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Tuesday, July 14
 

7:30am EDT

Registration Check-in & Breakfast
Tuesday July 14, 2026 7:30am - 8:30am EDT
Tuesday July 14, 2026 7:30am - 8:30am EDT
First Floor Lobby

8:30am EDT

Day One Welcome
Tuesday July 14, 2026 8:30am - 9:00am EDT
Tuesday July 14, 2026 8:30am - 9:00am EDT
Boeing Auditorium

9:00am EDT

No Wi-fly Zone: Taking Security to the Skies
Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am EDT
This talk explains the story of how a simple curiosity grew into a full exploit chain for the takeover of a small drone. This explains the thought process, failures, exploit, and tool development that builds to a drone falling from flight in a live demo at the end of the talk.As a result of attending, participants will understand the thought process behind wifi based exploit development,...
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Speakers
avatar for Sam Williams

Sam Williams

Rotas Security
Sam Williams is a cybersecurity powerhouse and an offensive security researcher with more than a decade of passion for ethical hacking. Having practical experience with elite organizations such as Palo Alto Networks and Rapid7, he is recognized as an exceptional penetration tester... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am EDT
Room 3100

9:00am EDT

Building Cyber Literacy Pipelines Engaging K–12 Schools Through Real-World Experiences
Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am EDT
Building Cyber Literacy Pipelines: Engaging K–12 Schools Through Real-World Experiences explores how to move students beyond basic awareness into meaningful engagement with cybersecurity through hands-on, applied learning. This session highlights a scalable model that integrates foundational curriculum with immersive experiences such as simulations, competitions, and interactive challenges to...
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Speakers
KH

Kishanna Harley

National Cryptologic Foundation
avatar for Dr. Alisha Jordan

Dr. Alisha Jordan

National Cryptologic Foundation
Hi, I’m Dr. Alisha Jordan! I have more than 25 years of experience in education and leadership and currently serve as the Director of Education at the National Cryptologic Foundation. I’m passionate about building the next generation of cyber leaders by connecting K–12 education... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am EDT
Room 4100

9:00am EDT

Considering Using CTFs as Quizzes? The Cyber Basics CTFs Hands-On Workshop
Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
Have you ever considered using a live Jeopardy-Style Capture the Flag as an in-class quiz? Would you like to see what this looks like in action? Many teachers have started gamifying their classroom evaluations and quizzes, and even using CTFs for some exams! For your light weight pop-quizzes, CTFs can turn quizzes into a fun head-to-head "Event", with a projected scoreboard for the whole class to...
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Speakers
avatar for Thomas Weeks

Thomas Weeks

Lead Engineer, Virginia Cyber Range
Thomas "Tweeks" Weeks is a published Linux author, is an IT director with Virginia Tech IT, but most of his time is spent working as a Lead Engineer with the Virginia Cyber Range, security course developer and lab-VM image designer.  Tweeks also sits as the technical lead for the... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
Room 4130

9:45am EDT

Deep Dive into the New PTSA
Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:45am - 10:30am EDT
Do you currently incorporate the PTSA (Packet Tracer Skills Assessment) into your Cisco Networking Academy courses? If so, consider attending a session designed to introduce you to its latest updates and enhancements. Participants will explore the new features of the tool, gain insight into the improved scoring reports, and learn how to efficiently access and implement these resources within their...
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Speakers
CB

Constance Boahn

IT/ITC Instructor and ASC Support, Stanly Community College
I am part of a small team that runs the ASC/ITC in North Carolina for the Cisco Networking Academy. I would love to talk with anyone interested in learning more about our ASC or the Cisco Networking Academy in general. I am also currently president of NCCIA and am happy to chat about... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:45am - 10:30am EDT
Room 4100

9:45am EDT

Cybersecurity Should Be Mandatory K–12. Virginia, Love You. Fix the Syllabus.
Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:45am - 10:30am EDT
Cybersecurity is the only subject we all agree matters but somehow we keep calling it optional. This session is the argument for why it should be a mandatory subject, and what it actually looks like.Drawing from work across Virginia public schools, the University of Mary Washington, Virginia Commonwealth University, The White House Communication Agency, Microsoft and Nehlos a Cybersecurity...
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Speakers
avatar for Romeo Gardner

Romeo Gardner

Cybersecurity Training Lead, Fairfax County Public Schools
Romeo Gardner is a cybersecurity strategist, educator, and advocate with a passion for protecting people and empowering communities through digital resilience. He currently leads cybersecurity training initiatives at Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), the 11th largest school system... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:45am - 10:30am EDT
Room 3100

10:30am EDT

Networking & Sponsor Break
Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:30am - 11:00am EDT

Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:30am - 11:00am EDT
Boeing Auditorium

11:00am EDT

CyberSafe AI: A Game-Based Approach to AI Literacy and Cybersecurity Education
Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am EDT
CyberSafe AI is an engaging, game-based learning experience to help students develop knowledge and skills needed to become safe, responsible, and critical users of artificial intelligence (AI). Developed by the Virginia and U.S. Cyber Range at Virginia Tech, CyberSafe AI introduces learners to the opportunities and risks associated with generative AI through interactive scenarios, real-world...
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Speakers
avatar for Shannon Beck

Shannon Beck

Director, Virginia Cyber Range
Shannon Beck is the Director of the Virginia and U.S. Cyber Ranges at Virginia Tech. She brings experience in cybersecurity education, outreach, and research from her previous roles at the United States Air Force Academy, the National Science Foundation, and Los Alamos National Laboratory... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am EDT
Room 4130

11:00am EDT

Building our Future by Looking to the Past: What Phone Phreaks, Hacker Zines, and the Legion of Doom Can Still Teach Us about Cybersecurity
Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am EDT
Cybersecurity as we know it today did not emerge from boardrooms, compliance frameworks, or certification bodies. It began out of hobbyist curiosity, from the hacker culture and Tech Model Railroad Club at MIT emerging during the 1950s, the phone phreaking subcultures of the 1970s, and the early computer hacker scene spanning meetups, bulletin boards, and zines of the 1980s and 1990s, including...
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Speakers
avatar for Andrew Kulak

Andrew Kulak

Associate, Triple Point Security
Dr. Andrew Kulak is a cybersecurity educator and consultant with a background in rhetoric, human-centered design, security engineering, and cybersecurity risk management. He teaches cybersecurity, data science, and design courses at Virginia Tech. In addition to his academic work... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am EDT
Room 3100

11:00am EDT

Teach It. Prove It. Hire It.
Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am EDT
Students can complete labs but can they explain what they did in a way employers value? This session focuses on designing experiential learning that builds real cybersecurity skills and helps students confidently communicate their experience.Participants will explore how to align hands-on lab activities with workforce expectations, turning technical tasks into meaningful, resume-ready skills. The...
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Speakers
avatar for Sam Benke

Sam Benke

Professor & Chair of Information Technology | Champion for Workforce Readiness & Emerging Tech | VPCC, Virginia Peninsula Community College
Sam Benke brings more than 30 years of combined experience in information technology and education, blending deep industry knowledge with a strong commitment to student success. He currently serves as an IT Assistant Professor and Department Chair, with teaching and leadership focused on cybersecurity... Read More →
avatar for Andrea Twedt

Andrea Twedt

Associate Professor of Cybersecurity, Germanna Community College
With over 20 years of experience teaching Networking and Cybersecurity, Andrea is passionate about equipping students with the real-world skills they need to thrive in today’s fast-moving IT landscape. Backed by a Masters degree in Cybersecurity and a commitment to hands-on learning... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am EDT
Room 4100

11:45am EDT

Lunch
Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:45am - 12:45pm EDT

Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:45am - 12:45pm EDT
Learning Loft - First Floor

12:45pm EDT

Launch Your Cyber Course: Integrating the Virginia Cyber Range in Canvas
Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:45pm - 1:30pm EDT
Looking for a streamlined way to bring Virginia Cyber Range labs into your Canvas courses? This session is designed for instructors who want to incorporate hands-on cybersecurity experiences while keeping course design efficient, organized, and student-friendly.Participants will follow a step-by-step walkthrough of how to access the Virginia Cyber Range, navigate instructor resources, select...
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Speakers
avatar for Sam Benke

Sam Benke

Professor & Chair of Information Technology | Champion for Workforce Readiness & Emerging Tech | VPCC, Virginia Peninsula Community College
Sam Benke brings more than 30 years of combined experience in information technology and education, blending deep industry knowledge with a strong commitment to student success. He currently serves as an IT Assistant Professor and Department Chair, with teaching and leadership focused on cybersecurity... Read More →
avatar for Andrea Twedt

Andrea Twedt

Associate Professor of Cybersecurity, Germanna Community College
With over 20 years of experience teaching Networking and Cybersecurity, Andrea is passionate about equipping students with the real-world skills they need to thrive in today’s fast-moving IT landscape. Backed by a Masters degree in Cybersecurity and a commitment to hands-on learning... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:45pm - 1:30pm EDT
Room 4100

12:45pm EDT

Rural Cyber Rising: Building Pathways, Expanding Access, and Driving Impact Through Gamified Targeted Interventions
Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:45pm - 1:30pm EDT
Persistent disparities in access to cybersecurity learning opportunities continue to limit participation among students in rural communities. Analysis of national and regional trends in cyber competition participation (an increasingly important avenue for applied cybersecurity education) reveals significantly lower engagement from rural students compared to their urban peers. These gaps reflect...
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Speakers
Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:45pm - 1:30pm EDT
Room 3100

12:45pm EDT

Swipe Right for Threat Modeling: Cybersecurity as a Life Skill
Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:45pm - 2:15pm EDT
Students are already making cybersecurity decisions every day, whether they realize it or not. They are choosing what to share, who to trust, which links to click, what permissions to allow, and how much of their location, identity, and attention to give away through the apps they use constantly. This 90-minute workshop reframes threat modeling as a practical life skill by using familiar consumer...
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Speakers
avatar for Christopher Cruz

Christopher Cruz

Cyber Program Manager, Virginia State Police
Christopher Cruz is the Cyber Program Manager for the Virginia Fusion Center, which provides a vital conduit for intelligence collection and information exchange throughout the Commonwealth. He is responsible for the development, management, and integration of cybersecurity capabilities... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:45pm - 2:15pm EDT
Room 4130

1:30pm EDT

Vibe Coding (AI Assisted Coding) and its Hidden Cybersecurity Concerns
Tuesday July 14, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm EDT
Vibe coding is an approach to computer programming where you code based on intuition, flow, and feel (e.g. ‘vibe’), rather than following strict methodologies or detailed development frameworks.  Vibe coding uses AI to quickly generate executable code from natural language prompts. It makes the practice of software development more accessible, particularly for those with limited...
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Speakers
avatar for Thom Garrett

Thom Garrett

Chief Cybersecurity Architect, Dynamic Animation Systems, Inc. (DAS)
Thom has 30+ years of experience in Cybersecurity and IT operations. Over the years, he has served as a System/Network Administrator, Engineering Systems Manager, Sr. Technical Manager, Deputy Director of Operations, and currently serving as Chief Cybersecurity Architect. He has worked... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm EDT
Room 3100

1:30pm EDT

Building the Blueprint: Aligning CTE 6302 to NICE
Tuesday July 14, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm EDT
Virginia's CTE Cybersecurity Fundamentals course (6302) provides a critical on-ramp for students entering the cybersecurity workforce pipeline, but aligning its VDOE tasks to national workforce frameworks takes deliberate, structured work. This session focuses on how the Virginia Cyber Range is currently approaching that alignment, including the development of a mapping spreadsheet designed to...
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Speakers
AS

Angela Smith

Virginia Cyber Range
Tuesday July 14, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm EDT
Room 4100

2:15pm EDT

Networking & Sponsor Break
Tuesday July 14, 2026 2:15pm - 2:30pm EDT

Tuesday July 14, 2026 2:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
Boeing Auditorium

2:30pm EDT

Keynote: Hart Rossman, AWS
Tuesday July 14, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT

Tuesday July 14, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT
Boeing Auditorium

3:30pm EDT

Mobilizing Academia: The Department of War’s Blueprint for a Secure Tomorrow
Tuesday July 14, 2026 3:30pm - 4:15pm EDT
The Department of War's Cyber Academic Engagement Office (CAEO) serves as a vital bridge between our nation's most pressing security needs and the educational institutions that will solve them. Tasked with inspiring and cultivating the next generation of cyber talent, the CAEO is committed to building a "seamless ecosystem" that supports students from their first K-12 cyber club to a high-impact...
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Tuesday July 14, 2026 3:30pm - 4:15pm EDT
Boeing Auditorium

4:15pm EDT

Conference Check-in & Day 2 preview
Tuesday July 14, 2026 4:15pm - 4:30pm EDT

Tuesday July 14, 2026 4:15pm - 4:30pm EDT
Boeing Auditorium

5:00pm EDT

Networking Reception & Awards Recognition
Tuesday July 14, 2026 5:00pm - 7:00pm EDT
Join us at the Networking Reception to celebrate the future of cybersecurity in Virginia. Light hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be served, but please note this is not a full dinner. During the reception, we will honor students from across the Commonwealth who are committing to cybersecurity education, training, or careers as part of Virginia Cyber Signing Day. We will also recognize this...
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Tuesday July 14, 2026 5:00pm - 7:00pm EDT
Tree House & Rooftop Terrace
 
Wednesday, July 15
 

7:30am EDT

Registration Check-in & Breakfast
Wednesday July 15, 2026 7:30am - 8:30am EDT
Wednesday July 15, 2026 7:30am - 8:30am EDT
First Floor Lobby

8:30am EDT

Day Two Welcome
Wednesday July 15, 2026 8:30am - 9:00am EDT
Wednesday July 15, 2026 8:30am - 9:00am EDT
Boeing Auditorium

9:15am EDT

From Prompt to Canvas
Wednesday July 15, 2026 9:15am - 9:45am EDT
This is a live, tech-talk-style demo on using AI to speed up assignment and rubric design in Canvas. Starting from a single assignment idea, I'll show how AI can help draft measurable learning objectives, transparent (TILT-aligned) student instructions, and a full analytic rubric with categories, criteria, and appropriate descriptions. From there, I'll format that rubric for direct import into...
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Speakers
avatar for Matthew Hansel

Matthew Hansel

Assistant Professor, IST and Cybersecurity, Laurel Ridge Community College
Wednesday July 15, 2026 9:15am - 9:45am EDT
Room 4130

9:15am EDT

Improving understanding of Error Exercises with AI in the Virginia Cyber Range
Wednesday July 15, 2026 9:15am - 9:45am EDT
A demo of the Virginia Cyber Range's new "error state" exercise diagnostic tool being made available to all users! Before now, users and educators had limited visibility into the events that led to the instability of the environment. With this new tool, we can expose the shell history, system logs, and configuration files to users for analysis.We understand not everyone (especially students) is an...
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Speakers
DB

Dom Borkowski

Virginia Cyber Range
avatar for Julez Slomin

Julez Slomin

Virginia Cyber Range
avatar for Lee Doughty

Lee Doughty

Senior Cloud Systems Engineer, Virginia Cyber Range
Lee Doughty is the Senior Cloud Systems Engineer at the Virginia Cyber Range (a commonwealth-funded initiative attached to Virginia Tech). His primary responsibilities include securing and managing the dozens of AWS Accounts used by the range, provisioning tens of thousands of student... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 9:15am - 9:45am EDT
Room 3100

9:15am EDT

Hacker Gangs or Defender’s Code? Shaping the Youth Cyber Journey
Wednesday July 15, 2026 9:15am - 9:45am EDT
Today’s brilliant minds are being recruited and conditioned to hack without remorse. The growth of CTFs and cybercrime is creating a new threat—Hacker Gangs. It starts with curiosity and then progressively increases to full-on hacking, as small wins receive appreciation from peers that once ignored these amazing minds. Join Jessica Gulick to discuss how we can create a Defender’s Code that...
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Speakers
avatar for Jessica Gulick

Jessica Gulick

CEO | Commissioner, Katzcy | US Cyber Games | PlayCyber
Jessica Gulick is a highly esteemed cybersecurity expert and influential speaker, recognized globally for her contributions. With over 25 years of experience in engineering and cybersecurity, her background includes leading cybersecurity teams, directing international cyber competitions... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 9:15am - 9:45am EDT
Room 4100

9:45am EDT

Networking & Sponsor Break
Wednesday July 15, 2026 9:45am - 10:15am EDT

Wednesday July 15, 2026 9:45am - 10:15am EDT
Boeing Auditorium

10:15am EDT

Engineering Cybersecurity Education in the Age of AI
Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:15am - 11:00am EDT
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming cybersecurity. However, its greatest impact on education may not be the addition of new AI courses or technologies. As AI evolves from a productivity tool into an intelligent collaborator, it challenges long-held assumptions about what students should learn, how they learn, how they are assessed, and which foundational skills will define the next...
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Speakers
Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:15am - 11:00am EDT
Room 3100

10:15am EDT

Build Your Own AI Cyber Home Lab
Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am EDT
GT Edge AI will be presenting on Build Your Own AI Cyber Home Lab powered by Dell and NVIDIA!Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming cybersecurity. However, its greatest impact on education may not be the addition of new AI courses or technologies. As AI evolves from a productivity tool into an intelligent collaborator, it challenges long-held assumptions about what students should learn,...
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Speakers
TB

Tom Bendien

Founder and CEO, GT Edge AI
DM

Daniel Mayer

https://gtedge.ai/, GT Edge AI
Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am EDT
Room 4100

10:15am EDT

Capture the CTF Playbook
Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am EDT
This 90-minute workshop provides a comprehensive blueprint for organizing, managing, and scaling a successful student-led Capture the Flag (CTF) program. Led by the team behind the Valentine-themed GMU HackFax x PatriotHacks and Marvel-themed HackFax 2025 CTFs.Timeline & Breakdown:00:00–00:20 | Story & Organization: Narrative on growing a student-led CTF to a 10-category operation, managing a...
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Speakers
Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am EDT
Room 4130

11:00am EDT

Cyber Range Sidekick! Courseware and Virtual Machine Integration
Wednesday July 15, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am EDT
Have your students encountered issues following handouts or documents in the Cyber Range before? Have you ever felt a bit overwhelmed with aligning courseware to exercise environments? Or maybe you’ve even had issues with students jumping ahead of steps in an assignment, resulting in errors and confusion.If you’ve dealt with any of that, you’ll likely be interested in hearing about our brand...
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Speakers
avatar for Sabrina Williams

Sabrina Williams

IT Customer Support Specialist, Virginia Cyber Range
avatar for Rhiannon Kenny

Rhiannon Kenny

IT Customer Support Specialist II, Virginia Cyber Range
Wednesday July 15, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am EDT
Room 3100

11:45am EDT

Lunch
Wednesday July 15, 2026 11:45am - 12:45pm EDT

Wednesday July 15, 2026 11:45am - 12:45pm EDT
Learning Loft - First Floor

12:45pm EDT

Skills-Based Hiring on the Digital Front Lines
Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:45pm - 1:30pm EDT
Skills-Based Hiring on the Digital Front Lines How the DoW CIO is balancing academic pathways, apprenticeships, and hands-on capability to build a faster, more efficient cyber workforce   In academia, the GPA is a vital metric of a student's discipline, theoretical mastery, and intellectual endurance. But on the cyber battlefield, the ultimate metric is operational readiness. This...
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Speakers
MI

Matt Isnor

Cyber Workforce Development Division Chief Cyber Workforce and Academic Engagement, Office of the Chief Information Officer, U.S. Department of War

Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:45pm - 1:30pm EDT
Boeing Auditorium

1:30pm EDT

Closing Remarks
Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:00pm EDT

Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:00pm EDT
Boeing Auditorium
 
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