity; Steven Kelly, Chief Trust Officer, Institute for Security and Technology; and Kemba Walden, President, Paladin Global Institute, Paladin Capital Group  

     

    • Fraud, Risk, Hollywood & Government—A Strategy for AI Across Industry 12:20 – 11:10 PM 

    ​Dive into the high-stakes world of AI as the experts in this session unravel AI’s game-changing roles in Hollywood, government, and finance. Experience firsthand revolutionary strategies, ethical showdowns, and futuristic trends set to redefine industry landscapes. Get ready for a session that’s as dynamic and ambitious as a Hollywood blockbuster! 

    Speakers: Vishal Amin, GM, National Security Group, Security; Gurpreet Bhatia, Acting Deputy CIO for Cybersecurity, Acting CISO, DOD; David Mahdi, CIO, Transmit Security; and Scott Mann, Film Director & Co-Founder/Co-CEO, Flawless 

    • Generative AI Meets Identity Governance: Automating the Overlooked​ @ 1:30 – 2:20 PM​ 

    Identity governance is often the last thing to be implemented and rarely gets the attention it deserves due to its complexity. This session will explore how Generative AI agents can help overcome this by automating critical but often deprioritized tasks like role mining and identity lifecycle management, particularly addressing the challenges of managing ‘movers’ within organizations.  

    Speakers: Angelica Faber, Sr Security Architect, Microsoft and Wesley Kuzma, Architect Manager, Microsoft 

     

    Theatre Sessions | Location: Microsoft Security Booth #5744 

    Catch the last day of theater sessions. 

    • How Enterprises will Continue to Learn from Open Source 11:00 AM – 11:20 AM  
    • Creating Bespoke Identity Governance Solutions with Microsoft Entra Suite 11:30 AM – 11:50 AM  
    • Identity-first security: Using an event-based approach for threat remediation @ 12:00 PM – 12:20 PM 
    • Securing and governing Agents built-in Microsoft Copilot Studio @ 12:30 PM – 12:50 PM 
    • Azure Platform Security in an Evolving Threat Landscape @ 1:00 PM – 1:20 PM 

    How to Make the Most of Microsoft Security at RSAC 2025 

    Plan Ahead: Bookmark this blog to easily find the things that interest you the most. 

    Visit the Booth: Engage with our security experts and experience live demos.

    Follow Along Online: Stay updated by following Microsoft Security on LinkedIn and X. 

    Book a Meeting: Want to connect 1:1 with a Microsoft Security expert? Secure your spot by visiting the Microsoft Security Experiences at RSAC 2025 Home Page. 

     

    See you at RSAC 2025! 

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

    April 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Economics: More human-centered retail with AI

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: More human-centered retail with AI

    Retail has always been about people and processes coming together to deliver unique and relevant shopping experiences. Now with AI, retailers can enhance engagement, delight customers, and empower employees to solve problems like never before. Imagine the potential for significant gains from AI investments across retail operations—from increased productivity and faster employee onboarding to improved skills development and streamlined store processes. These improvements lead to happier associates and more satisfied customers.

    By using more intuitive, natural interfaces to knowledge and information, retailers can start addressing some of retail’s age-old challenges—like finding and retaining the best talent, getting them up to speed quickly, and simplifying store operations so associates can focus on delighting and assisting shoppers.

    Accelerate retail growth with Microsoft Cloud for Retail

    No matter the size of the retailer, choosing which AI technologies to prioritize and where to start can be challenging. However, there are many ways retailers are now using AI to deliver measurable value and real return on investment (ROI). Research shows that for every $1 a company invests in generative AI, the ROI is 3.7 times across industries and regions (compared to 3.5 times in 2024).1 Top leaders using generative AI are realizing significantly higher returns, with an average ROI of $10.30—nearly three times more.1

    To build a foundation for AI success, focus on your business strategy—how AI supports your business goals. Start by identifying the business outcomes you’re aiming for and how AI can help you achieve them.

    Here’s a glimpse into how you can start making gains with your AI investments today by focusing on store operations and the frontline.

    The frontline is first in line with AI

    As the face of retail, frontline workers play a crucial role in the shopper experience. According to recent research by McKinsey, there is a strong relationship between the employee and customer experience, as empowered employees are more likely to deliver superior customer service.2 Yet many frontline workers spend too much time searching for information, and this is one of the top five reported obstacles to their productivity.3

    Generative AI offers significant potential for enhancing frontline productivity and wellbeing, with evidence that most frontline workers think it could help, and they would be comfortable using AI for administrative tasks.3 Generative AI can automate routine tasks, allowing associates to engage more with customers. This shift can lead to a more stimulating work environment, which leads to higher job satisfaction and can help retailers combat ongoing challenges with employee turnover, seasonal hiring, and training.

    At a more macro level, generative AI can also allow retailers to continuously learn and feed insights back into their business processes and to grow their products, services, and competitive differentiation. Retailers can do that by identifying patterns in recurring employee questions so they can get to the root cause of operational challenges and address key gaps in training and store processes.

    Here are some other ways retailers are using generative AI today:

    • Swedish retailer Lindex created Lindex Copilot to offer tailored support to store associates and better understand store needs. Generative AI facilitates this bidirectional learning.
    • MediaMarktSaturn lets associates to have voice conversations with generative AI, accessing details for every product, service, and warranty while staying engaged with the in-store customer, maximizing conversion and increasing customer satisfaction—all while wearing an earbud.
    • Store associates at gourmet chocolatier Venchi use detailed product knowledge and customer insights to address the diverse chocolate preferences of shoppers, achieving a customer satisfaction score of 4.9 out of 5.

    While generative AI technologies are still relatively new, these examples offer a glimpse of what’s possible, and help retailers build an AI foundation for more powerful capabilities emerging with agentic AI.

    Agents are revolutionizing retail operations

    Investing in generative AI is crucial for retailers looking to reinvent customer engagement, empower store leadership and employees, and stay competitive—and now that opportunity has skyrocketed with agents.

    Agents use AI to automate and execute business processes, working alongside or on behalf of a person, team, or organization. Now retailers can leverage agents to help their teams work more efficiently and effectively by giving them faster access to information so they can better support customers and be more productive.

    Agents vary in levels of complexity and capabilities depending on the need. Agents can help frontline workers with a variety of time-saving tasks—from quickly surfacing real-time product information or details about store policies and procedures to support Q&A or troubleshooting. In addition to helping speed information retrieval, agents can help frontline workers with more advanced features like automated task creation or even advising and summarizing information—such as listing open tasks for a shift handover or flagging missed communications. Agents can also operate independently to dynamically plan, orchestrate other agents, and learn to improve over time. For example, an automated stock transfer agent might scan sales velocity across multiple stores and automatically transfer goods between locations if one store is oversupplied while another is understocked, minimizing manual intervention.

    Find in-the-moment answers fast

    One important way to get business value from agents is to help store associates find information about company policies or procedures when a customer is waiting for an answer.

    SharePoint agents can help store associates find quick answers from internal company sources in seconds. Using the power of natural language, associates simply ask what they’re looking for on their tablet or mobile device and the agent responds in natural language with a link to the policy documentation for reference.

    These agents go beyond information retrieval to also generate step-by-step instructions, synthesize product information, and support frontline managers to create and smart-assign shifts, and auto-validate task completion.

    Agents can help associates reduce customer wait time, increase information accuracy, and possibly facilitate sales.

    Simplify store processes

    Complex business processes are another ongoing operational challenge and opportunity for custom agents to help improve productivity.

    Custom-built agents can help retailers connect to external data sources and systems so store associates can find information such as product inventory availability in or near their store, shipping status, or how to initiate a return.

    Frontline workers simply ask, “Help me initiate a return,” and the agent guides them through the process by clarifying the worker’s intent and providing them with next steps, all through a chat interface.

    Custom agents are best suited to also streamline complex workflows like task management, that often involves multiple steps. Using custom agents built with Microsoft Copilot Studio, frontline workers can easily create a task and send it through a task management system that sends automatic alerts as needed, all from a single pane of glass.

    Meeting you where you are on your AI journey

    Microsoft offers AI solutions that you can customize to meet your unique needs and scale. There are several ways agents can be deployed, from no code to low code and pro code. Here are a couple options available today.

    Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat is a new offering that adds pay-as-you-go agents to our existing free chat experience for Microsoft 365 commercial customers. Copilot Chat empowers retailers to get started on their AI journey today and includes querying the public web (such as a retailer’s website) for free. To enhance Copilot Chat, retailers can also build custom agents using Copilot Studio and SharePoint agents that enable access to retail systems such as enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), and product information management (PIM), and to documents on SharePoint. These paid agents are available on a metered basis, so you only pay for what you use.

    Store Operations Agent is a pre-built agent available on Copilot Studio enabling retailers to get started fast with a prebuilt solution that acts as an “associate” to your store associate. With this agent, retail employees can:

    • Access data from LOB systems: Look up product inventory, check order status, find customer information and compare products.
    • Access store policies and procedures: Quickly find answers to questions from knowledge bases such as SharePoint, websites, and across select internet portals.
    • Raise incidents for quick resolution: Connect to incident management tools by using more than 1,000 connectors in Power Platform to raise incidents and alert store teams.

    Using Store Operations Agent, employees at leading Nordic retailer Kappahl can quickly and securely surface product information, store policies and procedures, and more, increasing store associate productivity and upleveling the shopping experience for customers.

    A new era of retail fueled by AI, powered by people

    The range of potential gains with AI extends across retail operations—from people to processes to customers, helping make retail more human at every step of the way. From delighting shoppers to helping associates feel more supported and productive, AI can boost store operations efficiency, creating an environment where both shoppers and workers thrive.

    Savings achieved using AI can be reinvested to create a better employee experience, fostering a work environment where employees are enthusiastic ambassadors of the brand, bringing the life of the store to customers every day.

    Microsoft is the proven leader for AI transformation with the full technology stack and portfolio to help retail and consumer goods organizations power their business with AI. We can help you assess your agent environment, ideate on agent use cases, and establish success criteria for evaluating ROI so you can decide what agent is best for you.

    Learn more

    Learn more about how these forward-thinking companies are driving ROI with Microsoft 365 Copilot and agents—and illuminating the path ahead for every organization.

    Microsoft Cloud for Retail

    Connect your customers and your data

    1 Generative AI delivering substantial ROI to businesses integrating the technology across operations: Microsoft-sponsored IDC report – Middle East & Africa News Center.

    2How retailers can build and retain a strong frontline workforce in 2024.

    3Work Trend Index: Will AI Fix Work?

    MIL OSI Economics –

    April 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Economics: The ultimate guide to Microsoft Security at upcoming RSAC 2025 event

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: The ultimate guide to Microsoft Security at upcoming RSAC 2025 event

    So you just finished watching Microsoft Secure. That means by now, you’ve heard about our new protections for AI and Microsoft Security Copilot agents. These innovations will be the focus of Microsoft Security’s sessions and activities at RSACTM 2025 Conference (RSAC 2025).  

    The can’t-miss conference is just around the corner. Microsoft Security is bringing an exciting lineup of sessions, expert panels, and exclusive networking opportunities to empower security professionals in the era of AI. Our entire presence at RSAC 2025 is designed to help you boost your AI skills so you can stay ahead of threats and manage security more effectively.  

    Whether you’re interested in protecting all your AI investments, AI-driven security, threat intelligence, or securing cloud environments, we’ve got something for you. To help you plan your time from Sunday, April 27 to Thursday, May 1, 2025, in San Francisco, here’s a quick and easy guide to all the key Microsoft Security moments at RSAC 2025.

    Microsoft Pre-Day | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Palace Hotel 

    For the fourth year in a row, Microsoft Pre-Day kicks off the full lineup of Microsoft events and activities throughout RSAC 2025. We will host these at the Microsoft Security Hub at Palace Hotel, just a short walk from Moscone Center.  

    Hear directly from Microsoft Security leaders as they share reporting on emerging cyberthreat trends and the product innovations designed to protect against them. See the lineup below:  

    • Vasu Jakkal, Corporate Vice President (CVP), Microsoft Security Business 
    • Charlie Bell, Executive Vice President, Microsoft Security 
    • Sherrod DeGrippo, Director of Threat Intelligence Strategy 
    • Dorothy Li, Corporate Vice President (CVP), Microsoft Security Copilot 
    • Ann Johnson, Corporate Vice President (CVP) and Deputy CISO 
    • And more.  

    Register for Pre-Day today.  

    Networking Reception | 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM | Microsoft Security Hub, Palace Hotel, Second Floor 

    Stick around after Microsoft Pre-Day to attend the Networking Reception—a lively evening designed to connect with the security community, engage with Microsoft leaders, and exchange ideas in a relaxed atmosphere. It’s the perfect way to kick off an inspiring week at RSAC 2025. 

    On Monday we ease into things by focusing on what’s new all around. We’ll share lots of goodness about agents and our new innovations announced in March. 

    Security Demo Experience at the Microsoft Security Booth #5744 | All day, every day | Moscone Center North Expo Hall  

    Monday is the first day to explore the show floor. Stop by the Microsoft Security Booth #5744 in Moscone Center North Expo Hall to explore live demos, meet Microsoft Security experts, and get hands-on with the latest tools. 

    Become a defender against cyber threats in a fast-paced, interactive game. You’ll be a part of a mission, navigating realistic incident response scenarios using Microsoft Security solutions, including our new AI Agents. Engage in quick skill challenges and wrap up with expert insights. Are you ready to beat the bad actors? 

    Keynote: Security in the Age of Agentic AI | 4:40 PM | Moscone Center (West Stage) 

    Agentic workflows will dramatically reshape what is possible in security. By enabling more complex problem-solving, agent collaboration, and iterative learning, agentic AI will empower a new paradigm for security that was once the domain of science fiction. Vasu Jakkal will take an imaginative look at the future of security AI agents, and the very human-driven way they will change the game. 

    Microsoft Sessions at RSAC 2025 | All day | Moscone Center 

    Our top Microsoft Security experts were chosen by RSAC to share their insights and best practices to help you level up your own security strategy. These sessions are designed for learning, not selling. So, you’ll hear more about what’s happening in the security space and less about products. 

    • Practical Strategies for Security Architecture in a Changing World​ @ 8:30 AM – 9:20 AM 

    This session will delve into the core pillars of security architecture and share practical strategies that uphold foundational principles. Will discuss holistic system thinking and provide a practical playbook for navigating the complexities of security architecture while maintaining a focus on the fundamentals and essential considerations for a secure digital environment. 

    Speaker: Abhilasha Bhargav-Spantzel, Partner Security Architect, Microsoft 

     

    • RSAC Innovation Sandbox @ 9:30 AM – 12:40 PM ​ 

    Ten of cybersecurity’s boldest new innovators compete in Innovation Sandbox for the title of “Most Innovative Startup.” ISB celebrates 20 years & spotlights startups with potentially game-changing ideas. The Finalists have 3 minutes to share groundbreaking products & solutions with a panel of judges. Interact first-hand with these companies as the judges deliberate before the winner is crowned. 

    Speakers: Christopher Young, Executive Vice President, Business Development, Strategy and Ventures, Microsoft; David Chan, Managing Director, Morgan Stanley; Dorit Dor, Chief Technology Officer, Check Point Software Technologies; Niloofar Razi Howe, Operating Partner, Capitol Meridian Partners; Hugh Thompson, Executive Chairman & RSAC Conference Program Committee Chair, RSAC; Paul Kocher, Researcher, Independent Researcher; and Nasrin Rezai, SVP & CISO, Verizon 

     

    • AI Era Authentication: Securing the Future with Inclusive Identity @ 1:10 PM – 2:00 PM 

    This session explores the security and usability risks of authentication techniques for users with diverse needs. Emergence of AI agents, a new user identity acting on our behalf, also necessitates a rethink of authentication methods. Discover AI-era authentication using sensors like location and behavior and learn about the shift from active to passive authentication with prototypes in action.  

    Speakers: Abhilasha Bhargav-Spantzel, Partner Security Architect, Microsoft and Aditi Shah, Senior Data & Applied Scientist, Microsoft 

     

    • DPRK Remote IT Workers – Have You Hired One and Are You at Risk? @ 2:20 PM – 3:10 PM 

    The DPRK actively deploys remote IT workers to generate revenue for the regime while circumventing sanctions. DPRK IT workers pose risks to companies, including insider access, potential intellectual property theft, and exposure to other malicious cyber activity. This panel will discuss best practices for identifying and preventing the hiring of DPRK IT workers. 

    Speakers: Greg Schloemer, Senior Threat Intelligence Analyst, Microsoft; Elizabeth Pelker, Special Agent, FBI; Chris Horne, Director, Trust & Safety Intelligence & Investigations, Upwork; Adam Meyers, SVP Intelligence, CrowdStrike; and Bryan Vorndran, Assistant Director, FBI 

     

    Microsoft Expert Sessions | All day Monday – Wednesday | Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor) 

    Don’t miss our deep-dive sessions happening at the Microsoft Security Hub. Build your AI cybersecurity skills as Microsoft Security experts will share what they’ve learned and provide insights you can apply in your own organization. 

    • Harnessing Diversity – Strengthening the Cybersecurity Workforce in the Age of AI ​@ 10:30AM – 11:30AM​ 

    Speakers: Amanda Minnich, Principal Research Manager, Microsoft; Nicole Ford VP, Customer Security Officer, Microsoft; Kyla Guru, Founder/CEO, Bits N’ Bytes Cybersecurity Education; Tanell Ford, Assistant General Counsel, Microsoft; and Sherrod Degrippo, Directory of Threat Intelligence Strategy, Microsoft 

     

    • Reshaping SecOps for the Cloud AI Era @ 10:30AM – 11:30AM​ 

    Speakers: Scott Woodbridge, General Manager, Product Marketing, Microsoft and Corina Feuerstein, Principal Product Manager for Copilot in Defender and Sentinel 

     

    • Practical use of CoPilot AutoFix to address Security Backlog @ 12:00PM – 1:30PM​ 

    Speakers: Alexis Wales, CISO, GitHub and Marcelo Oliveira, VP, Product Management, GitHub 

     

    • Executive Lunch: Scaling Compliance for Global Regulations @ ​12:00PM – 1:30PM​ 

    Speakers: Bret Arsenault, CVP, Chief Cybersecurity Advisor, Microsoft  

     

    Theatre Sessions | Location: Microsoft Security Booth #5744 

    Here’s where we talk products. These 15-20 minute informal, come-and-go sessions run all day at the Microsoft Security booth. They’re demo-heavy product showcases to help you learn how to better use the tools you’ve got now. 

    • Identity Security in the Era of AI with Security Copilot @ 5:35PM – 5:55 PM 
    • Security Copilot Agents: Autonomous, adaptive, with you in control @ 6:05PM – 6:25 PM 
    • From Risk to Resilience: The Next Evolution in Multicloud Security @ 6:35 PM– 6:55PM 

    MISA Awards| Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor) 

    It’s time to suit up in heroic attire for an epic celebration at the 6th annual Microsoft Security Excellence Awards! Just like the Avengers, assembling to save the world, we’re coming together to honor the extraordinary achievements of our MISA members who work so diligently to protect customers from external threats!  Congratulations to the incredible finalists for the sixth annual Microsoft Security Excellence Awards presented by MISA! 

    Customer Meetings | Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor) 

    Take advantage of the opportunity to connect with Microsoft Security experts and enhance your cybersecurity knowledge. From April 28 to April 30, 2025 customers and CISOs can schedule one-on-one meetings at the Palace Hotel to discuss your most pressing security product and threat intelligence questions. Secure your spot by visiting the Microsoft Security Experiences at RSAC 2025 Home Page.  

    Tuesday is the busiest day of the conference, with lots of choices in front of you, so plan ahead. 

    Keynote: AI Safety: Where Do We Go From Here? | 8:30 AM | Moscone Center (West Stage) 

    During this keynote session, Google, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and the UK AI Safety Institute leaders come together for this blockbuster panel to explain the evolving landscape of AI safety. Attendees will gain insights into key developments in AI safety that should matter to organizations, its intersection with existing security initiatives, and time-tested approaches to translate AI safety to practice.  

    Speakers: Ram Shankar Siva Kumar, Data Cowboy, Microsoft; Jade Leung, Data Cowboy, Microsoft; and Daniel Rohrer, VP Software Product Security, Architecture & Research, NVIDIA 

     

    Microsoft Sessions at RSAC 2025 | All day | Moscone Center 

    RSAC has chosen top Microsoft Security experts to share insights and best practices, letting you learn about the latest in security without the sales pitch. 

    • Incident Response Dilemmas: Sharing Intel Across Sectors in Critical Times​ @ 9:40 – 10:30 AM ​ 

    An incident may be a singular event affecting one entity. What happens when it affects our critical infrastructure and has the possibility of sector-wide impact and cascading effects? How do companies share information and meet regulatory expectations? The session will dive into the work that financial services companies, the government, and cloud service providers are taking to mature IR. 

    Speakers: Ann Johnson, CVP & Deputy CISO, Customer Security Managment Office, Microsoft; Ted Conklin, Chief AI Officer & Deputy Assistant Secretary, US Treasury; Heather Hogsett, Senior Vice President, Deputy Head of BITS, Bank Policy Institute; and Erez Liebermann, Partner, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP 

     

    • XPIA Attacks – Rethinking Defense in Depth for an AI-Powered World @1:15 – 2:05 PM​ 

    As adversaries rapidly develop sophisticated AI attacks, the solutions also need to evolve rapidly. This panel will explore Cross/Indirect Prompt Injection Attacks (XPIA) and the need to rethink traditional defense in depth strategies. Gain insights into XPIA trends, risk analysis, and innovative solutions to protect critical infrastructure. Join for practical strategies and expert insights.  

    Speakers: Abhilasha Bhargav-Spantzel, Partner Security Architect, Microsoft; Aanchal Gupta, CVP, Microsoft; John Leo, Jr, Managing Director – Threat and Vulnerability Management Leader, EY; and Stefano Zanero, Professor, Politecnico di Milano 

     

    • A Year(ish) of Countering Malicious Actors’ Use of AI: What Have We Learned? @ 2:25 –3:15 PM​ 

    Artificial Intelligence has changed the game when it comes to how cyber adversaries operate, and how defenders respond. This panel will explore lessons learned from the past year of countering malicious cyber actors’ use of AI, challenges and limitations of legal actions involving AI, and what roadblocks might appear going forward as AI, and the actors who use it, continues to evolve. 

    Speakers: Sherrod DeGrippo, Director, Threat Intelligence Strategy, Microsoft; Morgan Adamski, Executive Director, US Cyber Command; Cynthia Kaiser, Deputy Assistant Director, FBI; and Sean Newell, Chief, National Security Cyber Section, National Security Division, Department of Justice 

     

    Microsoft Expert Sessions | All day | Monday – Wednesday Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor) 

    Join Microsoft Security product leaders as they share their learnings and how you can apply them in your organization.  

    • Defending Against Modern Threats: Enhancing Endpoint Security and IT Resilience @ 8:00AM – 9:30AM 

    Speakers: Archana Devi Sunder Rajan, Partner Group Product Manager, Microsoft and Peter M. Thompson, Principal PM Manager, Microsoft   

    • Secure and Govern AI to safeguard your data, reduce risks, and support compliance @ ​10:30AM – 11:30AM​ 

    Speakers: Herain Oberoi, GM, Data & AI Security, Microsoft; Rudra Mitra, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Purview; and Neta Haiby, Director of AI Security, Microsoft 

    • Microsoft Security Copilot @ 12:00PM – 1:30PM 

    Speaker:  Dorothy Li, CVP, Microsoft Security Copilot

    • Secure your data in the era of AI with Microsoft Purview @ 2:30PM – 3:30PM 

    Speakers: Talhah Mir, Principal Group Product Manager, Microsoft Purview and Maithili Dandige, Partner Group Product Manager, Microsoft Purview 

    • ​AI and Automation Panel: The Startup Innovation for Enterprise Resilience – moderated by FC @ 2:30PM – 3:30PM 

    **Attendees will have the opportunity to receive a copy of FC’s book, How I Rob Banks, and the chance to have it signed by the author at the end of the session.

    Speakers: Kevin Magee, Director Cybersecurity Startups, Microsoft for Startups; FC, Co-founder & CEO, Cygenta; Shane Coleman, Chief Data Security Evangelist; Christ “Tito” Sestito, CEO, HiddenLayer; Ravid Circus, Co-founder & CPO, Seemplicity; and Jeremy Vaughan, CEO, Start Left Security 

     

    Theatre Sessions | Location: Microsoft Security Booth #5744 

    Stop by the Microsoft Security booth to catch a short demo of your favorite product. 

    • See Beyond Silos and Protect Better with Microsoft Security Exposure Management 11:00 AM –11:20 AM              
    • Accelerate your Zero Trust journey with the Microsoft Entra Suite 11:30 AM – 11:50 AM 
    • Automating Vulnerability Management: The Power of “Endpoint Vulnerability Remediation Agent” in Microsoft Intune 12:00 PM – 12:20 PM  
    • From Risk to Resilience: The Next Evolution in Multicloud Security 12:30 PM – 12:50 PM 
    • Accelerating post-breach deep content analysis and mitigation with Microsoft Purview @ 1:00 PM – 1:20 PM  
    • Microsoft Sentinel Uncovered: Advanced Capabilities to Transform the SOC @ 1:30 PM – 1:50 PM     
    • Protect AI Workloads from Code to Runtime with Microsoft Defender for Cloud @ 2:00 PM – 2:20 PM    
    • Security Copilot Agents: Autonomous, adaptive, with you in control @ 2:30 PM – 2:50 PM 
    • Unified SecOps: Defending Critical Infrastructure with Microsoft Defender @ 3:00 PM – 3:20 PM  
    • Be Fast as Lighting: Automate Microsoft Defender XDR and Microsoft Sentinel Service Delivery @ 3:30 PM – 3:50 PM  
    • Mastering Cloud Threats: Detect, Investigate, and Respond in real-time with Microsoft Defender for Cloud and Defender XDR integration @ 4:00 PM – 4:20 PM  
    • Practical Strategies for Securing AI-Driven Data: Enhancing Cyber Resilience and Insider Risk Management @ 4:30 PM – 4:50PM  
    • Secure and govern access to GenAI apps with the Microsoft Entra Suite @5:00 PM – 5:20 PM  
    • Bolster your SOC with Microsoft’s Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR) @ 5:30 PM – 5:50PM  

    Networking and Fun | Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor) 

    • Secure & Sip: DevOps Edition @ 4:30PM – 6:30PM  

    Speaker: Alexis Wales, CISO, GitHub 

    Gather with GitHub’s security leaders and experts for meaningful conversations, thoughtfully crafted cocktails, and a custom ramen bar to round out your day at RSAC. 

    Customer Meetings | Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor) 

    Day 2 of meetings with Microsoft Security experts continues. Secure your spot by visiting the Microsoft Security Experiences at RSAC 2025 Home Page.  https://MicrosoftSecurityEvents.eventbuilder.com/MicrosoftRSAC2025events?source=blog_techcomm 

    As the conference starts to wrap up, don’t miss your chance to get hands-on with Microsoft Security solutions and ask questions at the Hub and booth and in 1:1 meetings. 

    Microsoft Sessions at RSAC 2025 | Location: Moscone Center 

    • Guardians of the Cyber Galaxy: Allies Against AI-Powered Cybercrime​ @ 8:30 – 9:20 AM  

    ​AI is revolutionizing cybercrime, putting traditional defenses to the test. Expert panelists unite to detail innovative public-private strategies and real-world case studies from their experience in INTERPOL, the FBI, Microsoft, and the Privacy & Cybersecurity Group of an international law firm. Gain actionable insights to protect the global community and fortify cybersecurity defenses.  

    Speakers: Sean Farrell, Lead Counsel, AI Strategy, Digital Crimes Unit, Microsoft Corporation; Garylene Javier, Privacy & Cybersecurity Counsel, Crowell & Moring LLP; Craig Jones, Immediate Past Director Cybercrime, INTERPOL; and Andrew Sczygielski, Supervisory Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation 

     

    • Green and Sustainable AI for Cybersecurity​ @1:15 – 2:05 PM​ 

    The session will consider the carbon cost of AI and analytics. It will focus on the estimated energy and carbon costs of many cybersecurity use cases and approaches that can be taken to build more sustainable solutions. This will be illustrated through the use of a threat hunting and detection analytical solution and how that could be designed to be most power efficient.  

    Speakers: Lesley Kipling, Chief Security Advisor, Microsoft and Sian John, CTO, NCC Group 

     

    • Scaling AppSec With an SDLC for Citizen Development​ @ 1:15 – 2:05 PM​ 

    AppSec programs are difficult. Filled to the brim with vulnerabilities. Overloaded staff and inadequate budget. The common “solution” is to narrow scope and focus on crown jewels and their devs. Increasing the scope to 100x devs and 1000x apps surprisingly worked, resulting in program remediation of >50K vulnerabilities in 3 months. 18K of them in a single night. This session will show how. 

    Speakers: Ryan McDonald, Principal Program Manager, Microsoft and Michael Bargury, Co-Founder & CTO, Zenity 

     

    Microsoft Expert Sessions | All day Monday – Wednesday | Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor) 

    Don’t miss the final few Microsoft Security focused sessions at our Hub. 

    • Threat intelligence trends and insights panel: Exclusive briefing from Microsoft Threat Intelligence @10:30AM – 11:30AM​  

    Speakers: Sherrod De Grippo, Director of Threat Intelligence Strategy, Microsoft; Jeremy Dallman, Senior Director of Security Research in Microsoft Threat Intelligence; and Steven Masada, Assistant General Counsel, DCU 

    • Secure access for your employees with Entra Suite @ ​10:30AM – 11:30AM​ 

    Speaker:  Irina Nechaeva, General Manager, Identity and Network Access 

    • Securing the AI Powered Enterprise Executive Panel Lunch @​12:00PM – 1:30PM​ 

    Speakers: Bret Arsenault, Chief Cybersecurity Advisor, Microsoft; Brandon Dixon, Partner Product Manager, Security AI Strategy, Microsoft; Manny Sahota, Director, Global Cloud Privacy, Microsoft; Herain Oberoi, General Manager, Data Security, Governance, Compliance, Privacy Business and Marketing, Microsoft; and Sarah Bird, Chief Product Officer of Responsible AI, Microsoft 

     

    Theatre Sessions | Location: Microsoft Security Booth #5744 

    Don’t miss your chance to see demos and ask questions casually at the booth. 

    • Make Windows endpoints more secure and prevent downtime 11:00 AM – 11:20 AM            
    • Unlocking Opportunities: A Guide to Partnering with Microsoft 11:30 AM – 11:50 AM            
    • EY Security Copilot Empowered Solutions 12:00 PM – 12:20 PM 
    • Microsoft Security Copilot: Protect at the speed and scale of AI 12:30 PM – 12:50 PM           
    • Phishing-Resistant Authentication, Trusted Onboarding & Recovery @ 1:00 PM – 1:20 PM 
    • Building a multi-layered approach to data security SOC @ 1:30 PM – 1:50 PM     
    • Secure your email and collaboration tools against sophisticated cyber attacks @ 2:00 PM – 2:20 PM  
    • The latest intelligence on North Korean remote IT workers @ 2:30 PM – 2:50 PM 
    • Secure and govern M365 Copilot with Microsoft Purview @ 3:00 PM – 3:20 PM 
    • Proactively Mitigate Risks with Microsoft Security Exposure Management @ 3:30 PM – 3:50 PM 
    • Windows 365: The security of Windows, the scale of the cloud@ 4:00 PM – 4:20 PM 
    • Shift your SOC from manual incident response to automatic attack disruption @ 4:30 PM –4:50PM  
    • A Look Inside Microsoft’s Secure Future Initiative: Progress, Innovations, and Best Practices @ 5:00 PM – 5:20 PM 
    • Simplifying Data Security for the Modern Network with Microsoft Purview and Netskope One @ 5:30 PM – 5:50 PM 

    Customer Meetings | Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor) 

    It’s your final chance to ask your questions and give your suggestions directly to Microsoft Security experts. Book your meeting here: Microsoft Security Experiences at RSAC 2025 Home Page. 

    Microsoft Sessions at RSAC | Location: Moscone Center 

    Last but certainly not least. 

    • Shaping Cybersecurity: How Regulation Shapes Operational Cyber Defense​ @ 10:50 – 11:40AM​  

    In 2024, elections and growing cyberthreats pushed cybersecurity to the forefront of government priorities. The panel will explore governments’ efforts to strengthen cybersecurity and resilience through regulation, the impact on operational cyber defense, and discuss where greater alignment is possible. Attendees will gain an understanding of the quickly evolving global regulatory landscape.  

    Speakers: Ted Maurer, Senior Director, Global Cybersecurity Policy, Microsoft; Christiane Kirketerp de Viron, Director for Digital Society, Trust & Cybersecurity, DG Connect, European Commission; Ari Schwartz, Managing Director, Cybersecurity Services, Venable LLP; Josephine Wolff, Associate Professor of Cybersecurity Policy, Tufts University, The Fletcher School; and Florian Schütz, Director, NCSC – National Cybersecurity Centre 

     

    • Taking the Fight Upstream: Pursuing Systemic Defense Against Phishing​ 12:20 – 11:10 PM​  

    Three decades into the public internet, cybercrime is booming and phishing remains a key vector. With AI-enhanced attacks rising, common users are increasingly ill-equipped to defend themselves. What can be done upstream to protect society? This session explores systemic defense strategies across the ICT ecosystem that hold the potential for significant ecosystem-wide impact.

    Speakers: Kelly Bissell, CVP Security & Fraud, Microsoft; Tal Goldstein, Head of Strategy, World Economic Forum Centre for Cybersecurity; Steven Kelly, Chief Trust Officer, Institute for Security and Technology; and Kemba Walden, President, Paladin Global Institute, Paladin Capital Group  

     

    • Fraud, Risk, Hollywood & Government—A Strategy for AI Across Industry 12:20 – 11:10 PM 

    ​Dive into the high-stakes world of AI as the experts in this session unravel AI’s game-changing roles in Hollywood, government, and finance. Experience firsthand revolutionary strategies, ethical showdowns, and futuristic trends set to redefine industry landscapes. Get ready for a session that’s as dynamic and ambitious as a Hollywood blockbuster! 

    Speakers: Vishal Amin, GM, National Security Group, Security; Gurpreet Bhatia, Acting Deputy CIO for Cybersecurity, Acting CISO, DOD; David Mahdi, CIO, Transmit Security; and Scott Mann, Film Director & Co-Founder/Co-CEO, Flawless 

    • Generative AI Meets Identity Governance: Automating the Overlooked​ @ 1:30 – 2:20 PM​ 

    Identity governance is often the last thing to be implemented and rarely gets the attention it deserves due to its complexity. This session will explore how Generative AI agents can help overcome this by automating critical but often deprioritized tasks like role mining and identity lifecycle management, particularly addressing the challenges of managing ‘movers’ within organizations.  

    Speakers: Angelica Faber, Sr Security Architect, Microsoft and Wesley Kuzma, Architect Manager, Microsoft 

     

    Theatre Sessions | Location: Microsoft Security Booth #5744 

    Catch the last day of theater sessions. 

    • How Enterprises will Continue to Learn from Open Source 11:00 AM – 11:20 AM  
    • Creating Bespoke Identity Governance Solutions with Microsoft Entra Suite 11:30 AM – 11:50 AM  
    • Identity-first security: Using an event-based approach for threat remediation @ 12:00 PM – 12:20 PM 
    • Securing and governing Agents built-in Microsoft Copilot Studio @ 12:30 PM – 12:50 PM 
    • Azure Platform Security in an Evolving Threat Landscape @ 1:00 PM – 1:20 PM 

    How to Make the Most of Microsoft Security at RSAC 2025 

    Plan Ahead: Bookmark this blog to easily find the things that interest you the most. 

    Visit the Booth: Engage with our security experts and experience live demos.

    Follow Along Online: Stay updated by following Microsoft Security on LinkedIn and X. 

    Book a Meeting: Want to connect 1:1 with a Microsoft Security expert? Secure your spot by visiting the Microsoft Security Experiences at RSAC 2025 Home Page. 

     

    See you at RSAC 2025! 

    MIL OSI Economics –

    April 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Military Mission for Sealing the Southern Border of the United States and Repelling Invasions

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    NATIONAL SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM/NSPM-4
    MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE               THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR               THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE               THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY
    SUBJECT:      Military Mission for Sealing the Southern Border of the United States and Repelling Invasions
    As the Chief Executive and Commander in Chief, the United States Constitution empowers me to direct the various elements of the executive branch to protect our homeland and ensure the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the United States in the manner I deem most efficient and effective, consistent with applicable law.  Our southern border is under attack from a variety of threats.  The complexity of the current situation requires that our military take a more direct role in securing our southern border than in the recent past.  Through Executive Order 14167 of January 20, 2025 (Clarifying the Military’s Role in Protecting the Territorial Integrity of the United States), I assigned the Armed Forces of the United States the military missions of repelling the invasion and sealing the United States southern border from unlawful entry to maintain the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of the United States.  This memorandum provides additional guidance on securing the southern border to the heads of certain executive departments. 
    Section 1.  Policy. (a) to accomplish the military missions described in Executive Order 14167, and to ensure the safety and security of the military and other Federal personnel in areas of military operations within Federal lands along the southern border, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall take all appropriate actions:
    (i)    to provide for the use and jurisdiction by the Department of Defense over such Federal lands, including the Roosevelt Reservation and excluding Federal Indian Reservations, that are reasonably necessary to enable military activities directed in this memorandum, including border-barrier construction and emplacement of detection and monitoring equipment; and
    (ii)   to provide for transfer and acceptance of jurisdiction over such Federal lands in accordance with applicable law to enable military activities directed in this memorandum to occur on a military installation under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense and for the designation of such Federal lands as National Defense Areas by the Secretary of Defense.
    (b)  The Secretary of the Interior shall allow the Secretary of Defense to use those portions of the Roosevelt Reservation not yet transferred or withdrawn under this memorandum. In accordance with Proclamation 10886 of January 20, 2025 (Declaring a National Emergency at the Southern Border of the United States), 43 U.S.C. 155 is hereby invoked and the Secretary of the Interior may make withdrawals, reservations, and restrictions of public lands to provide for the utilization of public lands by the Department of Defense to address the emergency at the southern border, without regard to any limitation on withdrawals otherwise applicable under the terms of the Engle Act, 43 U.S.C. 155-158.
    (c)  The Secretary of Defense may determine those military activities that are reasonably necessary and appropriate to accomplish the mission assigned in Executive Order 14167 and that are necessary to protect and maintain the security of military installations, consistent with section 2672 of title 10, United States Code, and the longstanding authority of a military installation commander to exclude persons from a military installation, as recognized in section 21 of the Internal Security Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 797) and 18 U.S.C. 1382.
    (d)  In carrying out activities under this memorandum, members of the Armed Forces will follow rules for the use of force prescribed by the Secretary of Defense.
    Sec. 2.  Phased Implementation. The Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of Homeland Security will initially implement this memorandum on a limited sector of Federal lands designated by the Secretary of Defense.  Within 45 days of the date of this memorandum, the Secretary of Defense shall assess this initial phase.  At any time, the Secretary of Defense may extend activities under this memorandum to additional Federal lands along the southern border in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Assistant to the President and Homeland Security Advisor, and other executive departments and agencies as appropriate.
    Sec. 3.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
    (i)    the authority of the Secretary of Defense to authorize and request that State Governors order members of the National Guard under authority of title 32 of the United States Code to conduct Department of Defense activities, including as appropriate to support law enforcement activities under the responsibility of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security, if requested by such official;
    (ii)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
    (iii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
    (b)  This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
    (c)  This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
                                   DONALD J. TRUMP

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Road closed, Ohinewai

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Tahuna Road in Ohinewai is expected to be closed for some time after a crash saw power lines come down.

    The single-vehicle crash happened shortly before 8:30am, and there are no injuries.

    Contractors have been advised.

    Westbound traffic is being diverted at the intersection of Tahuna and Frost Roads, while eastbound traffic from State Highway 1 is being turned around at this stage.

    Tahuna Road is expected to be closed for several hours.

    ENDS

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    April 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Health’s Role in Keeping the Huskies Healthy

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    You may not see them in the spotlight, but UConn Health’s Team Physicians are the unsung heroes behind every comeback. Working behind the scenes, they play a crucial role in keeping UConn athletes healthy and getting them safely back on the court, field, and ice after injuries. Their dedication, expertise, and care power every play.

    At UConn, more than 750 Division I athletes rely on the expertise of UConn Health’s Sports Medicine physicians to stay healthy, recover from injuries, and compete at the highest level. Behind every game, practice, and championship is a team of six highly skilled physicians dedicated to providing elite care.

    This team includes three primary care sports medicine specialists, Drs. Alison Schafer, Matt Hall, and Zack Maas, and three orthopedic sports medicine surgeons, Drs. Robert Arciero, Katherine Coyner, and Corey Dwyer. Collectively, they bring more than 70 years of experience in Division I sports medicine.

    Each physician provides more than 500 hours of hands-on care every year, covering training rooms, practices, games, and tournaments. Their work is largely behind the scenes, but their impact is front and center in every athlete’s success.

    UConn Health’s orthopedic surgeons have performed some of the most complex reconstructive procedures on members of UConn’s nationally ranked teams, including players from the legendary Women’s Basketball program. Paired with state-of-the-art rehabilitation, strength training, and conditioning, these athletes returned to play and helped bring home another national championship.

    Dr. Andy Agwunobi recently sat down with FOX61 to highlight the world-class care provided by this exceptional team, care that’s not just reserved for elite athletes. The same expertise, commitment, and advanced treatment that support UConn’s student-athletes are available to every patient who walks through UConn Health’s doors.

    [embedded content]

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Honduran Man Extradited for Role in International Drug Smuggling Conspiracy

    Source: US State of California

    Extensive coordination and cooperation between U.S. and Honduran law enforcement authorities resulted in the extradition of a Honduran national for his alleged role in a conspiracy to smuggle drugs from Honduras to the United States.

    According to court documents, Olvin Javier Velasquez Maldonado, 39, conspired with others to bring approximately 24 kilograms of cocaine from Honduras to the United States aboard a vessel attempting to bring 23 Honduran aliens illegally into the United States. In February 2022, the U.S. Coast Guard interdicted the M/V Pop, a 65’ sportfishing vessel, approximately 75 miles off the coast of Louisiana after it developed engine trouble and lost power. The U.S. Coast Guard responded, found the aliens and cocaine, and towed the vessel to shore. The M/V Pop departed from Utila, Honduras, and was destined for Cocodrie, Louisiana. Velasquez Maldonado was allegedly responsible for bringing the cocaine on board the M/V Pop and ensuring its safe delivery. When he was apprehended, according to court documents, Velasquez Maldonado posed as an alien intending to remain in the United States so he could avoid prosecution.

    Velasquez Maldonado is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Velasquez Maldonado made his initial court appearance today in the Eastern District of Louisiana. He was detained and will have his detention hearing on Monday. If convicted, Velasquez Maldonado faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Co-defendants Carl Allison, 47, Darrel Martinez, 41, and Josue Flores-Villeda, 37, previously pleaded guilty in 2023 to conspiracy to unlawfully bring aliens to the United States for financial gain and conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine hydrochloride. Lenord Cooper, 40, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to aid and assist aliens to enter the United States unlawfully and attempting to bring aliens to the United States for commercial advantage and private financial gain. Two co-defendants, Hennessy Devon Cooper Zelaya, 29, and Rudy Jackson Hernandez, 38, were convicted after trial of one count of conspiracy to unlawfully bring aliens to the United States for commercial advantage and private financial gain and two counts of attempting to bring aliens to the United States for commercial advantage and private financial gain.  

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson for the Eastern District of Louisiana and Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Orleans Field Office made the announcement.

    The investigation and extradition of Velasquez Maldonado was coordinated under Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA) and the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) Program. JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders.

    JTFA is currently comprised of detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, the Office of Enforcement Operations, and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, DEA, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 360 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 325 U.S. convictions; more than 270 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.

    The ECT program is a partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI and focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks or present grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence, and prosecutorial resources. ECT also coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

    The HSI Houma, Louisiana Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the HSI Pittsburgh Field Office, HSI Atlanta Field Office, and Louisiana Bureau of Investigation. The HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations, Louisiana State Police, Pennsylvania State Police, North Huntington Township Police and Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office also provided valuable assistance. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance. The Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training in Honduras also provided assistance.

    Deputy Chief Rami Badawy of the Criminal Division’s HRSP and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter Guice of the General Crimes Unit for the Eastern District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case.

    An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fatal crash, Waitati

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    One person has died after a crash north of Dunedin overnight.

    Emergency services were called to the Northern Motorway south of Waitati shortly after 3:30am, where a car had gone down a bank.

    The sole occupant of the vehicle was sadly located deceased.

    The road remains blocked while a scene examination takes place – light vehicles are asked to follow the marked detour.

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    April 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Honduran Man Extradited for Role in International Drug Smuggling Conspiracy

    Source: United States Attorneys General 13

    Extensive coordination and cooperation between U.S. and Honduran law enforcement authorities resulted in the extradition of a Honduran national for his alleged role in a conspiracy to smuggle drugs from Honduras to the United States.

    According to court documents, Olvin Javier Velasquez Maldonado, 39, conspired with others to bring approximately 24 kilograms of cocaine from Honduras to the United States aboard a vessel attempting to bring 23 Honduran aliens illegally into the United States. In February 2022, the U.S. Coast Guard interdicted the M/V Pop, a 65’ sportfishing vessel, approximately 75 miles off the coast of Louisiana after it developed engine trouble and lost power. The U.S. Coast Guard responded, found the aliens and cocaine, and towed the vessel to shore. The M/V Pop departed from Utila, Honduras, and was destined for Cocodrie, Louisiana. Velasquez Maldonado was allegedly responsible for bringing the cocaine on board the M/V Pop and ensuring its safe delivery. When he was apprehended, according to court documents, Velasquez Maldonado posed as an alien intending to remain in the United States so he could avoid prosecution.

    Velasquez Maldonado is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Velasquez Maldonado made his initial court appearance today in the Eastern District of Louisiana. He was detained and will have his detention hearing on Monday. If convicted, Velasquez Maldonado faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Co-defendants Carl Allison, 47, Darrel Martinez, 41, and Josue Flores-Villeda, 37, previously pleaded guilty in 2023 to conspiracy to unlawfully bring aliens to the United States for financial gain and conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine hydrochloride. Lenord Cooper, 40, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to aid and assist aliens to enter the United States unlawfully and attempting to bring aliens to the United States for commercial advantage and private financial gain. Two co-defendants, Hennessy Devon Cooper Zelaya, 29, and Rudy Jackson Hernandez, 38, were convicted after trial of one count of conspiracy to unlawfully bring aliens to the United States for commercial advantage and private financial gain and two counts of attempting to bring aliens to the United States for commercial advantage and private financial gain.  

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson for the Eastern District of Louisiana and Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Orleans Field Office made the announcement.

    The investigation and extradition of Velasquez Maldonado was coordinated under Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA) and the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) Program. JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders.

    JTFA is currently comprised of detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, the Office of Enforcement Operations, and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, DEA, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 360 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 325 U.S. convictions; more than 270 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.

    The ECT program is a partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI and focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks or present grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence, and prosecutorial resources. ECT also coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

    The HSI Houma, Louisiana Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the HSI Pittsburgh Field Office, HSI Atlanta Field Office, and Louisiana Bureau of Investigation. The HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations, Louisiana State Police, Pennsylvania State Police, North Huntington Township Police and Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office also provided valuable assistance. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance. The Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training in Honduras also provided assistance.

    Deputy Chief Rami Badawy of the Criminal Division’s HRSP and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter Guice of the General Crimes Unit for the Eastern District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case.

    An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

    April 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: DHS Secretary joins ICE Phoenix on enhanced targeted operations

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    PHOENIX — DHS Secretary Kristi Noem joined U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and federal law enforcement partners in apprehending three illegal aliens during an enhanced targeted enforcement operation focusing on criminal illegal alien offenders in Phoenix, Arizona, to bolster public safety, national security and border security, April 8.

    “By leveraging our federal partnerships and intelligence-driven investigations, ICE continues to carry out its mission in a way that best serves national security, public safety and border security,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Phoenix Field Office Director John Cantu. “I am grateful for the professionalism, dedication and support from all of our FBI, DEA and Homeland Security Investigations partners during this operation to remove dangerous alien offenders from our Arizona communities.”

    ICE and federal partners concentrated their efforts in and around the Phoenix area. The joint enforcement operations led to the arrests of three Mexican aliens with significant criminal histories, among them Bonifacio Renteria-Cruz, a 48-year-old wanted by Mexican authorities for homicide.

    Partner law enforcement agencies participating in the operation included FBI Phoenix; Drug Enforcement Administration Phoenix; and Homeland Security Investigations Phoenix.

    Members of the public who have information about foreign fugitives, transnational gang members or other criminal aliens who are in the U.S. illegally are urged to contact ICE by calling the ICE Tip Line at 1 (866) 347-2423 or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also file a tip online by completing ICE’s online tip form.

    Learn more about ERO Phoenix’s mission to preserve public safety on X, @ERO_PHOENIX.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Deadly Illegal Alien Smuggling Venture Leads to Federal Prison Sentence for Cuban National

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MIAMI – Today, a federal district judge in Miami sentenced a 25-year-old woman who was in the country unlawfully to seven-and-a-half years in prison for her role in a for-profit scheme to illegally smuggle 18 Cubans by boat from the island, across the Florida straits, and into the United States. Sixteen people died during the trip.

    Yaquelin Dominguez-Nieves pleaded guilty to alien smuggling conspiracy and related charges on January 21, 2025.

    The Facts: Dominguez-Nieves is a Cuban national who entered the United States illegally in October 2022. A month later, she and a boyfriend arranged to illegally smuggle 18 Cubans by boat from the island, through the Florida straits, and into the United States at Florida’s coast. They would charge admission for the trip. In the weeks leading up to it, for example, Dominguez-Nieves collected over $11,500 from South Florida family members of the to-be-smuggled Cuban aliens.

    On November 16, 2024, the smugglers’ fishing boat left Playa Jaimanitas, Cuba toward South Florida with about 18 aliens onboard. It sank approximately 30 miles into the trip, killing 16 identified people, many of whom were children. Three of their bodies washed up in Monroe County, Florida. Cause of death: drowning. According to two survivors, the boat was too small for 18 people, did not carry lifejackets, and its captain did not seem to know what he was doing.       

    U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom imposed a sentence higher than that   recommended by the advisory federal sentencing guidelines due to the severity of the offense. 

    U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. Margelot of the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS), Southeast Field Office announced the sentence.

    CGIS Southeast Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from U.S. Coast Guard Sector Key West, the U.S. Border Patrol, the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller is prosecuting this case.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.

    Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-CR-20223.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

    April 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Washington State Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Enticing and Sexually Exploiting Three Oregon Children Online

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PORTLAND, Ore.—A Battleground, Washington man was sentenced to federal prison Wednesday for coercing and sexually exploiting three children online using Discord, an instant messaging social media application.

    Jakob Joshua Stickney, 26, was sentenced to 246 months in federal prison and a lifetime term of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to each of his victims.

    According to court documents, between August and September 2023, Stickney, who used the names “UNHOLY,” “unholy_xx2,” or “Unholy_22x” online, engaged in sexually explicit communications with children on Discord. Following months of online chatting with children in different states, Stickney attempted to arrange an in-person meetup with a child in Oregon. Stickney went in person to the child’s house where he was confronted by the child’s mother, and she reported the contact to law enforcement.

    In October 2023, Discord submitted a tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for sexually explicit messages that occurred between Stickney and another child. Stickney learned the child had a sibling and persuaded both children to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Additionally, he convinced the child to record sexually explicit conduct and send to him to gain membership to a Discord group called “Unholy Girls” that Stickney created and maintained.

    Stickney was arrested on November 17, 2023, and his phone, which contained child sexual abuse material, was seized. 

    On December 30, 2024, Stickney was charged by criminal information with coercing and enticing a minor, sexually exploiting children, and possessing child pornography.

    On January 23, 2025, Stickney pleaded guilty to sexually exploiting children and coercing and enticing a minor.

    This case was investigated by the FBI and Portland Police Bureau. It was prosecuted by Eliza Carmen Rodriguez, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

    Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

    The FBI Child Exploitation Task Force (CETF) conducts sexual exploitation investigations, many of them undercover, in coordination with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. CETF is committed to locating and arresting those who prey on children as well as recovering and assisting victims of sex trafficking and child exploitation. 

    Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

    April 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cramer, Scott Introduce Bill to Expand Access to Credit

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

    ***Click here for audio***

    BISMARCK, N.D.  – Credit scores compiled from loan and payment data are a common indicator of overall consumer financial health. Credit data is typically sourced from car, home, and student loans as well as credit cards and other lines of credit. While most Americans have a variety of data streams, about 26 million Americans are “credit invisible” and lack credit records or repayment history. These scores are essential to securing further lines of credit and impact a consumer’s ability to access financial products like car loans or mortgages.

    U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs (Banking) Committee, joined Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC) in introducing the Credit Access and Inclusion Act to include additional payments to be factored into credit history. This bill allows credit bureaus to collect payments data for services not traditionally factored into credit reporting, such as rent, internet, phone, electricity, and utility payments. Factoring these payments into credit reporting would expand credit histories and generate credit scores for consumers who were previously “unscoreable.” If enacted, people who pay their bills on time in cash will generate a credit score reflective of their fiscal responsibility.  

    “Millions of Americans pay their utilities, their rent, and their phone bill and other things on time every month, but the narrow scope of credit reporting today doesn’t include these payments, so it doesn’t get calculated into their credit score,” said Cramer. “Our bill is really a simple fix to expand the credit reporting that will then allow these responsible Americans to build credit.”

    “It’s simple, if you pay your bills on time, your credit score should reflect that. This commonsense bill will reward hardworking Americans who manage their finances responsibly, expanding access to credit to help them purchase a home, finance their education, or pursue their dreams,” said Chairman Scott.

    Senate Banking Committee cosponsors include U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD), Katie Britt (R-AL), and Bernie Moreno (R-OH).

    Click here for bill text.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Oakland Resident Sentenced To Seven Years In Prison For Unlawful Possession Of A Firearm And Ammunition

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN FRANCISCO – Pedro Juarez was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a person convicted of a felony, announced Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins and ATF Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Cicolani. The sentence was handed down by the Hon. Charles R. Breyer, U.S. District Judge.

    Juarez, 33, of Oakland, Calif., was found guilty of the charge by a jury on September 25, 2024.  The evidence presented at trial demonstrated that, on August 16, 2023, Juarez forced a woman he knew to travel with him from San Jose to San Francisco.  After Juarez let the woman go, she called 9-1-1 and police responded to a location in San Francisco at which Juarez was located.  Juarez fled from police and, during his flight, pulled a handgun from his waistband and began to point it towards officers before his arm hit a railing and the firearm fell to the ground.  The firearm was loaded with ammunition.

    In addition to the 84-month prison term, Judge Breyer ordered Juarez serve a three-year term of supervised release, which will begin after he leaves prison.  Judge Breyer also ordered Juarez to forfeit his interest in the recovered firearm and ammunition.  Juarez is currently in custody and will begin to serve is prison term immediately.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ivana Djak and Noah Stern with the assistance of Tina Rosenbaum and Madeline Wachs.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the ATF.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

    April 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Judge Hands Down 18 Year Sentence for the 2021 Fatal Shooting of a Man in Southeast, Washington, DC

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

               WASHINGTON – Kirk Spencer, 30, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on April 9, 2025, to 18 years in prison for the February 2021 shooting death of Marcus Covington, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.

               Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein sentenced Spencer to the upper middle of the guideline period of incarceration, 18 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release.

               Spencer pleaded guilty on October 11, 2024, to one count of second-degree murder while armed with a firearm.

              At approximately 1:35 p.m., on February 23, 2021, Spencer and the decedent, Mr. Marcus Covington, were on the Anacostia Metro platform, located in the 1100 block of Howard Road in Southeast, Washington, DC. Video surveillance footage captured Spencer descend the escalator to the platform where he approached the victim, Marcus Covington. He greeted the victim with a half-hug and the two engaged in a brief conversation. At the end of the conversation, the defendant half-hugged Mr. Covington and as Mr. Covington was turning to head back to the bench area on the platform, Spencer pulled a handgun from his pocket, held it to the side of Mr. Covington’s head and shot him twice. Mr. Covington fell to the ground and as he laid there, Spencer fired again and fled the station. Mr. Covington was transported to Medstar Washington Hospital Center where he was pronounced dead early the next morning.

               In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Martin and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marybeth Manfreda and Ryan Sellinger of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. 

    MIL Security OSI –

    April 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Cuban National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Alien Smuggling

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MIAMI – A federal district judge in Miami sentenced a Cuban national to 18 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after he previously pleaded guilty to alien smuggling in January.

    On Sept. 29, 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers on a CBP air and maritime operations vessel, intercepted Rafael Rodriguez Hernandez, 35, while he was transporting 27 people on his boat from the Bahamas to the United States. The CBP officers brought the individuals from Hernandez’s boat onboard the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Cutter Richard Etheridge where USCG Officers confirmed that all the individuals, except Hernandez, were aliens who did not have authorization to enter the United States. The CBP officers also determined that five of the aliens were Ecuadorian nationals who had been previously removed from the United States.

    USCG officers brought Hernandez and the five Ecuadorians to shore to face charges. The rest of the aliens were returned to the Bahamas.

    U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jose R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Office, announced Hernandez’s sentence.

    HSI Miami investigated the case with assistance from CBP and USCG, 7th Coast Guard District. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner Stiehl is prosecuting the case.

    Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-cr-20458.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

    April 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Owner Of Florida Healthcare Companies Sentenced for Employment Tax Crimes

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant Did Not Pay Over $10M in Taxes

    MIAMI – A Florida man was sentenced today to 18 months in prison, two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $4,381,265.76 in restitution to the United States for willfully failing to pay over employment taxes and willfully failing to file individual income tax returns.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Paul Walczak controlled a network of interconnected health care companies operating under various names, including Palm Health Partners. Through another of his entities, Palm Health Partners Employment Services (PHPES), Walczak employed over 600 people and paid over $24 million annually in payroll. As such, Walczak was required to withhold Social Security, Medicare, and federal income taxes from his employees’ paychecks and to pay those monies over to the IRS each quarter, and to pay the companies’ portion of Social Security and Medicare taxes.

    For more than a decade, Walczak was not compliant with his tax obligations and instead used the withheld taxes to enrich himself. In 2011, Walczak did not pay two quarters of withheld taxes to the IRS. In 2012, the IRS began collection efforts, including by sending him notices about his unpaid taxes, and by meeting with Walczak to help bring him into compliance. When that effort was unsuccessful, the IRS assessed the outstanding taxes against him personally. After that was imposed, Walczak paid the assessments in October 2014. Walczak’s compliance did not last long, however. By the end of the following year, Walczak was again withholding taxes from his employees’ paychecks and keeping the money.

    From 2016 through 2019, Walczak withheld $7,432,223.80 of taxes from his employees’ paychecks, but did not pay those taxes over to the IRS. While Walczak was withholding taxes from the pay of his employees under the pretext of paying these funds to the IRS, he used over $1 million from his businesses’ bank accounts to purchase a yacht, transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars to his personal bank accounts, and used the business accounts for personal purchases at retailers such as Bergdorf Goodman, Cartier, and Saks. During this same time, he also did not pay $3,480,111 of his business’s portion of his employees’ Social Security and Medicare taxes.

    By 2019, the IRS had assessed millions of dollars in civil penalties against Walczak. Beginning with the 2018 tax year, Walczak also stopped filing personal income tax returns despite that he was still receiving income including a $360,000 salary from PHPES and $450,000 in transfers from his business bank accounts.

    Moreover, in 2019, Walczak created a new business, NextEra. Walczak used a family member as the 99% nominal owner of NextEra, but Walczak had ultimate control of the finances and operations of NextEra. Through NextEra, Walczak transferred in 2020 just under $200,000 to a bank account titled in a family member’s name, over $250,000 to a bank account in his wife’s name, and over $800,000 in payments directly to third parties for Walczak’s personal expenses, including clothing stores, department stores, and fishing retailers.

    In total, Walczak caused a tax loss to the IRS of $10,912,334.80

    U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Special Agent in Charge Emmanuel Gomez of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Miami Field Office made the announcement.

    IRS-CI investigated the case.

    Assistant United States Attorney Andres E. Chinchilla for the Southern District of Florida, and Trial Attorneys Brian Flanagan, Andrew Ascencio, and Ashley Stein of the Justice Department’s Tax Division prosecuted the case.

    Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-cr-80024.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

    April 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Alpine Man Sentenced to Six Years for Fentanyl Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN DIEGO – Erik David Morgan of Alpine was sentenced in federal court today to 72 months in prison for possessing a significant amount of fentanyl with the intent to distribute. 

    According to plea documents, Morgan used social media messaging applications to arrange to sell 3.5 grams of fentanyl for $150 to an individual who was, in fact, an undercover agent with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

    On March 14, 2024, when Morgan arrived at the meeting location in El Cajon, he was encountered by uniformed El Cajon police officers, who discovered Morgan in possession of 10.05 grams of fentanyl.

    Federal agents and task force officers with Homeland Security Investigations’ Fentanyl Abatement and Suppression Team (FAST) led this investigation.

    HSI San Diego FAST is a multiagency task force comprising state, local and federal partners and was first established in August 2022 focusing on the disruption and dismantlement of criminal organizations that smuggle and distribute fentanyl with San Diego County. HSI’s FAST targets fentanyl smuggling and distribution networks to counter the rising overdose rate and decrease the availability and accessibility of fentanyl.

    Fentanyl remains a serious threat. The latest DEA laboratory testing announced last fall indicated that five out of 10 pills tested contained a potentially deadly dose of fentanyl. Two milligrams of fentanyl is considered a lethal dose. For perspective, one gram of fentanyl, equivalent in size to a sugar packet, has the potential to kill up to 500 people.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron McElhose.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. [use if applicable] Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    DEFENDANT                                               Case Number 24cr787-BAS                                       

    Erik David Morgan                                         Age: 44                                   Alpine, CA

    SUMMARY OF CHARGES

    Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl – Title 21, U.S.C., Section 841(a)(1)

    Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $1,000,000 fine

    INVESTIGATING AGENCIES

    Homeland Security Investigations

    El Cajon Police Department

    MIL Security OSI –

    April 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Policy Co-Chairs Kamlager-Dove and Ross Lead Democratic Women’s Caucus in Demanding Trump Admin Stop Attacking Women’s Health Research

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager California (37th District)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. —Democratic Women’s Caucus Policy Task Force Co-Chairs Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) and Deborah Ross (NC-02) led 30 members in a letter to President Trump calling on him to stop his persistent attacks on women’s health research. 

    As part of their demand to stop the attack on women’s health research, the Members called on the administration to remove a cap on indirect research costs at the National Institutes of Health, which cover funding for laboratory space, research equipment, faculty salaries, and building utilities—all critical to making progress. The letter also called on the administration to rescind their list of banned and discouraged words, which could limit research on topics that include words such as “women” and “female.” The letter also calls on the administration to prioritize funding for women’s health research. 

    Women’s health research has long been severely underfunded. Historic investments by the Biden administration started the necessary progress in understanding how women are impacted by health conditions and made great strides towards treatments and interventions for many women-specific diseases. Devastatingly, the Trump administration eliminating, defunding, and restricting women’s health care research puts this progress in jeopardy and threatens the lives and well-being of women and girls—now and into the future. 

    In their letter, the Members explained why research focused on women’s health care is so critical:

    “Between 2013 and 2023, the NIH awarded only 8.8% of grant dollars to projects focused on women’s health. Rather than encouraging more research focused on women’s health, your administration’s actions are destroying the limited research projects in existence. As a result of the funding cap and the lack of clarity with the list of banned words, women-centered research projects are being rescinded at an alarming rate. These projects include research on early breast cancer detection and long-term health outcomes for children born to mothers who contracted COVID-19 during their pregnancies. Additionally, a $400,000 project to better study intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy was also terminated. Another critical project that is in danger includes a 7-year, $168 million initiative to investigate and improve maternal health outcomes.”

    The Members continued, calling on the administration to end attacks on women’s health research:

    “Your administration is endangering the lives of millions of women in every corner of the United States. We call on you to direct your administration to remove the research funding cap, rescind the list of banned words, and prioritize funding for women’s health research. Without this research, clinical trials will end, medications will not be approved, and new detection and treatment methods will stall – all of which will leave women to suffer and die, affecting families across the country.”

    The full letter can be accessed here:

    In addition to the leads Deborah K. Ross, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, and Teresa Leger Fernández, the letter was signed by Joyce Beatty, Julia Brownley, Judy Chu, Jasmine Crockett, Debbie Dingell, Sarah Elfreth, Lois Frankel, Laura Friedman, Sylvia Garcia, Chrissy Houlahan, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Teresa Leger Fernandez, Jennifer McClellan, Betty McCollum, LaMonica McIver, Gwen Moore, Eleanor Norton, Brittany Pettersen, Delia Ramirez, Deborah Ross, Andrea Salinas, Terri Sewell, Mikie Sherrill, Haley Stevens, Norma Torres, Lauren Underwood, Nydia Velázquez, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Nikema Williams, and Frederica Wilson.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Takes Action to Protect Free Speech

    Source: US State of New York

    EW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James and 18 other attorneys general today took legal action to stop the Trump administration’s “Ideological Deportation Policy,” a sweeping and alarming effort to arrest, detain, and deport noncitizens for exercising their right to free speech. In an amicus brief filed in American Association of University Professors v. Rubio, the attorneys general urge the Court to block enforcement of the administration’s policy, which targets individuals, many of them students and scholars, for immigration enforcement based on their beliefs. The attorneys general argue this policy is a blatant violation of the First Amendment and is inflicting lasting harm on academic institutions, students, and state economies.

    “Our democracy depends on the freedom to think, to speak, and to learn without fear,” said Attorney General James. “No one should face detention or deportation for exercising their right to free speech – not in New York, or in any other state in our nation. This policy is a dangerous overreach, and I will not allow fear and censorship to replace freedom and opportunity. My office is standing firmly against any effort to weaponize immigration to silence free speech and dissent.”

    In the brief, Attorney General James and the coalition argue that the Trump administration is weaponizing immigration enforcement to punish individuals for expressing their political views, in clear violation of the First Amendment’s free speech protections. The attorneys general assert that this targeted censorship, which has reportedly resulted in more than 800 visa cancellations in recent weeks, undermines academic freedom, suppresses classroom conversation, and sends a chilling message to students and faculty nationwide. The attorneys general highlight disturbing examples of federal overreach, including the arrest of a Tufts University PhD student by masked, plainclothes Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents after she co-authored an op-ed in a campus newspaper – a case that has created widespread fear among international students at institutions across the country.

    The attorneys general argue that the federal government’s aggressive enforcement tactics, including sudden raids, public arrests by undercover officers, and swift out-of-state transfers, serve no legitimate public safety or national security purpose. Instead, they simply serve to intimidate noncitizens into silence, violating constitutional rights and using fear as a tool of enforcement.

    Attorney General James and the coalition warn of the devastating impact this policy has on higher education. Colleges and universities rely on the open exchange of ideas to foster learning and innovation, and international students and scholars are central to that mission. In New York and across the country, noncitizens bring vital perspectives, conduct groundbreaking research, and contribute significantly to economic growth. Their forced departure threatens both institutional excellence and state economies.

    In New York, the effects are already being felt. The State University of New York (SUNY) system has already experienced a sharp decline in international applications, visa approvals, and continued enrollment. Moreover, faculty and students are canceling academic travel, forgoing research funding, and reconsidering their futures in the country out of fear of deportation or reentry denial. The federal government’s policy is also having a chilling effect on academic speech, particularly on global and political issues, and threatening programs, finances, and international partnerships.

    The policy’s consequences extend beyond academia. The attorneys general argue that when noncitizens fear they could be deported for their beliefs, they are less likely to report crimes, seek healthcare, or participate in civic and religious life – threatening public safety, public health, and religious freedom. Economically, the policy discourages global talent from coming to or remaining in the United States, jeopardizing industries that rely on international workers and students.

    Attorney General James and the coalition are urging the Court to halt this policy immediately, which they argue is making states less safe, less democratic, and less free.

    Joining Attorney General James in this brief are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Canberra’s best sandwiches

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    • This list includes cafes and delis from around Canberra.

    Chicken, roast beef, curried egg, salad, tuna or jam – however you like them, there’s a sandwich for everyone. We’re here to help you discover the best sandwiches Canberra has to offer.

    We asked Canberrans on WeAreCBR to name their favourite sandwich spot. These were the standouts, as voted by you:

    Located in No Name Lane, Sandoochie is open Monday-Friday to feed the working Canberrans. You will hardly ever see this joint without a line out the door. They offer a tantalising choice of 3-4 sandwiches and change the menu weekly.

    Blue Olive Café is located in the Melbourne Building. They offer a range of great Chunky New York style sandwiches for your next work lunch.

    This place not only offers great sandwiches and coffee, but you can grab both without even leaving your car. Kickstart is a drive-through cafe located in Fyshwick and Dickson, and they’ve just opened a third location in Belconnen.

    Melted menu items range from cheese toasties to Mi Goreng noodles – anything you would think wouldn’t go on a toastie is on offer.

    With over 10 locations in Canberra, Two Before Ten has become a go-to brunch and lunch spot. Of course they are offering up some solid sandwiches. They’ve got them fresh or toasted, and gluten-free and vego options.

    San Churro is a first and foremost a dessert venue, but who would’ve guessed they are also serving up some delicious toasties?!

    Hop into Bad Bunny for a great selection of sandwiches. They’ve got it all, from pork belly, corned beef to crispy chicken. They also have a great plant-based option of pulled mushroom with vegan cheese and vegan mayo.

    Bean Origin serves up great breakfast and lunch items. Try one of their delicious steak-sandwiches or toasties!

    &Sando is the casual counterpart to Matt Moran’s Compa. The menu features fresh deli counter sandwiches and pastries. Keep an eye out for the specials – past favourites have included Bolognese, provolone and bechamel, and a toasted truffle sando.

    Al’s Diner is bringing the New York-style deli experience to Alinga Street. Choose from fresh or hot sandwiches with flavours like beef & pickle, mushroom melt, chicken salad or the schnitty roll.

    You’ll find this bakery tucked away at the Fyshwick Fresh Food Markets. They’re well-loved for their breads and pastries, and their sandwiches are just as delicious. Choose from ciabatta or sourdough with options like hot salami, smoked salmon, marinated pumpkin or roasted capsicum.

    The sandwiches at Café Stepping Stone come with a side of social good. Stepping Stone create employment opportunities for migrant and refugee women. The potato masala toastie or green Reuben toastie are available at both locations.

    You’ll find this Dutch-inspired patisserie inside Manuka Court. Their display shelves are filled with pastries, cakes, and croquembouche. Regulars love the toasted and fresh sandwich options.

    Lava is well-known for their coffee, but did you know they offer tasty toasties? Flavours include classics like ham, cheese and tomato, as well as chorizo, chilli jam, basil and Swiss cheese.

    Empanadas and coffee are specialties of this suburban gem. They also offer pastries as well as fresh or toasted sandwiches.

    Read more like this:

    Get ACT news and events delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to our email newsletter:

    MIL OSI News –

    April 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell, Colleagues Demand Reversal of Chaotic and Destructive Tariffs that Could Devastate U.S. Small Businesses

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

    04.11.25

    Cantwell, Colleagues Demand Reversal of Chaotic and Destructive Tariffs that Could Devastate U.S. Small Businesses

    In letter to Commerce Secretary Lutnick, Senators say Trump’s 10% tariff on all nations will “upend the global trade system that small businesses rely on to bring their goods to market”; Last Thursday, Cantwell introduced a bipartisan bill that would reassert Congress’ role in setting & overseeing U.S. trade policy

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), senior member of the Senate Finance Committee and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, joined 12 of her Senate colleagues in a letter demanding that Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and President Donald Trump immediately reverse course on the sweeping tariffs that are devastating small businesses across the nation.  Cantwell previously chaired the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

    The senators emphasized how these new taxes on imported goods are raising prices for hardworking Americans and creating additional challenges for small businesses at a time when high costs are already making it difficult for them to operate.

    Sen. Cantwell recently introduced the bipartisan Trade Review Act of 2025, which would reassert Congress’ role in setting and overseeing U.S. trade policy. It has gained the endorsement of national small business groups like the Main Street Alliance and Small Business Majority.

    “Most small businesses operate on razor thin margins, so any increase in costs could be devastating for both day-to-day operations and business’ long-term success,” wrote the senators. “Now is the time to invest in our small businesses to ensure they have the resources necessary to navigate today’s high-cost environment. Across-the-board tariffs will have the opposite effect, squeezing small firms that lack the capital and resources to mitigate the worst effects of President Trump’s new trade barriers.”

    “From hospitality to retail to manufacturing, President Trump’s sweeping tariffs have the potential to upend decades of economic interdependence that allowed our nation’s small businesses to thrive. They must be reconsidered. To that end, we respectfully ask that you work with the President to reverse course on the 10 percent tariffs on all countries,” they continued.

    Washington state is home to 644,868 small businesses, which together employ more than 1.4 million people, accounting for 49% of all of the state’s workers.

    In addition to Sen. Cantwell, the letter was signed by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Peter Welch (D-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mark Warner (D-VA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Gary Peters (D-MI).

    A link to the letter is HERE.

    On April 3, Sen. Cantwell introduced a bipartisan bill to reaffirm Congress’ key role in setting and approving U.S. trade policy, and reestablish limits on the president’s ability to impose unilateral tariffs.

    READ MORE: The Wall Street Journal: Senators Move to Rein In Trump’s Power on Tariffs

    HEAR MORE: NPR: Sen. Maria Cantwell says there is bipartisan support to rein in Trump’s tariffs

    WATCH MORE: Forbes: ‘I Don’t Know What You Think’: Maria Cantwell Laces Into US Trade Rep Over Trump’s Tariffs

    The bill has since picked up 12 additional cosponsors – an equal mix of Republicans and Democrats – and been endorsed by multiple major U.S. business organizations, including the National Retail Federation, which is the largest retail trade association in the world.

    In addition, a bipartisan group in the House of Representatives has introduced a companion version of Sen. Cantwell’s legislation, which also is cosponsored by equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats.

    The bill restores Congress’ authority and responsibility over tariffs as outlined in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution by placing the following limits on the president’s power to impose tariffs:

    • To enact a new tariff, the president must notify Congress of the imposition of (or increase in) the tariff within 48 hours.
      • The Congressional notification must include an explanation of the president’s reasoning for imposing or raising the tariff, and
      • Provide analysis of potential impact on American businesses and consumers.
    • Within 60 days, Congress must pass a joint resolution of approval on the new tariff, otherwise all new tariffs on imports expire after that deadline.
    • Under the bill, Congress has the ability to end tariffs at any time by passing a resolution of disapproval.
    • Anti-dumping and countervailing duties are excluded.

    The full bill text is available HERE.

    For the past three months, President Trump has been sowing economic chaos across the country with unpredictable and ever-changing tariff announcements. His back-and-forth announcements and actions, which have whipsawed American businesses and consumers, as well as close neighbors and allies, include:

    • On January 31 — citing punishment for failing to crack down on fentanyl trafficking — the Trump administration announced plans to impose a 25% tax on many goods imported into the U.S. from Canada and Mexico and a 10% tax on goods imported from China, then abruptly postponed those tariffs.
    • In February, he doubled down, announcing an additional 25% tax on all steel and aluminum imports.
    • At 12:01 a.m. ET on March 4, President Trump’s long-promised 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada and 10% tariff increase on goods from China took effect, causing stock prices in the United States to plummet.
    • Then, on March 5, he announced that automobiles from Canada and Mexico would be exempt from his tariffs for one month.
    • The morning of March 6, he announced that he would suspend the tariffs for some products from Mexico. Then, later that same afternoon, he announced he was suspending most new tariffs on products from both Mexico and Canada until April 2.
    • On March 11, Trump threatened to double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum – increasing them to 50% – before reversing himself later the same day.
    • On March 13, he threatened 200% tariffs on alcoholic products from the European Union, including all wine and Champagne.
    • On March 27, he announced plans to impose a 25% tax on all imported sedans, SUVs, crossovers, minivans, cargo vans, and light trucks, as well as some auto parts, beginning on April 2.
    • On March 29, President Trump said, “I couldn’t care less,” if automakers raise the price of cars in response to his tariffs.
    • On April 2, he announced a “National Economic Emergency,” and signed an executive order declaring a 10% minimum baseline tariff on all countries as well as additional tariffs on nearly 60 countries.
    • On April 7, he threatened to impose an additional 50% tariff on China.
    • On April 9, he announced a rollback of his April 2 tariffs down to the 10% baseline across the board, with the exception of China, which he increased to 125%.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Countries reach historic deal to cut shipping emissions

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    By Vibhu Mishra

    11 April 2025 Climate and Environment

    After years of intense negotiations, countries on Friday reached a landmark deal to cut greenhouse gas emissions from global shipping, setting mandatory fuel standards and introducing an industry-wide carbon pricing mechanism.

    The framework – agreed during the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee – aims for net-zero emissions from the sector by 2050 and will be formally adopted in October before coming into force in 2027.

    They will apply to large ocean-going vessels over 5,000 gross tonnage, which collectively account for 85 per cent of carbon dioxide emissions from the marine shipping fleet.

    IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez hailed the breakthrough, emphasising the collaborative spirit that led to the deal.

    “The approval of draft amendments to MARPOL Annex VI mandating the IMO net-zero framework represents another significant step in our collective efforts to combat climate change, to modernize shipping and demonstrates that IMO delivers on its commitments.”

    MARPOL Annex VI refers to provisions in the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, specifically addressing air pollution.

    It already includes mandatory energy efficiency requirements for ships and has 108 Parties covering roughly 97 per cent of the world’s merchant shipping fleet by tonnage.

    Intense negotiations

    Negotiations – which culminated on Friday in London – were particularly challenging.

    According to media reports, around a dozen countries – including the United States – were opposed to the framework. The proposal was ultimately put to a vote and passed.

    A turning point for the shipping industry

    The framework introduces a dual approach: a global fuel standard that will progressively lower the annual greenhouse gas fuel intensity of marine fuels, and a greenhouse gas pricing mechanism requiring high-emitting ships to pay for their excess pollution.

    Under the new system, ships that exceed emissions limits will need to acquire remedial units to offset their excess pollution. Meanwhile, vessels operating with zero or near-zero emissions will be eligible for financial rewards, creating a market-driven push toward cleaner maritime transport.

    © IMO

    A cargo ship moored at a port in Europe.

    Supporting vulnerable countries

    A key element of the new framework is the IMO Net-Zero Fund, which will collect revenues from the carbon pricing mechanism.

    These funds will support innovation, research, infrastructure and transition initiatives in developing countries.

    It will also be used to mitigate negative impacts on vulnerable nations, such as small island developing States (SIDS) and least developed countries (LDCs), which bear the brunt of both climate change and economic pressures in the shipping sector.

    Next steps: Adoption and implementation

    The draft regulations will undergo formal adoption in October 2025.

    If ratified during the IMO session, as expected, the measures will enter into force in 2027, giving the industry time to adapt to new requirements and invest in alternative fuels and technologies.

    The International Maritime Organization

    The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is the UN specialized agency responsible for the safety and security of global shipping and the prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution by ships.

    Established in 1948 and headquartered in London, it develops international treaties, such as the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) or the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL).

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

    April 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Canberra Hospital’s new building now open

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Four-bed room in an inpatient unit within the new Critical Services Building (Building 5).

    In brief:

    • Canberra Hospital’s new Critical Services Building (Building 5) opened on Saturday, 17 August 2024.
    • This includes the new Emergency Department (ED).
    • If you need to attend the ED, please go straight to Building 5.

    Canberra Hospital’s new Critical Services Building opened on Saturday, 17 August 2024. It is called Building 5.

    Many of the critical care services located across the hospital can now be found in Building 5.

    Services that have moved to Building 5

    Building 5 now houses:

    • the main entry and reception
    • the emergency department
    • operating theatres and day of surgery admission
    • the Sterilising Services Unit
    • the intensive care unit
    • cardiac catheterisation laboratories
    • several inpatient wards, including Acute Cardiac Care Unit, Acute Medical Unit, Emergency General Surgery and Trauma, Neurosurgery and Oral Maxillofacial and Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery
    • medical imaging
    • the helideck.

    The new Emergency Department

    The new Emergency Department (ED) in Building 5 opened on Saturday, 17 August.

    The ED in Building 12 has now closed.

    If you need to go to the ED

    If you need to attend the ED, please go straight to Building 5.

    There is a separate entrance to the ED on the southern side of Hospital Road, off Bateson Road.

    You can also drop off and pick up at the entrance.

    The closest parking is in the southern multi-storey car park on Bateson Road. This is less than 300m away.

    Signs across the hospital will help you find you way around.

    Operating theatres and other services

    Perioperative services, including operating theatres, have begun in Building 5.

    This includes both emergency and elective procedures.

    The move to Building 5

    The move into the new building took place in one day.

    This included relocating around 160 patients in several inpatient wards.

    Staff will also move over 3,000 items to the new building – from IV poles to wheelchairs.

    Around 3,000 staff have received training to work in the new building.

    Find more information on Building 5 at the Canberra Health Services website.

    Get ACT news and events delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to our email newsletter:


    MIL OSI News –

    April 12, 2025
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