2026 UNCF Leaders’ Breakfast – DMV
Hosted by UNCF’s DMV Leadership Council, this fundraising event is attended by leaders representing business, civic, academic, faith-based and non-profit sectors within the DMV area. It is forum allowing dialog with some of the top African Americans in U.S. National Security, on why national security is important to our future, while at the same time, encouraging students–particularly from HBCUs–to consider careers in national security and foreign policy.
Kemba Walden stands at the forefront of cybersecurity and national security, combining a wealth of government and private sector experience with a vision for a secure digital future. As the President of the Paladin Global Institute and former acting United States National Cyber Director, policy, civil society, and business leaders look to her to shape international cybersecurity policies and strategies that protect our critical infrastructure and make cyberspace safer for the organizations and individuals who depend on its stability and security. Walden, who has also served as assistant general counsel for Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit, is one of the most respected figures in cybersecurity circles, as well as one of the most sought-after thought leaders for organizations seeking to better understand how they can maximize the security of their businesses in a constantly evolving cyber landscape. Recently, Walden was included on the Washingtonian’s Most Powerful Women in Washington 2025 list in the Lobbying, Advocacy, and Think Tank category.
Today, she is the president of the Paladin Global Institute, which was founded to bring the private capital perspective into technology policy. She also serves on the Board of Endgame Systems LLC as the Chair of the Government Security Committee. She serves on the Board of the CyberAB, as Chair of the Governance Committee. She serves on the Board of the Atlantic Council as co-Chair of the GeoTech Commission on AI. She serves on the Board of the Woods Academy as Chair of the Cybersecurity and Digital Infrastructure subcommittee.
Among various roles of influence throughout her career, Walden served a decade at the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) — most recently at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency as a senior cybersecurity attorney. Between the DHS and ONCD, she was at Microsoft for three years, as the senior council for Cyber and Democracy and then as an Assistant General Counsel responsible for attacking the scourge of ransomware.
Since 2019, Walden has been an adjunct professor of information security law and regulatory compliance at Georgetown University’s School of Continuing Studies, which she balances with her duties as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, The World Economic Forum Global Cyber Council, as well as co-chair of the Aspen Institute’s U.S. Cybersecurity Group. She was also appointed as an inaugural member of the Cyber Safety Review Board. Holding a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University Law Center, her academic background, coupled with her extensive professional experience, has equipped her with a unique perspective on the intersection of law, policy, and technology.
In addition to cybersecurity and emerging technology, Ms. Walden is an accomplished CFIUS and Team Telecom attorney. She started her professional career in international development, which led to her living and working in Mali, Switzerland, the Bahamas, and the former Soviet country of Georgia.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield served as United States Ambassador to the United Nations, as well as the U.S. Representative in the UN Security Council from 2021-2025. During her tenure as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Thomas-Greenfield was a member of President Biden’s Cabinet, and sat on the National Security Council. Prior to this, she headed the State Department’s transition team for the Biden Administration.
As a career diplomat, Thomas-Greenfield has had a wide range of assignments. From 2013 to 2017, she served as Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, where she led U.S. policy development for sub-Saharan Africa. She previously served as Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Human Resources, overseeing the State Department’s workforce. Her notable Foreign Service roles include Ambassador to Liberia (2008-2012) and postings in Switzerland, Pakistan, Kenya, The Gambia, Nigeria, and Jamaica. In Washington, she served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of African Affairs and as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration.
After retiring in 2017, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield led the Africa Practice at Albright Stonebridge Group and was a Distinguished Resident Fellow in African Studies at Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of Diplomacy. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and a master’s from the University of Wisconsin, where she also pursued doctoral studies. Her honors include a Presidential Rank Award, Secretary Distinguished Service Award plus numerous other awards. She has honorary doctorates from the University of Wisconsin and the University of Liberia.
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