national intelligence and former director of the national security agency and a george washington a lumnist, mike mcconnell. both of these gentlemen have been leading figures in efforts to address the growing cyber threat to our national and economic security. they will be joined today by senior congressional staff to discuss pending legislation that is designed to shore up the nation's cyber defenses. here at the george washington university, we are in the process of rolling out a university wide cybersecurity initiative that will bring together policy, research, education and training. among the results of the effort that are already far advanced are the creation of a new master of science in cybersecurity, based on our department of computer science and the launching of an executive mba that will bring together our school of business and our law school. it's my pleasure to turn the podium over to the director of george washington's homeland security policy institute and the moderator of today as discussion that i hope you will all enjoy and profit from. thank you. >> thank you. [ applaus