Cybersecurity Conference at GW
SAVE THE DATE:
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
CYBERSECURITY, STRONGER TOGETHER 2026:
CONVERGING THREATS & SHARED DEFENSES
Co-sponsored by GW’s College of Professional Studies and The Cyber Guild
The George Washington University’s College of Professional Studies (CPS), and The Cyber Guild have joined forces to bring together leaders, experts, and innovators in the cybersecurity space through the Cybersecurity, Stronger Together Conference series. This collaborative annual event has quickly become a cornerstone for fostering dialogue, driving innovation, and strengthening partnerships across sectors to combat emerging cyber threats.
Join us on Tuesday, February 3, 2026
8:30 AM to 12:30 PM
George Washington University's Jack Morton Auditorium
805 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20052
A catalyst for action, the 2026 conference inspires leaders to strengthen our critical infrastructure through proactive engagement and purposeful connections. This year’s conference will unfold against the backdrop of the 2026 Olympics—an electrifying, large-scale public event that sets the stage for a realistic cyberattack on critical operational technology systems.
REGISTER NOW!
Register now through January 15
for the $99 early bird special!
2026 GOALS & OBJECTIVES: WHAT TO EXPECT
This year’s conference will unfold against the backdrop of the 2026 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.
ATTACK SCENARIO
Attendees will be immersed in a thought-provoking, multi-stage attack scenario brought to life through video segments. The unfolding scenarios will underscore the critical connection between digital threats and their potential to trigger real-world, kinetic consequences.
LESSONS LEARNED
After each stage, top industry and government thought leaders will take the stage to unpack what transpired, revealing the ripple effects, lessons learned, and proactive strategies to strengthen our collective defenses.
IMMERSIVE FORMAT - CYBER INCIDENT SCENARIOS
This immersive format transforms the audience from observers into active participants, deepening understanding of how cyber incidents can escalate into national-scale crises.
ROBUST NETWORKING + MORE
Beyond the scenario, the conference offers robust networking opportunities for collaboration and idea exchange, as well as the opportunity to earn continuing education units (CEUs) for professional advancement.
2026 CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM | Registration & Networking Breakfast
Networking and refreshments will be provided on the second floor of the Media and Public Affairs (MPA) Building.
9:30 AM - 9:45 AM | Welcome Remarks & Scene Set
- Welcome remarks and introduction from Dr. Liesl Riddle, CPS Dean
- Welcome remarks from Debbie Sallis, Founding Executive Director, The Cyber Guild Foundation
9:45 AM - 10:20 AM | Panel 1: The High Stakes Scorecard: Proactive Risk Assessment for Major Event
10:20 AM - 10:55 AM | Panel 2: The Critical Chain Reaction: Mapping Dependencies and Challenging Assumptions
10:55 AM - 11:25 AM | Coffee Break
Networking and refreshments will be provided on the second floor of the Media and Public Affairs (MPA) Building.
11:25 AM - 12:00 PM | Panel 3: Moving at the Speed of the Crisis: Integrated Incident Response and Recovery
12:00 PM - 12:20 PM | Closing Keynote
12:20 PM - 12:35 PM | Closing Remarks
Panel 1: The High-Stakes Scorecard: Proactive Risk Assessment for Major Event
This panel 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 Olympic Games as our lens, this session delves into the complexities of identifying, quantifying, and prioritizing cyber-physical risks across the entire event ecosystem.
Topics covered will include:
- Novel threat vectors targeting Operational Technology systems - from stadium climate controls and transportation grids to broadcast infrastructure and athlete tracking
- Methodologies for modeling cascading failures, mapping vulnerabilities at the convergence of digital and kinetic systems, and translating complex threat data into actionable intelligence for executive decision-makers
- Establishing a shared risk language between cybersecurity, physical security, and political stakeholders to ensure defense strategies are fully integrated, not siloed.
Panel 2: The Critical Chain Reaction: Mapping Dependencies and Challenging Assumptions
This panel 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. Using the backdrop of the World Cup and Olympics, panelists will dissect the hidden linkages between public infrastructure (power, water, transportation), event-specific technology (ticketing, venue comms), and third-party vendors.
Topics covered include:
- Identifying assumptions that we use that might affect our ability to respond to incidents - technical, regulatory, and real world.
- How to confront cognitive biases in planning, what happens when regulatory frameworks conflict with operational necessity, and the role of supply chain integrity in event security resilience.
Panel 3: Moving at the Speed of the Crisis: Integrated Incident Response and Recovery
This panel 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.
Topics covered include:
- Strategies for establishing Joint Cyber-OT-Kinetic Command Structures and ensuring seamless, real-time communication between federal agencies, state/local emergency responders, and private sector asset owners;
- The critical legal and policy challenges of data sharing during a crisis;
- Managing the public and political narrative of a high-profile attack, and executing a coordinated recovery plan to rapidly restore critical event services while maintaining public trust.
2025 CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
The 2025 Cybersecurity, Stronger Together event brought together top experts, innovators, and thought leaders to explore emerging threats, cutting-edge technologies and the evolving cyber landscape. Featuring insightful keynotes and dynamic panels, the conference provided actionable strategies for professionals across government, industry and academia.
Check out the conference highlights including a video, photos, speaker bios, panel information, GW Today story and more! Whether revisiting key moments or watching for the first time, dive in and explore the critical ideas shaping the future of cybersecurity!
2025 CONFERENCE PHOTO GALLERY
2026 CONFERENCE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
To explore sponsorship opportunities for next year’s conference and align your organization with the leaders shaping the future of cybersecurity, we invite you to consider our various sponsorship levels. These opportunities not only provide visibility at the 2026 Cybersecurity, Stronger Together - The Conference, but also extend to our Cybersecurity, Stronger Together – The Webinar Series, which keeps the dialogue going year-round. Sponsorship benefits vary based on level, offering options for brand exposure, thought leadership, and engagement with key stakeholders from government, industry, and academia.
For more information on how your organization can participate and make an impact, please contact Joseph Nolan at joseph [dot] nolan
gwu [dot] edu (joseph[dot]nolan[at]gwu[dot]edu).
Co-sponsored by GW’s College of Professional Studies and The Cyber Guild
2025 Exclusive Conference Sponsor
Cyber threats have evolved past traditional defenses, as adversaries now leverage AI to discover new vulnerabilities and penetrate even the most advanced security systems. At Leidos, we build smarter Full-Spectrum Cyber solutions for our customers.
Using the latest technology is smart. Pioneering the latest technology is smarter.
2025 Supporting Sponsors
2025 Sponsor
CONTACT US
For more information, please contact us at cpseventsgwu [dot] edu (cpsevents[at]gwu[dot]edu).