National Defense University, Washington, DC
Symposium
Click here for the Official Show Guide!
**Agenda information below is subject to change. Current as of 3/23/2026**
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Monday, March 23 - The Crucible
| 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Cyber Workforce Competition Kickoff Marshall Hall Room 155 |
Tuesday, March 24 - Strategy & Policy
| 7:30 a.m. |
Registration Opens AFCEA Technology Showcase Partner: Image
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| 9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. |
Welcome Remarks Elizabeth Phu |
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| 9:45 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. |
Opening Keynote: The Readiness Revolution: Surgical Hiring and Qualification in the Cyber Domain LTG Paul Stanton, USA |
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| 10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. |
Cyber Workforce Competition Final Four Matt Isnor Introduction of the teams competing in the Cyber Workforce Competition. |
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| 10:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. |
Networking Break
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| 11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. |
Keynote: The Commander's Perspective - Skills and Readiness for Cyber Combat VADM Heidi Berg, USN |
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| 12:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. |
Lunch and Networking AFCEA Technology Showcase Partner: Image
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| 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. |
Cyber Workforce Competition - Final Four Attendees are invited to observe the Final Four teams competing for a spot in Wednesday's championship match. |
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| 1:45 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. |
Keynote: Setting the Rules of the Road - Policy for Strategic Competition The Honorable Katherine Sutton 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. This session is approved for CE credit. |
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| 2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. |
Forging the Future - the Blueprint for an Agile Cyber Workforce Mark Gorak |
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| 3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. |
Networking Break |
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| 3:30 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. |
Panel: Operationalizing Academia Moderator Panelists Lawrence Kuznar, PhD Vincent Nestler, PhD Director, National Security Initiatives, University of Wisconsin-Madison Director, Research, Wisconsin Security Research Consortium
In essence, the "Operationalizing Academia" framework acts as the foundational engine for talent and innovation. It provides the manpower for the War for Talent, the specialized knowledge for the Skills Advantage, the data to Measure What Matters, the justification to Resource the Future Fight, and the partnerships to Drive Unity of Effort. This is approved for CE credit. |
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| 4:15 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. |
Deep Dive: Implementing the DoD 8140 Framework Matt Isnor |
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| 5:00 p.m. | Networking Reception Lincoln Hall South Atrium |
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Wednesday, March 25 - Policy to Practice
| 8:00 a.m. |
Registration Opens AFCEA Technology Showcase Partner: Image
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| 9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. |
Day Two Welcome LTG Susan Lawrence, USA (Ret.) |
| 9:45 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. |
Keynote: Strategic Overmatch: Forging the Arsenal of Talent for Cyber Warfare The Honorable Kirsten Davies The Honorable Kirsten Davies, DoW CIO, outlines her strategic vision for the evolution of the Department's cyber workforce to win the global war for talent. Aligning with the Secretary’s "Arsenal of Freedom" mandate, this keynote will detail how the Department is moving beyond legacy models to build a data-driven, skills-based force capable of delivering cognitive overmatch and sustained information advantage. This approved for CE credit. |
| 10:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. |
Cyber Workforce Competition Championship Match Cadet Robert Powell The final two teams are announced and the live championship round begins. |
| 10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. |
Networking Break |
| 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. |
Panel: Implementation of DoD 8140 - Deploying an Agile, Capable, and Ready Cyber Workforce Moderator Panelists Keith Hardiman, EdD Jeffery Hurley Barry Tanner The increasing prevalence of cyber threats highlights the critical need for the Department of War to have a capable and ready cyber workforce. The Department's approach features the implementation of a holistic talent management strategy codified in the Department of Defense 8140 Cyber Workforce Qualification Program, showcasing an agile and responsive framework that will drive innovation and development across the cyber workforce. Service CIOs will provide insights on their implementation and future initiatives. This is approved for CE credit. |
| 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. |
Lunch and Networking AFCEA Technology Showcase Partner: Image
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| 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. |
Cyber Workforce Competition - Final Watch the last two teams contend for the top spot in the Cyber Workforce Competition! |
| 1:30 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. |
CCMD Perspective: The Mission-Critical Cyber Operator Elizabeth Durham-Ruiz 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. This is approved for CE credit. Video (played before her remarks) |
| 2:15 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. |
DoW Cyber Service Academy Progress Report Alice Smitley The Cyber Service Academy presents an update on the program's progress and other key academic partnership initiatives. |
| 2:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. |
Networking Break |
| 3:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. |
Cyber Patriot Awards Presentation Mark Gorak |
| 3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. |
The Intellectual Foundry: How the College of Information and Cyberspace Forges the Modern Cyber Warrior Andrew Walsh |
| 4:00 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. |
Cyber Workforce Competition Awards Presentation Bill Dunlap |
Thursday, March 26 - Excellence & Mission Forward
| 8:00 a.m. |
Registration Opens AFCEA Technology Showcase Partner: Image
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| 9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. |
Day Three Welcome BG Paul Fredenburgh, USA (Ret.) |
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| 9:45 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. |
Beyond Technology: Building a Multi-Capable Force Through Rotations Chimia Nelson In today's rapidly evolving threat environment, technology alone is not enough – our greatest advantage is a highly skilled and adaptable cyber workforce. This session explores how cyber rotational programs create a strategic win-win by strengthening mission readiness, closing critical skill gaps, and accelerating employee growth through cross-functional expertise. If we want a stronger cyber future, it starts by investing in the people who defend it. |
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| 10:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. |
Skills-Based Hiring Update Matt Isnor |
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| 10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. |
Keynote: The Joint Cyber Fight - Integrating Capabilities for the Future Conflict LTG David "Todd" Isaacson, USA |
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| 11:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. | Networking Break Lincoln Hall Atrium South |
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| 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. |
Panel: Forging the Future Force: Leveraging Industry Partnerships to Accelerate DoD 8140 Qualification Moderator Panelists Brian Correia Joe Padin Bri Frost Dan Magnotta In a rapidly evolving threat landscape, maintaining a decisive skills advantage requires integrating commercial-grade innovation into public-sector defense. This executive panel brings together leading industry partners and defense leaders to explore how the Department is operationalizing its relationship with the private sector to accelerate the implementation of the DoD 8140 Cyber Workforce Qualification program. The discussion will focus on aligning commercial training and certifications with specific DoW work roles, mitigating cyber "skill debt" through emerging technologies (such as AI and Cloud), and utilizing cross-sector talent mobility to maintain continuous readiness. Attendees will gain actionable insights into how commercial best practices are being adapted to meet strict DoW qualification standards and build a lethal, agile joint force. In review for CE credit. |
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| 12:45 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. |
DC3: Empowering Cyber Capability Training Joshua Black |
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| 1:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. |
Closing Remarks Mark Gorak |
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