The ninth annual Virginia Cybersecurity Education Conference brought together educators, government agencies, industry leaders, nonprofit organizations, and students from across Virginia to explore emerging technologies, share ideas, and prepare the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.
Hosted by the Virginia Cyber Range, part of Virginia Tech’s Division of Information Technology, the two-day conference was held at Virginia Tech’s Academic Building One in Alexandria. This year’s event also celebrated the program’s first decade of expanding access to hands-on cybersecurity education. Attendees participated in hands-on workshops, keynote presentations, networking opportunities, and a Capture the Flag competition while exploring topics including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity workforce development, emerging technologies, and innovative approaches to cybersecurity education.
Shannon Beck, director of the Virginia Cyber Range, said preparing educators and students for rapidly evolving technologies remains central to the program’s mission. “We’re always trying to prepare for that next wave of technology. Where is this information going? How do we keep our systems secure especially in light of ever emerging threats and technology, including artificial intelligence?” Beck said.
Over the past decade, the Virginia Cyber Range has helped reshape cybersecurity education across the Commonwealth by making hands-on learning more accessible, scalable, and affordable. Through cloud-based learning environments, curriculum, capture the flag competitions, and professional development opportunities, the program has expanded access to practical cybersecurity instruction for educators and students alike. Today, the platform supports approximately 11,000 students each academic semester, making it easier for schools to deliver sophisticated cyber labs without the expense and maintenance of traditional infrastructure.
Looking back on the conference’s beginnings, David Raymond, associate vice president and chief information security officer at Virginia Tech, said the vision was always to create a community where educators could learn from one another. “This annual conference is one way that we bring the cybersecurity education community together to share resources and ideas to improve students’ experiences in the classroom,” said Raymond. “Looking back over the years, I’m thrilled with what the Virginia Cyber Range has been able to provide to educators and students.”
Building on that foundation, this year’s conference highlighted new Virginia Cyber Range resources designed to support cybersecurity education, including expanded learning environments, AI-assisted tools, updated courseware, and enhanced accessibility.
While the conference celebrated the program’s first decade, keynote speaker Hart Rossman, Vice President of Security at Amazon Web Services, encouraged attendees to look ahead, discussing how organizations can embrace emerging technologies while building security into the innovation process. “Let’s figure out how to make this safe and secure as we go forward together,” Rossman said.
The conference recognized excellence in cybersecurity education from teachers to students, starting with the presentation of the 2026 Virginia Cybersecurity Educator Award. Mike Onda of Potomac Falls High School received the award for his leadership, innovation, and commitment to advancing hands-on cybersecurity education in Virginia.
The 2026 Virginia Cyber Signing Day honorees are:
- Jake Goodwin, Spotsylvania High School, will attend Virginia Tech to study computer engineering.
- Zachary Smith, Spotsylvania High School, will attend George Mason University to study information technology with a concentration in cybersecurity.
- Pranjali Sanwal, Briar Woods High School, will attend Virginia Tech to study computer engineering.
- Dinh Tran, Chantilly Academy, will attend George Mason University to study cybersecurity engineering.
- Samridh Mankala, John Champe High School, will attend Virginia Tech to study cybersecurity.
As the Virginia Cyber Range begins its second decade, the conference continues to advance the program’s mission by bringing the cybersecurity education community together to share ideas, strengthen instruction, and foster collaboration across Virginia. The conference was sponsored in part by Commonwealth Cyber Initiative Southwest Virginia.
