Agenda

 

**Agenda information below is subject to change. Current as of 1/28/2026**

 

 

Monday, March 23 - The Crucible

 

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Cyber Workforce Competition Kickoff
Marshall Hall

 

Tuesday, March 24 - Strategy & Policy

 

7:30 a.m. Registration Opens
9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Welcome and Opening Remarks
Lincoln Hall Auditorium

Welcome
VADM Peter Garvin, USN (invited)
18th President 
National Defense University

Opening Remarks
LTG Paul Stanton , USA
Commander, Department of War Cyber Defense Command
Director, Defense Information Systems Agency

10:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

Cyber Workforce Competition Final Four
Lincoln Hall Auditorium

Introduction of the teams competing in the Cyber Workforce Competition.

10:15 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Networking Break
Lincoln Hall South Atrium

 

11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.

Keynote: Threat Landscape
Lincoln Hall Auditorium

LTG David T. Isaacson, USA (invited)
Director for Command, Control, Communications and Computers (C4)/Cyber, Chief Information Officer
The Joint Staff, J-6

The Joint Staff J6 will provide a strategic overview of the evolving character of warfare. This session will detail how a qualified and ready cyber workforce is essential to enabling global command and control and ensuring the Joint Force can compete and win in a contested environment.

11:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m.

Lunch and Networking
Lincoln Hall South Atrium/Cafeteria

1:45 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Keynote: Strategic Priorities
Lincoln Hall Auditorium

The Honorable Katherine Sutton (invited)
Assistant Secretary of War for Cyber Policy and Principal Cyber Advisor to the Secretary of War

The Assistant Secretary of War for Cyber Policy will discuss the complex international landscape of cyberspace and how DoW policy shapes the environment for strategic competition. This session provides crucial context on how our actions contribute to stability and deterrence on the global stage.

2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Cyber Excepted Service: Way Forward and Role in Talent Management 
Lincoln Hall Auditorium

A focused brief on the way forward for this critical personnel program and its role in talent management.

3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Networking Break
Lincoln Hall South Atrium

3:30 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.

Academia Panel
Lincoln Hall Auditorium

Discussions focused on building the future force.

4:15 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Deep Dive: Implementing the DoD 8140 Framework
Lincoln Hall Auditorium

Matt Isnor
Program Lead, Cyber Workforce Development
Office of the DoW CIO

5:00 p.m. Networking Reception
Lincoln Hall South Atrium

Wednesday, March 25 - Policy to Practice

 

8:00 a.m. Registration Opens
9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.

Day Two Welcome
Lincoln Hall Auditorium

9:45 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Cyber Workforce Competition Championship Match
Lincoln Hall Auditorium

The final two teams are announced and the live championship round begins.

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Service CIO Panel
Lincoln Hall Auditorium

Moderator
Mark Gorak
Director, Cyber Academic Engagement Office and Principal Director, Resources & Analysis
Office of the DoW CIO

Panelists
Keith Hardiman, EdD
Director, Enterprise Information Technology
Office of the Chief Information Officer, Department of the Air Force

Barry Tanner
Chief Information Officer (Acting)
Department of the Navy

LtGen Jerry Carter, USMC (invited)
Deputy Commandant for Information
U.S. Marine Corps

Leonel Garciga (invited)
Chief Information Officer
U.S. Army

The increasing prevalence of cyber threats highlights the critical need for the DoD to have a capable and ready cyber workforce. Service CIO leaders share insights on their implementation of DoD 8140 and highlight service cyber workforce initiatives.

11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Networking Break
Lincoln Hall South Atrium

11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Skills-Based Hiring Update
Lincoln Hall Auditorium

A brief on the progress and lessons learned from new initiatives designed to assess and onboard talent based on demonstrated skills.

12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Lunch and Networking
Lincoln Hall South Atrium/Cafeteria

1:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Keynote: Network Defense
Lincoln Hall Auditorium

 

This session will highlight the critical skills required by the cyber workforce to defend our core networks and ensure the warfighter has trusted information anytime, anywhere.

2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Live Cyber Workforce Competition Update
Lincoln Hall Auditorium

2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

DoW Cyber Service Academy Progress Report
Lincoln Hall Auditorium

Alice Smitley
CSA Program Manager
Office of the DoW CIO

The Cyber Service Academy presents an update on the program's progress and other key academic partnership initiatives.

3:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. Networking Break
Lincoln Hall South Atrium
3:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Industry Panel
Lincoln Hall Auditorium

3:45 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.

CCMD Perspective: The Mission-Critical Cyber Operator
Lincoln Hall Auditorium

Ms. Elizabeth Durham-Ruiz (invited)
Director, Command, Control, Communications and Computer Systems (C4) and Chief Information Officer
U.S. Strategic Command

A senior leader from U.S. Strategic Command provides a capstone address on the direct impact of the cyber workforce on the nation's strategic deterrence mission. This session will underscore the operational necessity of the no-fail skills and qualifications being forged at this summit.

4:15 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.

Cyber Patriot Awards Presentation
Lincoln Hall Auditorium

DoW CIO recognizes winners of the National Cyber Defense Competition.

 

Thursday, March 26 - Excellence & Mission Forward

 

8:00 a.m. Registration Opens
9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.

Day Three Welcome
Lincoln Hall Auditorium

9:45 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

Keynote: Operational Skills and Readiness
Lincoln Hall Auditorium

MajGen Lorna Mahlock, USMC (invited)
Commander

Cyber National Mission Force

The Commander of the Cyber National Mission Force will deliver a powerful opening address on the final day, reflecting on the skills and tactics observed during the Cyber Workforce Competition from the OPFOR's perspective. This session will provide a firsthand look at the capabilities required to compete with and defeat our nation's adversaries in cyberspace.

10:15 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Cyber Workforce Competition Analysis Panel
Lincoln Hall Auditorium

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Cyber Workforce Competition Awards Presentation
Lincoln Hall Auditorium

12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Closing Keynote
Lincoln Hall Auditorium

The Honorable Kirsten Davies (invited)
Department of War Chief Information Officer