Schedule

Speaker: Jonathan Kaufman, Cyberforge Committee Chair and Nicholas Wiehr, CVCSA President

Location: David Student Union Ballroom

Be greeted by our distinguished host who will officially welcome you to the conference. Gain insights into the overarching theme and objectives that shape the day's proceedings.

Title: What AI Can’t Do For You (But How it Can Help You do Those Things)

Speaker: Dr. Christopher Kreider

Location: David Student Union Ballroom

Implementations of Artificial Intelligence (AI) have taken the digital world by storm, such as large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT.  Despite the capabilities of these digital tools, there are still some things that it cannot do for us, such as instilling curiosity, initiative and drive, all characteristics that are important in the field of cybersecurity.  This talk will highlight some of these intrinsically human areas, and identify ways in which AI can help us once we choose to embrace these characteristics.  

Location: David Student Union Ballroom Lobby

Take a breather and rejuvenate during this scheduled break. Whether you choose to mingle with fellow attendees, explore sponsor exhibits, or simply recharge with a cup of coffee, this is your time to reset and prepare for the next wave of inspiration.

Title: The Blueprint to Becoming a Cybersecurity engineer

Speaker: Eric Gawthrop

Location: David Student Union Ballroom

Becoming a cybersecurity engineer takes more than just technical know-how—it requires balancing education, certifications, experience, and the ability to communicate your value. This presentation, The Blueprint to Becoming a Cybersecurity Engineer, distills lessons I learned both from my own career and by observing the successes and setbacks of my colleagues. By applying these insights, I was able to accelerate my growth in a short timeframe. Attendees will gain a practical roadmap for combining foundational knowledge, hands-on practice, and professional skills to build momentum and achieve lasting success in the cybersecurity field.

Title: SIEM: The art of selecting what matters

Speaker: Afonso Alves

Location: TBD

The prevailing industry dogma—"log everything"—has transformed SIEMs from detection engines into compliance archives. This approach paralyzes SOC teams, explodes infrastructure costs, and actually increases the time to detect (MTTD) real threats because the needle is buried in an ever-expanding haystack. The purpose is to talk about risk management decision as a perspective to select what matters. SIEM strategy requires moving from Availability-Based Ingestion (ingesting logs because we can) to Use-Case Driven Ingestion (ingesting logs because a specific threat model demands it).

Title: Cybersecurity Certifications Overview

Speaker: Darren Spencer

Location: TBD

In an era where the global cybersecurity workforce gap remains at nearly 5 million unfilled positions, certifications have transitioned from "nice-to-have" credentials to essential career milestones. This presentation provides a comprehensive roadmap for navigating the complex web of information security credentials. We break down the most impactful certifications for 2026—ranging from the "gold standard" CISSP for leaders to the foundational CompTIA Security+ and the highly practical OSCP for offensive specialists. Attendees will learn how to align their certification path with specific job roles (SOC Analyst, Pentester, GRC), understand the shifting requirements of DoD 8140, and analyze the real-world ROI of each credential in today's competitive job market.

Location: David Student Union Lobby

Take a breather and rejuvenate during this scheduled break. Whether you choose to mingle with fellow attendees, explore sponsor exhibits, or simply recharge with a cup of coffee, this is your time to reset and prepare for the next wave of inspiration.

Title: Beyond the API: Cracking the Shell of Mobile App Security

Speaker: Steve Campbell

Location: David Student Union Ballroom

Automated scanners and certificate pinning bypasses are the bread and butter of mobile engagements. However, a mobile application is more than just an API request generator, it’s a complex piece of software running in a hostile environment. To truly secure the mobile ecosystem, we must expand our scope beyond the network layer and interrogate the code running on the device. The "Gold Standard" for this work is the OWASP MASVS, but translating that standard into a practical, time-boxed engagement strategy can be difficult. This session is designed to add a new set of tools to your arsenal. We will break down the barriers to entry for client-side testing, moving past the "speed bumps" of root detection and certificate pinning bypasses and into the core logic of the application. By distilling the MASVS into a streamlined, high-yield methodology, attendees will learn how to fit deep binary analysis into tight engagement windows without sacrificing coverage.

Title: PRC Cyber Threat Actors and Defensive Implications

Speaker: Owen Tremblay

Location: TBD

U.S. government threat assessments describe the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the most active and persistent cyber threat to U.S. government, private-sector, and critical infrastructure networks. This presentation outlines the PRC cyber threat and how it manifests at the SOC level from a defender’s perspective. All information is sourced from publicly released reporting. Attendees will leave with a clearer picture of the PRC cyber threat and a few best practices for hardening networks.

Title: CompTIA Security+ Quick Prep

Speaker: Logan Gamma

Location: TBD

Often cited as the "gateway" to a cybersecurity career, CompTIA Security+ remains the industry’s most popular vendor-neutral certification. This session explores the current SY0-701 curriculum, moving beyond basic terminology to examine how the certification validates core technical skills. We will break down the five critical domains—from General Security Concepts to Security Operations—and discuss why this specific credential is the baseline for entry-level roles like SOC Analyst and Junior Systems Admin. Attendees will walk away with a clear understanding of the exam's performance-based questions (PBQs), the recommended study timeline, and how to leverage this "first win" to land their first professional security role.

Location: Lobby/Rooms

Take a breather and rejuvenate during lunch. Use this time to enjoy lunch, network with participants and sponsor representatives, and speakers.

Title: Networking Time

Location: David Student Union Ballroom/ Lobby

Join us for a dynamic networking session designed to foster meaningful connections between cybersecurity professionals, aspiring students, industry leaders, and sponsors. This session provides a relaxed yet purposeful environment where participants can engage in insightful conversations, explore collaboration opportunities, and build lasting professional relationships.

Whether you're a student looking to learn from experienced practitioners, a sponsor seeking to connect with emerging talent, or a professional eager to share your journey, this is your opportunity to engage directly with the community shaping the future of cybersecurity.

Title: Why Offensive Cyber Matters: Strategy, Doctrine, and the Future of Digital Maneuver

Speaker: Mateo Portelli

Location: David Student Union Ballroom

Offensive cyber is often misunderstood as little more than “hacking.” In reality, it is a core element of modern maneuver: shaping battlefields, influencing adversaries, and protecting critical infrastructure. This presentation will explore why offensive cyber matters by examining it through the lenses of U.S. military doctrine, strategic thought, and the emerging concept of digital maneuver. Drawing on my experience as a Cyber Warfare Officer in the Virginia Army National Guard, I will connect the doctrinal foundations of offensive cyber operations to the skills students practice in Capture-the-Flag competitions, penetration testing, and red team exercises. Topics include the distinction between offensive and defensive roles, the Army’s recognition of cyber as a maneuver branch, and how doctrine frames ethical and professional practice in both military and civilian contexts. The session will also highlight future trends (eg, AI-driven operations, quantum threats, and hybrid adversaries) and what they mean for students preparing to enter the cybersecurity workforce. Participants will leave with a strategic understanding of offensive cyber as more than technical exploitation: it is about effects, leadership, and integrity in the digital domain.

Title: Secure DevOps - Setting up a secure environment for Ansible

Speaker: Joel Kirch

Location: TBD

Many Ansible and DevOps tutorials focus on automation outcomes while overlooking the security foundations required to operate safely at scale. This presentation addresses that gap by walking through the practical setup of a secure Ansible environment from first principles. It demonstrates how SSH key management, SSH agents, GPG keys, GPG agents, the Unix password manager pass, and Ansible Vault work together to eliminate plaintext credentials and reduce operational risk. Through live configuration and incremental demos, the session shows how secure authentication, secret handling, idempotent playbooks, and infrastructure-as-code practices form the baseline of secure DevOps workflows. Attendees gain a clear understanding of why security must be integrated before automation, not added afterward, and how these techniques scale from a single system to multi-node environments.

Title: CISSP Certification Quick Prep

Speaker: TBD

Location: TBD

The CISSP is widely considered the "gold standard" of cybersecurity credentials, but many candidates fail by approaching it with a purely technical mindset. This presentation explores the 2026 CISSP landscape, focusing on the shift toward risk management and governance—now the most heavily weighted domain. We will dissect the eight domains of the Common Body of Knowledge (CBK), highlighting new 2026 inclusions like Zero Trust Architecture, Quantum Key Distribution, and AI Governance. Attendees will learn how to navigate the Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) format and understand why the CISSP is less about "fixing the firewall" and more about "managing the risk to the mission.

Location: Lobby

Take a breather and rejuvenate during this scheduled break. Whether you choose to mingle with fellow attendees, explore sponsor exhibits, or simply recharge with a cup of coffee, this is your time to reset and prepare for the next wave of inspiration.

Title: TBD

Speaker: TBD

Location: David Student Union Ballroom

Please check back for the abstract.

Speaker: Jonthan Kaufman, Cyberforge Committee Chair

Location: David Student Union Ballroom

Gather one last time as we reflect on the day's highlights, express gratitude, and share insights gained from the diverse sessions and interactions.

Location: Lobby/Auditorium

Start your day by checking in at our registration desk. Our friendly team will be on hand to assist you with any queries, provide conference materials, and ensure a smooth start to your experience.

Speaker: Jonathan Kaufman, CyberForge Committee Chair; Nicholas Wiehr, CVCSA President; Deloitte

Location: David Student Union Ballroom

Be greeted by our distinguished host who will officially welcome you to the conference. Gain insights into the overarching theme and objectives that shape the day's proceedings.

Location: David Student Union Ballroom

Use this time to meet up with your team members to get set-up for the CTF competition. Staff will be on-hand to answer questions or concerns.

Host: Deloitte

Location: David Student Union Ballroom

Work with your team to solve the challenges for the chance to earn prizes. Staff will be available for questions.

Title: CISSP Certification Quick Prep

Speaker: Darren Spencer

Location: TBD

This is meant to be a come and go session to give participants a space to go ask questions about different certification and career related questions.

Location: Lobby/David Student Union Ballroom

Take a breather and rejuvenate during lunch. Use this time to enjoy lunch, network with participants and sponsor representatives, and speakers.

Location: Lobby/David Student Union Ballroom

Take a breather and rejuvenate during this scheduled break. Whether you choose to mingle with fellow attendees, explore sponsor exhibits, or simply recharge with a cup of coffee, this is your time to reset and prepare for the next wave of inspiration.

Location: David Student Union Ballroom

The spotlight is on as we announce and celebrate the winners of the CTF Competition Discover who has emerged victorious in the various categories, from top-performing teams in competitions to standout individuals who have showcased exceptional skills and contributions.

Speaker: Jonathan Kaufman, CyberForge Committee Chair; Nicholas Wiehr, CVCSA President

Location: David Student Union Ballroom

Gather one last time as we reflect on the day's highlights, express gratitude, and share insights gained from the diverse sessions and interactions.