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2024 Southwest Cybersecurity Capabilities and Careers Symposia

  • September 27, 2024
  • 4:00 PM
  • September 28, 2024
  • 6:00 PM
  • Texas A&M San Antonio, One University Way, San Antonio, TX 78224

Registration

(depends on selected options)

Base fee:
  • Free registration with a travel stipend based on the distance from the venue only if actively participating in person for both days of the conference. The access code will be provided by the symposium chair to the corresponding author of all accepted session proposals.
  • Nominated Fellow of the National CyberWatch Center’s Guiding Force for Cyber Readiness (Registration fee waiver code required)
  • Access is provided via Zoom to Demonstration, Dialogue, and Evidence-Based Practice sessions conducted in all five symposia. By May 6th, you will receive a Zoom links to select the sessions you wish to attend. Registration fee is non-refundable.
  • General Admission to attend the Cybersecurity Capabilities and Careers Symposia - Non-refundable
  • Free registration for students and faculty from colleges and universities who are Platinum, Diamond, or Gold sponsors of the 3CS event series. To be eligible for free registrations, You must register with an email address issued to you by the sponsoring organization and provide the access code they provided you.

    You MUST register with a .edu email address.

    For more information, or to become a sponsor, please contact dtobey@nationalcyberwatch.org.
  • Staff registration for 3CS
  • For employers

Registration is closed



2024 Southwest Regional 3CS (SW3CS)

Five symposia provide the opportunity to learn, experience, and discuss the latest tools, techniques, and technologies for Teaching, Practicing, Demonstrating, and Showcasing Cybersecurity Capabilities.

Where:


Nearby hotels:


When: September 27-28, 2024

Keynote Speakers:

AI Literacy for Cybersecurity Readiness

Owen McNally

AI literacy is rapidly becoming a crucial component in cybersecurity readiness and training. As artificial intelligence tools proliferate in the security landscape, professionals must develop a nuanced understanding of their capabilities and limitations. This knowledge enables teams to effectively leverage AI-powered solutions like chatbots for threat detection and response, while also recognizing when human intervention is necessary. By cultivating AI literacy, cybersecurity professionals can better distinguish between genuine advancements and overhyped claims, particularly in the realm of deep learning applications.

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Owen is a professor, researcher, and technology analyst in Austin, Texas. Starting in 2017, he has collaborated with the National CyberWatch Center on a series of projects, including a 2023 workshop on cybersecurity methods for protecting healthcare data. He joined a series of software development teams as a usability and quality assurance analyst, and subsequently earned an interdisciplinary Ph.D. at the University of Texas at Austin, with a program of work in Medical Cognitive Science. He has taught college-level software design, cognitive studies, psychology, research methods, and statistical methods for the behavioral sciences, which emphasises AI literacy. In recent years his work has been in cybersecurity readiness, healthcare technology, modeling of COVID dynamics in populations, software design and usability, and researching investment opportunities in AI, neurotechnology, logistics and other sectors.  In 2023 and 2024 he built and managed a small healthcare data development team, including developing cybersecurity policies and a project applying AI to text data.


NSA Research - Advancing Intelligence through Science

Dr. Mark Boutwell

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Dr. Boutwell is a Research Scientist and STEM Leader. He is currently with the National Security Agency (NSA) posted in San Antonio, Texas. As the NSA Research Directorate’s Liaison in Texas, Mark is responsible for the technical health and welfare of the research portfolios and tradecraft. He employs expertise in computer science and forensics to lead, manage, and advise internal and external initiatives, day-to-day mission research activities, cultivate the next generation of experts, and seek adjacencies within the Southwest U.S. to NSA’s research and mission areas of interest. Mark’s previous postings with NSA were in Alaska where he served as a Site Technical Leader, Technical Director, and Intelligence Liaison Officer.

A Cybersecurity Education Model - the San Antonio CyberSphere

Joe H. Sánchez, Jr.

The capture of a twenty five year journey resulting in a prominent educational, academic, industry and DoD "CyberSphere" or " Cyber World" in San Antonio. The focus will be on the work at the CyberTexas Foundation, a local non-profit organization, whose leadership played a key role in the development of the cybersecurity education programs across the community.

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Joe Sánchez is the Creator and Executive Director of the CyberTexas Foundation, an educational non-profit serving elementary school to college students and their respective educators. His work has established and expanded what he calls The San Antonio CyberSphere – our own Cyber World.

A San Antonio “technology evangelist and social entrepreneur”, Joe’s initial vision and quest lead to him to establish San Antonio’s preeminent Cybersecurity educational base and promoted the growth of Cyber City U.S.A. Joe’s mission was sparked when his journey lead him to serve in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives as a Congressional Fellow and Military Legislative Assistant.

In 1999, with his legislative experience and network circles, Joe lead the creation of numerous cybersecurity-based programs, degrees, centers and institutes at UTSA, St. Mary’s University, Alamo Colleges, and other San Antonio educational institutions. 


Why Symposia?

Symposia is the plural form of symposium. 3CS includes a symposium in each of the five areas below.

  • Community College Cyber Summit: The granddaddy and foundation of the 3CS program that has welcomed those interested in experiential cybersecurity education for over a decade! Presentation sessions in classrooms with support for hybrid sessions about practice improvements for cybersecurity education Included with General Admission.
  • Cybersecurity Science and Practice Symposium: Poster and classroom presentation sessions with support for hybrid attendance about evidence-based professional and instructional cybersecurity practices -- the human factors of cybersecurity. Included with General Admission.
  • Cybersecurity Capability Maturity Symposium: Cybersecurity skill development workshops on specialized topics not typically taught in higher education courses but required to develop the skills needed to advance in the cybersecurity profession. Additional cost to attend.
  • Cyber Technology and Careers Symposium: Open spaces supporting an exhibit hall with demonstration sessions and a career fair - combining a job fair and a talent fair.  Included with General Admission, but can be purchased separately.
  • Cyber Games, Simulations, and Competition Symposium: Individual and team-based interactive challenges and opportunities for hands-on experience with or observation of demonstrations of skills in the Cyber Ready Arcade, including the new Community College Collegiate Defense Competition (3CDC) Included with General Admission.

What Else to Expect at SW-3CS:

  • Awards: Southwest NCSA Chapter-of-the-Year, Southwest CyberWatch Instructor-of-the-Year, Best Dialogue, Best Demonstration, Best Evidence-Based Practice, Best Skills Development Workshop, and Cyber Arcade Individual and Overall Champions
  • Cyber Ready Arcade: Serious games intended to accurately assess and rank (e.g., chess rating) accomplishment of individual or one-on-one challenges necessary to develop cyber skills
  • Cyber Ready Gym: Practice performing specific tasks to develop your readiness to perform critical cybersecurity tasks
  • Cybersecurity Skills Development Workshops (CSDWs) assist in raising the capability maturity and readiness of practitioners, faculty, students, or policymakers to adopt and adapt the latest effective practices for performing cybersecurity functions and roles. There is an additional fee for these workshops. Register for general admission to the conference to receive a discount code to attend a CSDW. 
  • Demonstrations: Technology, cybersecurity practice, and teaching tools and techniques
  • Career Fairs: Employer Fair and Talent Fair - a reverse job fair where job-seekers have a booth showcasing their capabilities. *What is a Talent FairIf registered by the Early-Bird deadline, every Talent Fair registrant will receive a personalized capability profile and access to preparatory training and coaching at no additional cost
  • Research: Focus groups and evidence-based practice presentations
  • Sponsorship opportunities > Contact info@nationalcyberwatch.org to discuss multiple event or program sponsorship discounts
  • ...and much more!!

Who Should Attend?

  • Employers and Hiring Managers who need to recruit, hire, develop, and retain a skilled cybersecurity workforce
  • Educators from K12 schools, Community Colleges, 4-year schools
  • Students looking to jump start their careers
  • Managers of workforce development programs
  • Organizers of community economic development initiatives
  • Developers of innovative products and services that enable developing a skilled workforce
  • Policymakers from local, state, federal, and international government agencies

AGENDA 

Friday Sessions: Daily Program Guide Coming Soon 

  • 3:00 pm Registration Desk Opens
  • 4:30 pm Opening Reception, Keynote Speakers, and the Cyber Arcade
  • 5:45 pm - 7:30 pm Talent and Job Fairs (Career Expo)

Saturday Sessions: Daily Program Guide Coming Soon

  • 8:30 am Registration Desk Opens
  • 9:30 am - 11:30 am Morning Sessions
    1. Demonstration Sessions 
    2. Southwest Regional Qualifier for the 2-Year College Cyber Defense Competition
  • 11:30-12:45 pm Lunch Break and Group Meetings
    1. National Cybersecurity Student Association Chapters
    2. Southwest Regional Qualifier for 2-Year College Cyber Defense Competition
  • 1:00 pm - 3:45 pm Afternoon Sessions
    1. Dialogue Sessions
    2. Evidence-Based Practice Sessions
  • 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Closing Plenary and Awards Ceremony
  •  

Pricing

Discounts:

  • Early-Bird (closes 30 days before the event): 75%
  • Pre-Registration (closes 10 days before the event): 20%
  • Late Registration (after the event starts): +50%
  • Student Association Chapter and Premium Member Discounts 
  • National CyberWatch Center Academic Chapter and Premium Member Discounts
Retail Prices:

All registrations are non-refundable unless requested by the date that early-bird registrations close

Stipends Available:
  • National CyberWatch Premium Membership
  • National Cybersecurity Student Association Annual Membership
  • National CyberWatch/National Cybersecurity Student Association Chapter Membership
  • Program stipends (e.g., Cyber Ready/Skill Up to Scale Up, Cybersecurity Skills Journal, ABET Ambassadors, Curriculum Standards Panels)

Feel free to reach out with any questions: info@nationalcyberwatch.org
(c)  National CyberWatch Center
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