2026 Conference
2026 Cybersecurity, Stronger Together Conference Trailer
If the event of a lifetime came under cyber attack and people got hurt, what would you do? On February 3 you'll find out. An immersive learning experience with the experts responsible for incident response. Cybersecurity, Stronger Together Conference 2026 - Converging Threats & Shared Defenses. Be there.
Join us on February 3, 2026 for Cybersecurity, Stronger Together 2026: Converging Threats & Defenses Conference at George Washington University's Jack Morton Auditorium in the heart of Washington, DC.
This year’s conference will unfold against the backdrop of the 2028 Olympics—an electrifying, large-scale public event that sets the stage for a realistic cyberattack on critical operational technology systems. Industry leaders from cybersecurity, operational technology (OT), kinetic security, and political management will examine the evolving intersection of digital and physical threats.
2026 SCHEDULE & PANELS
8:30 AM - 9:15 AM | Registration & Networking Breakfast
Networking and refreshments will be provided on the second floor of the Media and Public Affairs (MPA) Building.
9:15 AM - 9:30 AM | Welcome Remarks & Scene Set
- Welcome remarks and introduction from Dr. Liesl Riddle, CPS Dean
- Welcome remarks from Lillian Dunlevy, President, Iris Videre and Board Member, The Cyber Guild
9:30 AM - 10:15 AM | Panel 1: The High Stakes Scorecard (Panel details and speaker bios)
Panel 1: The High Stakes Scorecard: Proactive Risk Assessment for Major Event sets the foundational tone, moving beyond general cyber hygiene to address the specific, amplified threats posed by large-scale, globally visible events.
Using the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games as our lens, this session delves into the complexities of identifying, quantifying, and prioritizing cyber-physical risks across the entire event ecosystem.
Moderator:
- Cory Simpson, CEO, Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology (ICIT)
Speakers:
- Vitaliy Panych, Chief Information Security Officer, State of California;
- Jen Sovada, General Manager, Public Sector, Claroty;
- Jeremy Stanley, Senior Business Solutions Leader, Cisco Systems;
- James Winebrenner, CEO of Elisity.
10:15 AM - 11:00 AM | Panel 2: The Critical Chain Reaction (Panel details and speaker bios)
Panel 2: The Critical Chain Reaction: Mapping Dependencies and Challenging Assumptions serves as the bridge, translating the risks identified in Panel 1 into a tangible discussion of systemic vulnerabilities and planning blind spots.
Every major event runs on a complex, interconnected web of systems, yet rarely is the full chain of critical dependencies mapped and tested.
This session drills down on the "what if" scenarios, challenging common assumptions that underpin security and resilience planning.
Moderator:
- Nick Reese, Founder & CEO, Triantha
Speakers:
- Tatyana Bolton, Principal & Head of Cybersecurity Practice, Monument Advocacy;
- Abby Deift, Managing Director, FGS Global
- Patrick Kelly, Director, Law Enforcement, Booz Allen Hamilton;
- Michele Iversen, Principal and Head of Geopolitical & Regulatory Risk, The Chertoff Group;
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM | Coffee Break
Networking and refreshments will be provided on the second floor of the Media and Public Affairs (MPA) Building.
11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | Panel 3: Moving at the Speed of the Crisis (Panel details and speaker bios)
Panel 3: Moving at the Speed of the Crisis: Integrated Incident Response and Recovery culminates the conference, focusing on the moment of truth: coordinated, rapid, and effective response when the inevitable occurs.
When a cyber intrusion escalates into a kinetic crisis—disrupting power, transportation, or public safety at a major event—a unified, cross-domain response is essential.
This panel shifts the focus from prevention to action, examining the operational, policy, and political dimensions of managing a catastrophic incident.
Moderator:
- Elaine Lammert, Director of Homeland Security Continuing Education Programs, GW College of Professional Studies
Speakers:
- Nick Andersen, Executive Assistant Director for Cybersecurity, CISA;
- Corey Collings, Technical Director, First Line Technology;
- Michael Dunaway, Adjunct Professor, Homeland Security in the College of Professional Studies at the George Washington University, and Founder and CEO of CIRRUS Group;
- St. John Stanley, Lead International USAR Instructor, Guardian Center.
12:15 PM - 12:30 PM | Closing Remarks
- Closing remarks from Lillian Dunlevy, President, Iris Videre and Board Member, The Cyber Guild
- Closing remarks and announcement of Education Impact Funds from Dr. Liesl Riddle, CPS Dean. Introduction of two alumni speakers.
Meet our alumni and hear their stories:
- Khadjia Taki, Senior Fellow, Cybersecurity Forum Initiative; Cybersecurity BPS Alumna, 2025;
- Bill McKenna, Vice President of Strategic Programs and Government Affairs, Trilogy Innovations, Homeland Security MPS Alumnus, 2025.
12:30 PM - 2:30 PM | VIP Lunch with Fireside Chat Q&A (Invite only)
- Stacy O'Mara, Senior Director, Cybersecurity Services Group, Venable LLP
- Jason O'Connor, Intel Sector President, Leidos
- Vitaliy Panych, Chief Information Officer, State of California
- Chris Rodriguez, Assistant City Administrator, District of Columbia
