CyAD 2026: Cybersecurity Across Disciplines Summit: Full Schedule

Welcome to the fourth annual Cybersecurity Across Disciplines (CyAD) Summit hosted by the National Cybersecurity Training & Education Center (NCyTE)!

The schedule is tentative and subject to change. Please check back regularly for the most current version.
Important Notice: Only fully registered attendees can log in and create a personal schedule. CyAD registrants check your email inbox or junk folder for a Sched invitation. To avoid issues, please add [email protected] to your safe sender list.
All sessions are first-come, first-served. While you can plan your schedule in Sched, it does not guarantee a seat in any session.

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8:45am CDT

Lighting the Way: How a Grassroots Cybersecurity Nonprofit United a Community

Thursday June 25, 2026 8:45am - 9:30am CDT

BLDG T-926

What happens when cybersecurity stops being a siloed function and becomes a shared community mission? This session tells the story of the Go Cyber Collective, a nonprofit that started with a single individual and has grown into a thriving community of more than 90 engaged members meeting monthly, united by a common goal of strengthening collective cyber resilience.

Attendees will learn how the Go Cyber Collective was intentionally designed to be a lighthouse for the community, serving as a trusted hub for cybersecurity education, collaboration, and support. The presentation explores how strategic partnerships with academia created a gateway for students to engage directly with real-world practitioners, participate in meaningful discussions, and build professional networks before entering the workforce.

The session will also highlight the creation of a mutual aid model that brings together government agencies, private companies, and security professionals to support one another during cyber incidents. Rather than competing, members collaborate, share expertise, and respond together when attacks occur.

This talk is both a case study and a playbook. Attendees will walk away with practical insights on building trust, growing membership organically, engaging diverse stakeholders, and transforming cybersecurity from an isolated discipline into a shared community responsibility.

Speakers

Shawn Waldman

CEO, SecureCyber

Shawn Waldman is the CEO of SecureCyber and a cybersecurity speaker focused on helping leaders understand and manage cyber risk in practical, real-world terms. He works with local governments, critical infrastructure, and regulated industries and is a frequent presenter on cybersecurity... Read More →

Thursday June 25, 2026 8:45am - 9:30am CDT
BLDG T-926

Human Factors Privacy Ethics and Governance in Cybersecurity, Presentation

9:40am CDT

The Cognitive Training: Operate Like a Pro Athlete

Thursday June 25, 2026 9:40am - 10:25am CDT

BLDG T-926

Esports has evolved into a globally recognized, high-stakes competitive sport. This shift, recognizing professional gamers as "cognitive athletes," is not only reshaping entertainment but also creating a tactic to advance cyber talent to meet the demands of emerging accelerants like AI and quantum, as the skills essential for top-tier esports competitors mirror the mental architecture needed for future tech professionals.

This keynote explores the emerging Cognitive Domain and how the high-pressure, mentally demanding competitive gaming offers a powerful, unconventional training ground for critical infrastructure resilience.

We will frame the human mind not just as a tool, but as a muscle requiring deliberate conditioning. Through analysis of neurological data and performance metrics from top-tier competitive gaming, this presentation will demonstrate how structured cognitive conditioning—focused on rapid decision-making, pattern recognition under stress, sustained attention, and collaborative problem-solving—directly translates into enhanced mental agility to counter advanced persistent threats, strengthening focus during prolonged monitoring sessions, and optimizing team coordination under the duress of a live cyber-attack on critical systems.

Join us to uncover the science behind "training like a pro gamer" for high-performing operations. We will conclude with dedicated small group discussions designed to actively engage the audience in exploring and defining the practical application of cognitive games and specialized exercises within both academic curricula and industry professional development programs. Attendees will leave with actionable insights on building a superiorly conditioned "cognitive muscle" ready to face the future of critical infrastructure security.

Speakers

Jessica Gulick

CEO | Commissioner, Katzcy | US Cyber Games | PlayCyber

Jessica Gulick is a highly esteemed cybersecurity expert and influential speaker, recognized globally for her contributions. With over 25 years of experience in engineering and cybersecurity, her background includes leading cybersecurity teams, directing international cyber competitions... Read More →

Thursday June 25, 2026 9:40am - 10:25am CDT
BLDG T-926

Human Factors Privacy Ethics and Governance in Cybersecurity, Presentation

11:00am CDT

AI++ / AI--: Applying Cyber Risk Thinking to Generative AI in the Classroom

Thursday June 25, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am CDT

BLDG T-926

As generative AI tools become embedded in teaching and learning, students must learn not only how to use these technologies but also how to evaluate, validate, and take responsibility for their outputs. In cyber-related fields, unverified or inaccurate AI-generated content introduces real risk, affecting documentation, policy analysis, compliance, and technical decision-making.

This session applies cyber risk thinking to generative AI use in the classroom, framing AI use as a system that must be assessed for potential threats, vulnerabilities, impact, and appropriate safeguards. Rather than framing AI as inherently good or bad, the presenters focus on helping students recognize tradeoffs, understand where AI adds value, and where human judgment remains essential.

The presentation brings together a community college faculty member and a four-year university faculty member to share lessons learned from teaching with generative AI across the academic pipeline. Drawing on experiences from Privacy for Professionals and related courses, the presenters share best practices for teaching ethical and responsible AI use in ways that prepare students for academic progression and professional expectations.

The session also highlights how the AI Assessment Scale (AIAS) was used to clarify acceptable AI use and to reinforce accountability, transparency, and verification of AI-generated work. Attendees will leave with practical strategies and classroom-ready case studies they can adapt for embedding ethical AI use, risk awareness, and student responsibility into business, policy, IT, and cybersecurity curricula.

Speakers

Kristine Christensen

Professor, Computer Information Systems / Director, Faculty Development / PI, Explore Cyber, Moraine Valley Community College

Dr. Kristine Christensen is a Professor of Computer Information Systems at Moraine Valley Community College with more than twenty years of experience teaching and developing curriculum in web development, user interface design, programming, networking, robotics, and engineering technology... Read More →

DeBrae Kennedy-Mayo

Faculty, Law & Ethics at the Scheller College of Business, Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech)

DeBrae Kennedy-Mayo is Faculty of Law & Ethics at the Scheller College of Business at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). She is an internationally recognized expert on privacy and cross-border data flows. Kennedy-Mayo researches and writes on legal and policy issues... Read More →

Thursday June 25, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am CDT
BLDG T-926

Human Factors Privacy Ethics and Governance in Cybersecurity, Presentation

1:45pm CDT

When Less Isn't More in Critical Infrastructure Protection

Thursday June 25, 2026 1:45pm - 2:30pm CDT

BLDG T-926

The cybersecurity landscape is shaped by an expanding and often overlapping set of standards and regulatory compliance frameworks, including FERC, NERC, HIPAA, NIST, ISO, CISA guidance, and other privacy laws and sector-specific requirements. Navigating these requirements and frameworks presents challenges not only for organizations implementing security programs, but also for educators and workforce developers preparing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. This session explores how cybersecurity standards and regulatory requirements align with workforce frameworks—such as the DCWF and NICE Workforce Framework—and how these connections can be best operationalized through industry-informed curricula and advisory committees.

Speakers

Michele Robinson

Executive Director/Principal Investigator, Whatcom Community College

Michele Robinson is currently the Senior Director/Principal Investigator (PI) of the National Cyber Training and Education (NCyTE) Center and the CAE Candidates National Center (CCNC) at Whatcom Community College. With 20+ years of leadership at senior/executive levels in information... Read More →

Thursday June 25, 2026 1:45pm - 2:30pm CDT
BLDG T-926

Human Factors Privacy Ethics and Governance in Cybersecurity, Presentation

CyAD 2026: Cybersecurity Across Disciplines Summit

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CyAD 2026: Cybersecurity Across Disciplines Summit

8:45am CDT

Shawn Waldman

9:40am CDT

Jessica Gulick

11:00am CDT

Kristine Christensen

DeBrae Kennedy-Mayo

1:45pm CDT

Michele Robinson

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