Science & Technology

NSA official headlines inaugural Southeast Cybersecurity Conference

Experts will collaborate to advance cybersecurity education at the inaugural CAE Southeast Cybersecurity Conference, where NSA National Cryptologic School Provost Diane M. Janosek will deliver the keynote address.

Experts will collaborate to advance cybersecurity education at the inaugural CAE Southeast Cybersecurity Conference, where NSA National Cryptologic School Provost Diane M. Janosek will deliver the keynote address.

The SECC is organized by the University of West Florida Center for Cybersecurity, which is based in Pensacola and serves as the National Center of Academic Excellence Regional Resource Center for the Southeast U.S. The conference is sponsored by the NSA and Department of Homeland Security and will be held on July 26-27 at the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld.

“Cybersecurity, without a doubt, is critical to our security and economic prosperity. Each one of us plays a key role in guarding our freedoms. Thank you to the University of West Florida Center for Cybersecurity, Dr. Eman El-Sheikh, and its faculty and staff for hosting this wonderful conference. I am honored to deliver the keynote,” said Janosek, who serves as NSA’s Provost and Deputy Commandant for the National Cryptologic School, which contains five colleges to include the College of Cyber and College of Cryptology.

Janosek manages and oversees the delivery of unique offerings for the nation’s civilian and military intelligence global workforce in the areas of cyber, network security, cyber resilience, and encryption to ensure a strong federal workforce to defend critical national security networks. In her current role, she is committed to the educational, leadership, professional and practical learning needs of the nation’s cyber workforce in today’s dynamic threat environment.

Previously, Janosek served in leadership roles in NSA’s Directorate of Technology, which included serving as the deputy Chief Information Security Officer. She has served in a variety of legal, policy and executive management positions in the judicial and executive branches of the U.S. Government.

The SECC is the latest step in building a vibrant cybersecurity community across the Southeast. The conference will bring experts together to advance cybersecurity education and enhance opportunities for collaboration.

The SECC includes faculty professional development sessions on cybersecurity, collaboration and networking sessions, and CAE designation application and curricular mapping workshops. Faculty from across the Southeast will share their passion and expertise on critical topics, including industrial control systems security, cryptography, behavioral cybersecurity and the enhancement of curricula through cyber ranges and competitions.

“Our vision is to develop a collaborative community across the Southeast that will come together to advance cybersecurity education and resiliency both regionally and nationally,” said El-Sheikh, director of the UWF Center for Cybersecurity. “SECC will create opportunities to share expertise and collaborate in order to build a strong cybersecurity workforce and keep ahead of the dynamic threat landscape.”

As the Cybersecurity Regional Resource Center for the Southeast, UWF provides leadership to advance cyber defense education among colleges and universities in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Puerto Rico and South Carolina, and also support to all CAE designated institutions and institutions seeking CAE designation.

For more information about the Southeast Cybersecurity Conference, visit uwf.edu/secc.