Key Takeaways
- The ninth annual Virginia Cybersecurity Education Conference celebrated the Virginia Cyber Range’s first decade of expanding hands‑on cybersecurity learning across the Commonwealth.
- Hosted by Virginia Tech’s Division of Information Technology, the event drew educators, government agencies, industry leaders, nonprofits, and students to Alexandria’s Academic Building One.
- Keynote speaker Hart Rossman of Amazon Web Services urged attendees to embed security into emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence, from the outset of innovation.
- The conference showcased new Virginia Cyber Range resources—expanded cloud labs, AI‑assisted tools, updated curricula, and improved accessibility—to support modern cybersecurity education.
- Mike Onda of Potomac Falls High School received the 2026 Virginia Cybersecurity Educator Award for his leadership and commitment to hands‑on instruction.
- Over ten years, the Virginia Cyber Range has grown to serve roughly 11,000 students each academic semester, providing scalable, affordable cyber labs without the need for costly on‑premise infrastructure.
Conference Overview
The ninth annual Virginia Cybersecurity Education Conference convened a diverse audience of educators, government representatives, industry professionals, nonprofit organizations, and students from across Virginia. Held over two days at Virginia Tech’s Academic Building One in Alexandria, the event featured a blend of hands‑on workshops, keynote presentations, networking sessions, and a Capture the Flag competition. Attendees explored timely topics such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity workforce development, emerging technologies, and innovative pedagogical approaches. By gathering stakeholders from multiple sectors, the conference aimed to foster collaboration, share best practices, and equip the next generation of cybersecurity professionals with the skills needed to tackle evolving threats.
Host and Venue
Organized by the Virginia Cyber Range—a unit within Virginia Tech’s Division of Information Technology—the conference underscored the program’s role as a central hub for cybersecurity education in the state. The choice of Alexandria’s Academic Building One provided a modern, accessible setting equipped with the technological infrastructure necessary for interactive labs and large‑group presentations. The venue’s proximity to federal agencies and tech firms also facilitated participation from government and industry partners, enriching the dialogue between academia and the practitioners who shape cybersecurity policy and practice.
Mission Statement
Shannon Beck, director of the Virginia Cyber Range, articulated the conference’s core purpose: preparing educators and students for the relentless pace of technological change. Beck emphasized the importance of anticipating “the next wave of technology” and understanding how emerging innovations affect system security. She posed critical questions about where information flows, how to safeguard systems amid ever‑evolving threats, and how to integrate new tools like artificial intelligence into defensive strategies. This forward‑looking mindset drives the Virginia Cyber Range’s continual adaptation of its resources and training programs.
Program Impact Over a Decade
Looking back ten years, the Virginia Cyber Range has fundamentally reshaped cybersecurity education throughout Virginia. By delivering cloud‑based learning environments, ready‑to‑use curriculum materials, capture the flag competitions, and professional development opportunities, the program has made hands‑on cyber instruction both accessible and affordable. Today, the platform supports approximately 11,000 students each academic semester, allowing schools to offer sophisticated cyber labs without the financial burden and maintenance overhead of traditional hardware‑centric infrastructures. This scalability has democratized access to high‑quality cybersecurity training, particularly for underserved and rural school districts.
Founding Vision and Community Building
David Raymond, associate vice president and chief information security officer at Virginia Tech, reflected on the conference’s origins, noting that the original vision was to create a community where educators could learn from one another. He described the annual gathering as a vital mechanism for sharing resources, ideas, and classroom‑tested strategies that enhance student experiences. Raymond expressed pride in the Virginia Cyber Range’s growth over the past decade, highlighting how the program has cultivated a collaborative network that continuously elevates the quality of cybersecurity education across the Commonwealth.
New Resources Highlighted
Building on its established foundation, this year’s conference showcased several new Virginia Cyber Range resources designed to meet contemporary educational demands. Attendees were introduced to expanded cloud‑based learning environments that accommodate more complex scenarios, AI‑assisted tools that help automate lab setup and provide real‑time feedback, updated courseware aligned with current industry standards, and enhanced accessibility features to support diverse learner needs. These innovations aim to reduce barriers for educators seeking to integrate cutting‑edge cybersecurity content into their curricula while ensuring that students gain practical, hands‑on experience with the tools they will encounter in the workforce.
Keynote Address on Emerging Tech
Hart Rossman, Vice President of Security at Amazon Web Services, delivered the conference’s keynote, urging participants to consider security as an integral component of innovation rather than an afterthought. Rossman discussed how organizations can embrace emerging technologies—particularly artificial intelligence—while embedding security controls from the outset of the development lifecycle. He advocated for a collaborative approach, stating, “Let’s figure out how to make this safe and secure as we go forward together.” His remarks reinforced the conference’s theme of proactive preparedness and highlighted the shared responsibility of educators, industry, and government to build resilient systems in a rapidly changing threat landscape.
Awards and Recognition
The conference also served as a platform to honor excellence in cybersecurity education. The 2026 Virginia Cybersecurity Educator Award was presented to Mike Onda of Potomac Falls High School, recognizing his leadership, innovation, and steadfast commitment to advancing hands‑on cybersecurity instruction in Virginia. Onda’s work exemplifies the impact that dedicated educators can have on student readiness and interest in cybersecurity careers. By celebrating such achievements, the conference underscores the importance of recognizing and replicating successful teaching practices across the state.
Closing Thoughts
Overall, the ninth annual Virginia Cybersecurity Education Conference succeeded in blending reflection on a decade of progress with a forward‑looking agenda that addresses emerging challenges. Through workshops, keynote insights, resource demonstrations, and award recognitions, the event reinforced the Virginia Cyber Range’s mission to equip educators and students with the knowledge, skills, and community support necessary to safeguard digital assets in an era of accelerating technological change. As the program looks ahead to its next ten years, the collaborations and ideas generated at this conference will likely continue to shape the future of cybersecurity education throughout Virginia and beyond.