President Maurer Presents at the 31st Parliamentary Intelligence—Security Forum in Washington, D.C.

December 12, 2026

On December 9, 2026, Dr. Paul J. Maurer, President of Montreat College, addressed delegates at the inaugural session of the 31st Parliamentary Intelligence—Security Forum, convened within the U.S. Senate's historic chambers. The focus of his discourse, titled "The Code of Honor: Embracing Ethics in Cybersecurity," underscored the indispensable value of moral judgment and principled governance in addressing contemporary global economic and security challenges.

"The U.S. National Security Agency mandates ethical instruction for all Centers of Academic Excellence nationwide," Dr. Maurer stated. "Technical proficiency alone proves insufficient."

The Code of Honor, developed through NSA sponsorship and funding, serves as the official framework distributed to nearly 500 designated academic institutions.

This year's gathering attracted roughly 200 attendees in person, supplemented by 4,000 virtual participants from 70 countries worldwide. As the 11th Washington-based iteration and fourth international event of 2026, the forum has facilitated dialogue among over 4,000 parliamentarians from approximately 130 nations since inception.

The event stands as the premier international venue for collaborative discourse on security matters, uniting legislators, officials, and specialists to advance collective comprehension of emerging threats and formulate practical countermeasures.

Dr. Maurer reinforced the intrinsic connection between ethical conduct and cybersecurity resilience, asserting that technological innovation alone cannot guarantee national protection.

"Qualified personnel are essential," he remarked, referencing his collaborative work with cybersecurity authority Ed Skoudis. "Artificial intelligence neither guarantees nor inherently threatens cybersecurity—it merely amplifies existing complexities."

Montreat College's ongoing recognition for excellence in character development, ethical pedagogy, cybersecurity curricula, and professional preparation renders Dr. Maurer's contributions particularly impactful to this international dialogue.

"After a decade participating in these critical discussions, I confirm cybersecurity remains at unprecedented alert levels," he observed. "The strategic landscape has decisively shifted beyond Cold War nuclear concerns toward digital vulnerabilities."

The complete presentation is accessible via YouTube.