Agenda & speakers

Cyber Civil Defense Summit: East
August 20, 2026, at Kean University in Union, New Jersey

Time	Event	Description
8:00am – 9:00am	Registration, Breakfast, & Networking
9:00am – 9:25am	Opening Ceremonies & Welcome
9:25am – 10:10am	Mainstage Panel: Cyber Civil Defense in Times of Conflict	As CISA staffing drops and SLCGP funding faces an uncertain future, state and local technology leaders are increasingly responsible for protecting community infrastructure (schools, cities, utilities, and nonprofits) from a range of international digital threats. In this panel, senior government leaders discuss how their whole-of-state cybersecurity strategies are changing in response to global conflicts in Israel, Iran, and Ukraine. Panelists will discuss the most effective regional actions for defending communities against digital threats and how volunteers, industry, and civil society can best support these efforts.
10:10am- 10:25am	Coffee & Networking Break
10:25am – 10:30am	Cyber Civil Defense & Take9
10:30am – 11:15am	Mainstage Panel: State Cyber Policy in the East	Amid shifting headwinds in U.S. federal leadership on cyber defense and cyber capacity building, states are increasingly taking up the mantle of cybersecurity leadership. State legislatures have become the primary engines of cybersecurity policymaking in the U.S., with legislatures proposing hundreds and enacting dozens of cybersecurity-related bills every year. This panel will convene state lawmakers who are introducing and passing cybersecurity legislation aimed at strengthening cyber defense across local government and critical infrastructure. The discussion will explore the cybersecurity policy priorities currently under consideration, the motivations behind them, and the challenges and obstacles to their passage—highlighting lessons across states to learn from one another to drive forward meaningful progress.
11:30am – 12:30pm	Breakout Sessions (A)
	Optimizing Shared Services: Expanding Access to Cybersecurity Across Communities	Local governments, K-12 schools, water utilities, nonprofits, and other community organizations are often expected to manage cybersecurity risks without the budget, staff, or procurement capacity to do so effectively on their own. This panel will explore how states are using shared services to make cybersecurity support more affordable and accessible for both state agencies and resource-constrained local partners. Panelists will discuss promising models emerging across Eastern states, including pooled or state-supported cyber insurance, statewide security operations center (SOC) services, managed detection and response, endpoint protection, vulnerability scanning, and other shared tools and services. The conversation will examine which models are working, where they fall short, and how states can build sustainable programs that help under-resourced organizations close the cybersecurity resource gap.
	Cyber Volunteering in the East	As cyber threats continue to target local governments, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations, community cybersecurity volunteering programs are emerging as a critical line of defense at the grassroots level. Across the eastern United States, dedicated volunteers are stepping in to build cyber resilience where resources are often thin and professional support is out of reach. This panel will convene leaders of community cyber volunteering programs who are doing the hard work of standing up and sustaining these efforts on the ground. The discussion will explore the tangible impact these programs are delivering to local communities, the logistical and organizational challenges of keeping them running, and the strategies behind building volunteer pipelines that last — highlighting lessons across programs to learn from one another and drive meaningful, community-level change.
12:30pm – 1:30pm	Lunch
1:45pm – 2:45pm	Breakout Sessions (B)
	The Role of Third-Party Vendors in Community Cybersecurity: Making Secure Products the Default	Schools, local governments, and other pieces of community infrastructure depend on third-party technology vendors to deliver essential public services. Yet, many lack the cybersecurity staff, expertise, and resources needed to identify and resolve the risks introduced by the third-party products they use. This panel will examine the practicalities and potential pitfalls of shifting more of the burden of cyber defense from resource-constrained community organizations onto industry. Panelists will also examine the policy levers available in the state and local procurement process and industry collaboration to encourage vendors to adopt stronger security practices and make products secure-by-design, as well as enabling protective features by default or proactively testing for vulnerabilities.
	Building the Next Generation of the Cybersecurity Workforce Amid AI Advances	Escalating experience requirements for “entry-level” cybersecurity positions are making it increasingly difficult for fresh graduates to break into the industry. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) may change the skills employers are looking for and the jobs available to early-career job seekers. This panel will examine ongoing efforts in Eastern states to develop local cybersecurity talent and create opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience. This panel will discuss which models—such as internships, apprenticeships, cybersecurity clinics, and more—are proving most effective in helping students land their first jobs, and how those programs are adapting to address the impacts of AI technology. The conversation will also feature perspectives from students and career advisors on the barriers facing entry-level candidates, as well as from state and local leaders on the difficulties of recruiting and retaining talent in public service careers.
3:00pm – 3:45pm	Mainstage Panel: Sustaining Local Cyber Defense for Counties, Cities, Towns, and Tribes in Lean Times	This panel will examine how cities, counties, and small towns have used federal and state grant programs—including the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP)—to improve cybersecurity and resilience in their communities. Panelists will discuss the needs these investments addressed, the capabilities they helped build, and how local leaders approached grant funding with long-term sustainability in mind. The conversation will also explore how local governments successfully work with state partners to address cyber threats, close capacity gaps, and advance shared resilience goals, and how those relationships can be specifically improved. The discussion will also explore how local governments can sustain new programs, services, and capabilities if grant funding is reduced, remains short-term, or ends altogether.
3:45pm – 4:15pm	Action Workshop
4:15pm – 4:30pm	Workshop Share-Out & Closing Remarks
4:30pm – 6:30pm	Networking Reception

SPEAKERS