Mark Gorak, Principal Director for Resources & Analysis, Office of the Chief Information Officer, DoD,

Renae Weathers, NCAE-C Program Manager

Dr. Yair Levy, Nova Southeastern University, 

Dr. Anne Kohnke, University of Detroit Mercy

Dr. Tony Coulson, CAE National Center

Victor Piotrowski, Senior Advisor for AI and Cyber, National Science Foundation

Dr. Sidd Kaza, Associate Provost for Research & Dean of Graduate Studies, Towson University, CyberAI CoP Lead

Dr. Blair Taylor, Director of the Center for Interdisciplinary and Innovation Cybersecurity, Towson University, CyberAI CoP Lead

Stephen Troupe, Director of the CAE Candidates National Center (CCNC), Whatcom Community College

Dr. Jake Mihevc, Mohawk Valley Community College 

Networking

(open to all) 
1:00 - 1:15 Report out from Birds of Feather
1:15 - 1:45 CAE-R Strategic Planning Session

Session Chair: Anne Kohnke

Cybersecurity Informed Engineering: An Interdisciplinary Opportunity
Sharon Hamilton, Norwich University

Delivering Cyber Education Content in Browser-Based Virtual Machines (BBVMs)
Nicklaus Giacobe, The Pennsylvania State University

Competition Competencies: Four Key Employability Findings
Daniel Manson, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Session Chair: Greg Gogolin

Challenges and Opportunities at the
Intersection of AI and Cybersecurity
Greg Gogolin, Ferris State University

Cybersecurity Education vs. AI: Designing Labs that Prioritize Thinking Over Tooling
Albert Tay, Brigham Young University

CAE-CD Community Outreach Competition: Four Years of Experience
Wei Li, Nova Southeastern University

Session Chair: Gretchen Bliss

Share the Spark: Advancing the Development of New and Early-Career Faculty in Cybersecurity
Gretchen Bliss, University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Building the Next Generation of Cybersecurity Faculty: The National Community College Cybersecurity Fellowship Program
Kristine Christensen, Moraine Valley Community College, Education Pathway National Center, NCyTE

Enhancing Credit Transfer Efficiency and Accuracy through Knowledge Unit (KU) Mapping
Michael Ruth, Roosevelt University

Session Chair: Tobi West

Immersive Cybersecurity Workforce Development Program to Prepare Current and Future Workforce in Critical Infrastructure
Tirthankar Ghosh, University of New Haven

Guiding Your Students To New Heights in Space Cybersecurity
Anna Carlin, Fullerton College

Decrypting Cyber Careers: Helping Students Navigate Career Paths with NICE and DCWF
Paige Zaleppa Flores, Towson University

Session Chair: Suzanna Schmeelk

Digital Badging: Celebrating Student Competencies
Chip Thornsburg, Northeast Lakeview College

Empowering Competency Based Lifelong Learning: Digital Wallets
Mike Morris, Western Governors University

Exploring NCAE Cyber Competencies Under ABET Student Outcomes Framework
Suzanna Schmeelk, St. John's University

Session Chair: Faisal Kaleem

GPS Spoofing: Challenges, Mitigation Strategies, and Training Through Real Scenarios
Laxima Niure Kandel, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

An Effective Approach for Stepping-stone Intrusion Detection Resistant to Intruders’ Chaff-Perturbation via Packet Crossover
Lixin Wang, Columbus State University

BRINGING Different Disciplines and Competitions into your Classroom
Eric Chan-Tin, Loyola University Chicago

Session Chair: Lydia Ray

Designing a Linux-focused Digital Forensics Course for Undergraduate Students
Lydia Ray, Columbus State University

An innovative and immersive Chinese Language Pilot Summer Program for Cybersecurity College Students
Waleed Farag, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Session Chair: Stephan Bohacek

Using Fine-tuned LLMs to Grade Homework
Stephan Bohacek, University of Delaware
 

Building Cybersecurity AI Expertise: A Tiered Approach at ECPI University
David Breeding, ECPI University

Session Chair: Mary Wallingsford

Proposed CAE CoP-CD “Rural CAEs” Initiative
Debasis Bhattacharya, University of Hawaii Maui College

Recruiting Transitioning Veteran and First Responder Students for Cybersecurity Work Roles
Mary Wallingsford, Anne Arundel Community College

Session Chair: Anna Carlin

Experiential Learning Competencies: How Hackathons Intersect Cybersecurity Education Competencies Using
Industry Partnerships
Christian Servin, El Paso Community College

Securing Student Futures: Working with Career Services as a Critical Partner in Cybersecurity Education
Caroline Jennings, SANS Technology Institute

Session Chair: Dr. Jake Mihevc

Confidence and Competence: The Impact of Participating in Cybersecurity Competitions on Career Development
David Zeichick, California State University, Chico

Co-Developing the Pathways Tool within the CAE Cyber Competition Atlas
Dr. Jake Mihevc, Mohawk Valley Community College

Session Chair: Holly Yuan

Navigating Cloud Security and Forensics: Addressing Emerging Threats and Challenges
Rebecca Passmore, University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Machine Learning Applications in Cybersecurity: From Development To Deployment
Holly Yuan, University of Wisconsin, Stout

Session Chair: Mirco Speretta

Hacking for Good: Red Teaming as an Experiential Service-Learning Opportunity in Cybersecurity Education
Jacob Young, Bradley University

Integrating Ethics and Societal Impact into Cybersecurity Education in Online Learning
James Tippey, Excelsior University

Providing Students with Hands-on Experience in a SOC Environment
Mirco Speretta, Fairfield University

Session Chair: Stanley Mierzwa

Challenges and Future Path for Valid Research in the Human Factor of Cybersecurity
Yair Levy, Nova Southeastern University

Evolution of GenAI in the Classroom - Beyond Chatbots and Prompts
Debasis Bhattacharya, University of Hawaii Maui College

Feasibility of Creating a Non-Profit and Non-Governmental Organization Cybersecurity Incident Reporting and Dataset Repository Using OSINT
Stanley Mierzwa, Kean University

Session Chair: Tobi West

NCTA’s role in Credentialing High School Teachers to Expand Availability and Access to High School Cybersecurity Courses
Sandra Leiterman, University Arkansas Little Rock

CyberLearN: A Collaborative Model for Sustainable Workforce Development
Sandra Leiterman, University Arkansas Little Rock

STORM Cybersecurity Career Development Program at Coastline College
Tobi West, Coastline College

Session Chair: Anne Kohnke

A Transdisciplinary Approach to Maritime Transportation System Cybersecurity Education, and Capability Development
Ulku Clark, University of North Carolina Wilmington

Building Effective Cybersecurity Pipelines: Strategies and Best Practices
Rachel Meyers, Purdue University Northwest

Securing Air-Gapped Industrial Control Systems: Mitigating Wireless Threats through Proactive Defense Strategies
Ulku Clark, University of North Carolina Wilmington

Session Chair: Paul Wagner

Expanding the K-12 Cybersecurity Teacher Pathway
Robert Honomichl, University of Arizona

Central Illinois High School Cyber Defense Competition
Dmitry Zhdanov, Illinois State University

Cybersecurity Hacking Attack Gaming
William Glisson, Louisiana Tech University

Session Chair: Eman El-Sheikh

Homomorphic Encryption and Statistical Confidentiality
Yesem Kurt Peker, Columbus State University

On Teaching and Learning Industrial Control Systems Security Using Open Platform Infrastructure (OPI)
Guillermo Francia, University of West Florida

Session Chair: Bill Gardner

Changing Undergraduate Cybersecurity Instruction
Mathew Heath Van Horn, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott

Computer Squad Detectives: A Digital Forensics Case Exemplifying Social Justice
Denise Dragos, St. John's University

Addressing the Cybersecurity Skills Gap by Leveraging Neurodiverse People
Bill Gardner, Marshall University

Session Chair: Paige Zaleppa Flores

Teaching Automobile Hacking with the Instrument Cluster Simulator
Jim Marquardson, Northern Michigan University

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Knowledge Discovery and Generation for Cyber Defense
Ping Wang, Robert Morris University

Session Chair: Tobi West

Northern Michigan University's Cybersecurity Collaboration with the DOD's Exercise Northern Strike
Michael Sauer, Northern Michigan University

Partnering for Cybersecurity: A Community College's Journey to Become a State DHS-Backed Regional SOC
Rachelle Hall, Glendale Community College

2025 Cybersecurity Alumni Workforce Study: Where Are They Now?
Tobi West, Coastline College

Session Chair: Jason Mitchell

A Dynamic Learning Object Framework for Quantum Security Workforce Development
Abhishek Parakh, Kennesaw State University

Partnerships in Action: A Collaborative Approach to Launching Community College Students into Cyber Careers
Kim Kafka, SANS Technology Institute

Practicum Projects in Cybersecurity Education
Jason Mitchell, Lansing Community College

Session Chair: Ram Dantu

Practical Cybersecurity Toolkit Using Python
Akhtar Lodgher, Texas A&M University, San Antonio

Detecting Vulnerabilities in PHP-Based Web Programs Using Graph Models
Junjie Zhang, Wright State University

Stepping-Stone Intrusion Upstream Detection by Exploring the Distribution of Network Traffic
Jianhua Yang, Columbus State University

Session Chair: Akhtar Lodgher

Practical Cybersecurity Toolkit Using Python
Akhtar Lodgher, Texas A&M University, San Antonio

Detecting Vulnerabilities in PHP-Based Web Programs Using Graph Models
Junjie Zhang, Wright State University

Stepping-Stone Intrusion Upstream Detection by Exploring the Distribution of Network Traffic
Jianhua Yang, Columbus State University

Dr. Sidd Kaza, Associate Provost for Research & Dean of Graduate Studies, Towson University, CyberAI CoP Lead

Dr. Blair Taylor, Director of the Center for Interdisciplinary and Innovation Cybersecurity, Towson University, CyberAI CoP Lead

Dr. Edward V. Zieglar Jr., NSA, 
Dr. J. Todd McDonald, University of South Alabama, 
Dr. Z Chen, Mercy University, 

Hunter Pittman, MITRE

This session will cover the latest updates and most recent releases from XP Cyber (formerly the NICE Challenge Project). XP Cyber (https://xpcyber.com) delivers students and educators across the United States real-world cybersecurity workforce challenges to enable the next generation cyber workforce. Our battle-tested cyber range and challenges immerse students in complex virtual environments and business scenarios where they complete tasks as in-demand cyber work roles.

James Ashley III, Director of R&D, XP Cyber at CSUSB

Dr. Sharon R. Hamilton, Career Preparation National Center 
Dr. John Sands, Education Pathways National Center 
Michele Robinson, CAE Candidates National Center 
Dr. Tony Coulson, CAE National Center 

Michele Robinson, National Cyber Training and Education (NCyTE) Center and the CAE Candidates National Center (CCNC) at Whatcom Community College

In higher education, assessing how existing programs meet employer needs requires identifying existing programs and evaluating alignment between their content and the skills needed in the workplace. It is standard for postsecondary programs to be categorized using the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes. These codes are used throughout the higher education system to report program characteristics and outcomes to federal agencies and accreditation organizations. This session will share key research findings on the use of CIP codes in higher education to determine if estimating cybersecurity graduates using CIP-based reporting databases are producing results that capture all cybersecurity graduates and can be relied on when assessing whether enough cybersecurity workers graduate to meet the labor market demand and if cybersecurity graduates are employed in cybersecurity occupations and engage participants in an interactive thought leadership exercise driven by the report recommendations.

Presenters: 

Dr. Vincent Nestler, California State University San Bernardino

Dr. Zoe Fowler, Norwich University

Presenters: Jesse Hairston, Tania Williams, Benjamin Cummins, Michael Qaissaunee

Join us for an engaging session designed specifically for NCAE community educators and administrators. In this presentation, our team will provide a comprehensive update on the RING curriculum and framework, showcasing newly developed resources that seamlessly integrate with your dual credit and dual enrollment educational programs. We'll introduce our expanded counselor and academic advisor toolkit, featuring innovative approaches to student guidance and career pathway development. The session will also highlight our growing catalog of student activities designed to foster engagement, workforce competencies, and practical skill building in cybersecurity.

Our presentation will further explore exciting new opportunities for student advancement, including our online course offerings with flexible scheduling options and our high school college credit program that allows promising students to accelerate their educational journey. You'll get a first-hand look at our interactive learning platforms and assessment tools crafted to measure both technical proficiency and critical thinking skills. We invite you to discover these resources and many more innovations developed to strengthen the educational experience of students across the NCAE community.

Presenters: Katie Bowers, Purdue University Northwest,  Rachel Meyers, Purdue University Northwest, Michael Tu, Purdue University Northwest

NCAE-C Credit Transfer Agreement taskforce is offering an in-person 45 minutes workshop for CAE schools on K-12 Cybersecurity education and how to develop cybersecurity credit transfer agreements with K-12 schools. During this workshop, the participants will share the challenges, opportunities, approaches to outreach and engage with K-12 schools, identify mechanisms to build partnership with K12 community including K-12 schools, school district administration, as well as third parties to support K-12 cybersecurity education.  The workshop will also discuss how to better support CAE schools to achieve the goals on promoting K-12 Cybersecurity education and CTA development. This workshop is part of the efforts from CAE-C Careers Preparation National Center (CPNC).

Presenters: John Sands, Jiri Jirik

This interactive session explores innovative approaches to integrating AI technologies within cybersecurity education programs at NCAE institutions. The EPNC team will demonstrate practical techniques for using AI-powered tools to enhance student engagement and student assessment. Learn how AI can be used to personalized learning paths, generate realistic threat simulations, and generate adaptive content. Participants will discover how AI can transform assessment practices by providing richer insights into student comprehension, problem solving, and identifying skill gaps with greater precision. We'll also share frameworks for teaching students to effectively leverage AI in data analysis, including pattern recognition, anomaly detection, and predictive modeling for cybersecurity applications. The session will also demonstrate how AI can be used to enhance student communication and interview skills and implement a more engaging approach to teaching ethicals using scenarios.

Presenters: Stephen Miller and Stephen Troupe

Working Group discussion Summary:

This session will bring together the Candidates National Center (CCNC) and the Peer Review National Center (PRNC) to evaluate current processes, discuss key challenges, and explore opportunities for improvement. This discussion will provide updates on 2025 training requirements, the CCNC tool, and the process for updating requirement documents. The session will then focus on reviewing the mentoring and peer review workflows, identifying common challenges, and gathering feedback from CAE Community. Through open discussion, participants will explore ways to enhance communication, streamline coordination, and improve mentor and reviewer training. The session will conclude with actionable insights to refine processes and ensure greater efficiency in supporting institutions seeking CAE designation.

Join the CAE Community team in an interactive discussion that will give you, The Community, a chance to provide feedback to the CAE Community team on topics such as the newly released Career Explorer, the upcoming caecommunity.org website reface, Contact preferences, and more!

Presenters: Hannah Samy, Alex Edsell
 

Presenter: James Ashley

his session will include information on and a live demo of the publicly available and CISA-sponsored Try Cyber tool. Try Cyber is a cyber work role discovery and exploration tool aimed at providing the cyber curious (specifically K-12 and early college students) a day-one, internship style, hands-on experience in in-demand cyber work roles to pique their interest and encourage them to pursue careers in cyber.