As we were reminded during hurricane Ida, Louisiana is home to critical infrastructure that serves not only the region but the entire country.

Ports and petrochemical plants line the Mississippi River from the Gulf past Baton Rouge. They are vital assets that keep life humming along, and in this digital age they are increasingly interconnected – and reliant on technology to function. Which means they – and we – are vulnerable to threats from cyber attacks.

Very few people within a 500 mile radius of downtown Baton Rouge know this more than Jeff Moulton.

Jeff Moulton - he could tell you what kind of cyber threat we're facing as a nation but then he'd have to kill you. And he's not kidding

Jeff Moulton – he could tell you what kind of cyber threat we’re facing as a nation but then he’d have to kill you. And he’s not kidding

Jeff is President and CEO of Stephenson Technologies Corporation, a nonprofit applied research and development corporation that does cyber research and development, and also provides cybersecurity services for clients in the federal government, commercial and energy sectors.

Jeff is also President and Chairman of the Board of a related entity, Stephenson Stellar Corporation, which helps provide next generation cybersecurity solutions for space systems.

Jeff is doing a lot of cutting edge and highly classified work for some very impressive clients. He has in-depth experience within the intelligence communities assessing and defining corporate-level and globally deployable network security solutions. He also participates in numerous national and international cyber forums. For a bit of contextual background: Jeff is a native of Pennsylvania, who spent 24 years in the Air Force, before moving into his career in cybersecurity.

Jay Hardman - Executive Director of the Port of Baton Rouge

Jay Hardman – Executive Director of the Port of Baton Rouge

Jay Hardman is Executive Director of the Port of Greater Baton Rouge. The port is located in Port Allen on the west side of the Mississippi River and sits at the junction of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway at its northernmost point.

The Port of Greater Baton Rouge is the 8th largest in the world in terms of annual tonnage, and handles a variety of bulk and breakbulk cargoes for domestic and international markets in, primarily, the agricultural, forestry and petrochemical sectors.

Jay has been with the port since 1999 and was named Executive Director in 2006. In his years at the helm he has overseen $45 million in infrastructure improvements, has been involved in enhancing port security measures, and designing and developing new economic development projects.

Jeff Moulton warns Stephanie Riegel not to buy an alarm clock and put it on her bedside table unless she wants to wind up on Pornhub

Jeff Moulton warns Stephanie Riegel not to buy an alarm clock and put it on her bedside table unless she wants to wind up on Pornhub

Out to Lunch Baton Rouge is recorded live over lunch at Mansurs on the Boulevard. Photos by Erick Otts. And check out this lunchtime conversation about Baton Rouge’s little known link to space and the mission to Mars.

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