Cybersecurity Spring 2026 Capstone Project Showcase

Judges

Larry Whiteside, Jr.

President, CONFIDE

Larry Whiteside, Jr., is a former U.S. Air Force officer and seasoned CISO, CSO, and CTO with over 30 years of experience building and leading cybersecurity programs across the Department of Defense, federal government, financial services, healthcare, and critical infrastructure. Guided by faith and a strong sense of purpose, he leads with humility, integrity, and a commitment to service. Larry is cofounder and president of CONFIDE, a boutique cybersecurity advisory and technology brokerage firm that helps organizations cut through market noise, align security investments to business risk, and drive measurable outcomes through trusted partnerships. He regularly advises CISOs, CEOs, and boards across the Fortune 2000, supports cybersecurity companies with go-to-market strategy, and contributes thought leadership to major industry forums. He is also cofounder of Cyversity, a nonprofit advancing diversity and inclusion in cybersecurity.

Lillian Russell

Chief Privacy Officer, Los Angeles County

Lillian Russell, Esq., CIPP/US, CIPM, RIMS-CRMP is the first chief privacy officer for the County of Los Angeles. She leads the Office of Privacy within the county’s chief executive office, risk management, and has over the past six years, has managed the development of the county’s groundbreaking data privacy program across 39 county departments. In this capacity, her responsibilities span from privacy program development, HIPAA compliance, cyber insurance/risk management, vendor management, and serving on multiple committees including the Incident Response Team. 

Prior to this role, Lillian served for eight years as deputy county counsel in the Los Angeles County Counsel’s Office, as well as deputy public conservator/administrator with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. Before coming to Los Angeles County, Lillian was a government relations policy consultant with UnitedHealth/Optum Rx, and an attorney with Liberty Mutual Insurance. Lillian has a law degree and certificate in health law from the University of Pittsburgh and dual Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of California, Riverside in political science/public service and sociology. Lillian is a licensed attorney in California, and holds certifications from the International Association of Privacy Professionals as a certified information privacy professional (CIPP/US), certified information privacy manager (CIPM), and RIMS certified risk management professional (RIMS-CRMP) from the Risk Management Society. 

Aftab Banth

Global Head of Enterprise Security, Tik Tok

Aftab Banth is a globally recognized cybersecurity executive with nearly two decades of experience leading security at some of the world's largest and most complex digital platforms.

A mathematician by training, he brings a rare combination of analytical rigor and executive leadership to the challenges that matter most — from guiding organizations through IPOs and major acquisitions, to architecting AI security governance frameworks.

He is the founder of The CISO Circle, a podcast and community elevating the next generation of security leaders, and serves on four nonprofit boards dedicated to strengthening communities and advancing women in cybersecurity — believing that a safer digital world starts with a more inclusive one.

Aftab is a trusted advisor to cybersecurity startups and venture capital firms, helping shape investment strategy and bringing a real-world executive perspective to the business of securing tomorrow's technology.