This year, the chapter has hosted or participated in significant events that reinforced its commitment to education, professional development and academic collaboration.
In March, the chapter hosted its 2nd Annual Hampton Roads Navy Small Business Expo in Hampton, Virginia. The event attracted hundreds of companies and professionals who gathered to network, participate in workshops and professional matchmaking, and engage in demonstrations and discussions on critical topics, including government solicitations. This event was an invaluable learning experience, fostering knowledge-sharing between industry leaders and small businesses while highlighting career and academic pathways within the defense sector. Many sponsors and U.S. Navy commands came together for the event, including Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center, Amentum, ManTech, Tecnico, Convergint, Propulsion Controls Engineering, BAE Systems, GDIT, Vertiv, RGBSI, Portsmouth Virginia Economic Development, Timitron Corporation and Newport News Shipbuilding.
Also in March, the chapter proudly participated in CyberForge 2025, a two-day cybersecurity conference and capture-the-flag competition event hosted by the Coastal Virginia Cybersecurity Student Association, Coastal Virginia Commonwealth Cyber Initiative and Christopher Newport University's Cybersecurity Club. This event emphasizes commitment to advancing cybersecurity education by providing students and professionals with access to industry experts, hands-on training and high-impact learning experiences. The chapter set up a membership booth to promote STEM scholarship opportunities, connect with students interested in cybersecurity careers and advocate for the AFCEA Student Chapter at Old Dominion University.
Additionally, the chapter hosted its second annual Hack at the Cape, a capture-the-flag hacking competition for high school students powered by Deloitte. This year, three outstanding teams participated: Bug Byte, York River Academy Phoenix, and Guardians of the Gateway from Cape Henry Academy and York River Academy. At this hands-on event, Deloitte's team of experienced cyber professionals mentored students, guided them through technical challenges, answered questions and helped them put their ethical hacking skills to the test. By engaging young minds in real-world cybersecurity scenarios, the chapter continues to foster the next generation of cyber talent and support STEM education at the high school level.
To further invest in education, the chapter donated $300 to Tidewater Community College following its Computer Science Coding Competition for students. The donation for equipment went toward purchasing three Raspberry Pi boards for the winners.
The chapter is uniquely positioned to support academia, research and workforce development due to the region's concentration of military presence, educational institutions and defense industry partners. As home to seven major defense headquarters commands and key operating bases supporting over 100,000 active-duty personnel across the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard, Hampton Roads is vital for collaboration between military, civil service, industry and academia.
The chapter remains committed to bridging the gap between education and real-world applications by providing students, educators and professionals with opportunities for networking, mentorship and career development. The chapter continues to play a crucial role in preparing the next generation of cybersecurity and defense professionals by fostering academic partnerships, promoting STEM initiatives and supporting research-driven innovation. |
