The Realities of AI in Cybersecurity

Steve Sebastian

Steve Sebastian is the Executive Director of IT/IS at VIVA HEALTH, Inc., bringing over 35 years of experience in the technology sector with deep expertise in cybersecurity, business analysis, IT architecture, systems analysis, and strategic IT leadership. Throughout his career, he has worked across diverse industries, playing a pivotal role in advancing both individual careers and organizational growth within the field of information technology.

Before joining VIVA HEALTH, Steve served as IT Manager and Systems Administration Architect II at UAB Medicine for six years. Prior to that, he spent thirteen years as Head of IT at Bradley Arant, where he led enterprise-level technology initiatives and infrastructure strategies.

A committed advocate for Birmingham’s growing tech ecosystem, Steve has been an active contributor to TechBirmingham for many years and currently serves on its Executive Committee. He views Birmingham as a key hub for innovation in the South and actively works to support its development as a center for technological excellence.

In addition to his professional roles, Steve serves on the board of the Moody Miracle League, a baseball league for children with special needs. He is also a member of InfraGard Birmingham and the Central Alabama chapter of ISSA (Information Systems Security Association).

Steve plays a leadership role in regional cybersecurity efforts as a member of the planning board for the Southeast Cybersecurity Summit, the largest security conference in the Birmingham area.

Aaron Madden

 Aaron Madden is a seasoned and tenured Senior Information Security Manager with over 25 years of experience in IT and cybersecurity. Since beginning his career in 1998, Aaron has built a reputation as a strategic leader, adept at designing and implementing robust security frameworks, managing risk, and ensuring compliance across complex enterprise environments.

Throughout his career, Aaron has held key roles at leading organizations, including:

Sr. Information Security Manager Wind Creek

Director Information Technology at Montgomery Cancer Center.

Information Security Manager Department of the Airforce (Contractor)

With expertise in governance, risk management, incident response, and security architecture, Aaron has successfully led cross-functional teams to mitigate threats, enhance security postures, and align cybersecurity initiatives with business objectives. His deep technical knowledge, combined with strong leadership skills, has made him a trusted advisor in the field.

Jason Kearns 

Jason Kearns serves as Director of Cybersecurity at Davidson Technologies, where he leads the design and implementation of advanced enterprise security architectures supporting Department of Defense programs and corporate operations. In addition to operational leadership, he regularly contributes to internal research and development (R&D) efforts supporting innovation initiatives, such as SBIR proposals and emerging technology studies at the cross-section of cybersecurity and AI/ML, as well as the company’s recent deployment of Alabama's first on-premises annealing quantum computer, the D-Wave Advantage2^TM system.

Prior to Davidson, Jason was the Senior IT Security Architect at telecommunications engineering firm ADTRAN, where he led global cloud security modernization, developed enterprise threat intelligence capabilities, and enhanced cyber resiliency across global operations. His work directly advanced ADTRAN’s security posture and alignment with international cybersecurity frameworks.

With more than a decade of multi-domain technical expertise, Jason brings unique depth in secure network design, distributed cloud architecture, security automation, and threat analytics. He holds top industry certifications including CISSP-ISSEP, CISSP-ISSAP, AWS Security Specialty, and AWS Solutions Architect Professional.

Jason remains active in the Huntsville community through Leadership Greater Huntsville, and previously Rotaract Club, supporting initiatives that foster professional growth and civic- engagement.

Moderator: Vik Mahajan

Vik Mahajan is a seasoned tech professional with extensive experience implementing IT projects in industries such as hospitality, engineering, finance, and higher education. Currently Vik serves as the Alabama Regional Manager at Darktrace, where he leads initiatives to enhance cybersecurity measures across the region, with AI-enabled anomaly detection and response solutions for network/cloud, email and OT environments.

With a robust background in collaborating with IT leaders, Vik has helped bring innovative solutions to complex tech challenges across various business verticals. He stays active in the Birmingham tech community as a member of CA ISSA and frequently visits clients and works with experienced partners across the state; while residing in Miami, FL. Vik has recently completed the MIT AI Design and Build program, furthering his expertise in AI and its applications in cybersecurity.