June 13 marks the first day of the Defensive Cyber Operations Symposium at the Baltimore Convention Center. The a three-day event centers on the Defense Information Systems Agency and allows government and industry to get together and focus on creating cyber networks that are resilient, effective and adaptive.

The agenda is full of interesting content, but here are five to get you started.

1. Panel session: Partnering for Cyber Innovation

Partnership has been a hot topic across the defense and intelligence industries for some time. It's only been amplified in the cyber domain, where traditional barriers between what's government and what's commercial aren't always so clear. Speakers will discuss partnerships between the business and government sectors, seeking to move innovation forward at the speed of industry.

Speakers include:

  • John J. Hickey, Jr. — Cyber Development Executive for the Defense Information Systems Agency
  • CJ Coppersmith — Director of Product Cybersecurity and Compliance with Hewlett Packard Enterprise.
  • Cory Musselman — Director of Cyber Initiatives for the Enterprise and Cyber Solutions at Leidos Defense & Intelligence.
  • Ira A. (Gus) Hunt – Managing Director and Cyber Lead for Accenture Federal Services
  • Kevin D. Walker—Security Chief Technology and Strategy Officer at Juniper Networks
  • Maj. Gen. Jennifer Napper—Group Vice President of DoD and Intelligence Agencies at Unisys Federal Systems

This panel will take place Tuesday, June 13 at 2:15 p.m.

2. Panel session: DoD Collaboration for Success in Cyber

With each of the services building their own cyber components in addition to, and in accordance with, the teams that comprise U.S. Cyber Command, working together across the branches is critical for cyber operations. The discussion will include the tactics employed and tools needed to be successful in the ever-changing domain of cyber.

Speakers include:

  • Maj. Gen. Robert J. Skinner, USAF — Deputy Commander for the Joint Force Headquarters-DoD Information Networks
  • Brig. Gen. Mark E. Weatherington, USAF — Director of Cyberspace Operations for North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command
  • Capt. James H. Mills, USN — Chief of Staff with the United States 10th Fleet
  • Col. Kevin P. Seeley, USAF — Acting Military Health System Deputy Chief Information Officer and Acting Deputy Director of Health Information Technology for Defense Health Agency
  • Col. Paul (Tim) Brooks, USA — Mission Assurance Division Chief for the Department of the Army Management Office- Cyber

This panel will take place Tuesday, June 13 at 3:45 p.m.

3. Plenary address: DoD Innovation

Innovation might be a lingering buzzword in defense and other industries, but for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, innovation is the mission that dates back decades. This keynote featuring DARPA Acting Director Dr. Steven H. Walker, will describe various DARPA programs including:

  • Cyber Grand Challenge, resulting from the first all-machine hacking tournament in the world
  • High Assurance Cyber Military Systems, creating software that is secure
  • Cyber Fault-tolerant Attack Recovery, detecting fault and tolerance under cyber attack
  • Plan X, situational awareness of cyberspace that allows planning military operations in the cyber domain

This panel will take place Wednesday, June 14 at 9:30 a.m. in Hall E.

4. Cyber Education Theater - Leading Government and Industry Women Address Key Cyber Security Issues

Women might be a minority on the battlefield and in the war room, but don't mistake that for an inability to fight in any domain, including cyberspace. This panel features top current and former female leaders in national security who will offer the audience an opportunity to learn as they address priorities, strategies, and challenges faced while staying ahead of cyber security threats.

Speakers include:

  • class="MsoNormal">Lt. Gen. Susan S. Lawrence, USA (Ret.)—Senior Vice President of Booz Allen Hamilton
  • class="MsoNormal">Bobbie Stempfley—Director of Cybersecurity Implementation for The MITRE Corporation
  • class="MsoNormal">Dr. Diana L. Burley—Executive Director and Chair member of the Institute for Information Infrastructure Protection
  • class="MsoNormal">Maj. Gen. Sarah E. Zabel, USAF — Vice Director for the Defnse Information Systems Agency

This panel will take place Wednesday, June 14 at 1:30 p.m.

5. Panel session: Readiness in the Cyber Domain: The Fight for Talent and Resources

The workforce is perhaps one of the most urgent topics in the cyber arena, as leadership in the government competes with the private sector for a relatively small pool of talent. It's an issue that only continues to grow. DoD and academia experts will assess the challenges and demands that building and training a cyber workforce entails as well as noting the organizational and cultural changes that may be needed.

Speakers include:

  • Maj. Gen. Sarah E. Zabel, USAF — Vice Director for the Defnse Information Systems Agency
  • Alan Paller — Director of Research for SANS Institute
  • Col. Jeffery A. Collins, USAF — Director of Air Force CyberWorx for the United States Air Force Academy
  • Karen S. Evans — National Director of the U.S. Cyber Challenge
  • RADM Janice Hamby, USN (Ret.) — Chancellor of the College of Information and Cyberspace for the National Defense University
  • RADM Timothy J. White, USN — Commander of the Cyber National Mission Force for the U.S. Cyber Command

This panel will take place Thursday, June 15 at 10:30 a.m.

About Rachael Kalinyak

Rachael Kalinyak is an editorial intern with Network Solutions.

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