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: TBD

Speaker: TBD

Location: David Student Union Ballroom

Please check back for the abstract.

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: TBD

Location: TBD

Abstract Coming Soon...

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: Among Us: They're in the Open Source Supply Chain

Speaker: Paul Novarese

Location: TBD

Abstract Coming Soon...

Title: CompTIA Security+ Quick Prep

Speaker: TBD

Location: TBD

Abstract Coming Soon...

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

Abstract Coming Soon...

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; Jacob Slone, 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.

Information Coming Soon...

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; Jacob Slone, 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.