The Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University recently welcomed Jeff Greene, Executive Assistant Director for Cybersecurity at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), as part of its Global Security Speaker Series. The talk centered on protecting America’s infrastructure in our increasingly connected world.
Greene, whose career in cybersecurity took several unexpected turns, gave a candid overview of today’s digital security landscape. “The situation isn’t rosy,” Greene admitted, “but we’re not without hope.”
Professor Jack Weinstein, Lieutenant General, USAF, (Ret), led the discussion, which tackled the challenges of safeguarding a sprawling, decentralized infrastructure in our interconnected era. Greene pointed to recent events like the SolarWinds breach and the Colonial Pipeline attack to illustrate how cyber threats are changing.
A major worry is the “Volt Typhoon” campaign, linked to China, which has set its sights on crucial U.S. infrastructure. Greene explained that unlike past intrusions aimed at gathering intelligence, this campaign seems to be setting the stage for potential disruptive attacks. “The targets Volt is choosing have little to no intelligence value,” Greene pointed out. “They’re positioning themselves for disruptive, destructive actions.”
The talk also touched on the hurdles faced by smaller infrastructure operators, many of whom lack the means for strong cybersecurity measures. Greene outlined CISA’s efforts to bridge this gap, including free vulnerability checks and a new grant program for critical infrastructure.
Throughout the event, Greene stressed the vital role of government-private sector teamwork in tackling cybersecurity challenges. He noted marked improvements in how information is shared between government agencies and private entities, a trend he sees as key for future security efforts.
The conversation wasn’t all warnings and worries. Greene also offered practical tips for personal cybersecurity, emphasizing the basics like keeping software current and using two-factor authentication.
Students found the event both educational and motivating. Richa Jindal, a BA IR ’26 student, shared her takeaways: “What I took away from the last event was some great career advice, the value of updating my devices and being more secure, and knowledge about cyber security that will make me look smarter at dinner next week.” Richa’s full reflection can be read here.
As the talk wrapped up, Greene left the audience with a message of careful optimism. He highlighted three positive shifts in the field: stronger global partnerships, better coordination within the U.S. government, and improved information exchange with the private sector.
This event is part of a larger series. The Pardee School’s Global Security Series tackles the world’s top security challenges, exploring today’s evolving threats—from cyber attacks to climate change.