Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity

Forum Desired Outcome: To provide relevant cybersecurity technical and policy updates on current and emerging ideas for protecting open data and cloud environments through standards and best practices in novel regimes, including edge and outer space systems.

OVERVIEW

Red Hat with National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST), and NOAA Office of Space Commerce are co-hosting the fourth annual Cybersecurity Open Forum – Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity, in Washington, DC. This in-person event will be an opportunity to hear from leading experts, practitioners, representatives from state and federal agencies about the nature of cybersecurity vulnerabilities and strategies to unleash innovation and accelerate the development of a space based economy.

Join the discussion with leaders from the field who are shaping evolutionary approaches to safeguard against current and emerging threats for secure data and commerce in important commercial sectors. Topics will include computing and security measures, best practices, and policies for the ever-changing landscape of commercial space, vulnerabilities, and intelligence.

Two themes will be highlighted for this year’s Open Forum:

Building a Space Economy with cybersecurity: The burgeoning space economy is rapidly transforming how we live and work, impacting vital sectors of the US economy. Space-based solutions are becoming indispensable from precision agriculture and resource exploration that bolster our food and energy security, to global tele-communications and internet connectivity, financial transaction security that underpin our digital infrastructure, and to maritime domain awareness and air traffic management that safeguard our transportation systems. Resilient, secure approaches to space systems will maintain US leadership while promoting innovation and responsible space commerce and is crucial for ensuring our economic competitiveness, national security, and technological advancement.

At this open forum, participants will learn from leading cyber professionals best practices and strategies to reduce risk, from manufacture to final disposition at end-of-life, and enable protection from cyber criminals, advanced persistent threats, and other vulnerabilities in domains ranging from the terrestrial infrastructure to the in-space operational environment.

Operationalizing and Innovation in cybersecurity: The space economy serves as a powerful illustration of how targeted investment and strategic development can ignite innovation with far-reaching benefits across the entire economic landscape. As we operationalize space, through advancements in cybersecurity, technology commoditization, and the growth of specialized service providers, we are witnessing a surge in breakthroughs that extend well beyond the space sector. This dynamic ecosystem is driving progress in autonomous systems, advanced materials, data analytics, and more, impacting industries from manufacturing to healthcare.

During this open forum, participants will gain valuable insights into how driving progress in autonomous systems, advanced materials, data analytics, and more are enabling cyber protections and unlocking new opportunities for economic resilience and long-term sustainability for systems supporting our critical infrastructure.

We are pleased to offer continuing professional education (CPE) credits to those that attend the event. Carahsoft is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education of the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. For more information on the CPE credits we are offering, the CPE sponsor, NASBA, and submission process, please click here.

Online registration is no longer available for this event. Please contact registration assistance in order to get information about registering at this time.

Agenda

SESSION	TIME
Breakfast	8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
Opening Remarks by Event Chairs Dr. Dianne Poster, Senior Advisor, Director's Office, Material Measurement Laboratory, NIST and NOAA Office of Space Commerce, U.S. Department of Commerce Michael Epley, Chief Architect and Security Strategist, Red Hat	8:30 AM - 8:35 AM
Keynote Mark Lance, Vice President, DFIR and Threat Intelligence, GuidePoint Security	8:35 AM - 8:55 AM
Fireside Chat: Lessons for Strategic Competition and Outpacing Threats This chat will provide an expert look at the Federal focus on cybersecurity strategies to enable and protect the commercialization of space. Conversations will include how guidelines, best practices, and technologies are developed, tested, and deployed for enabling commercial and government systems to stay ahead of risk mitigation and threat reduction for space systems. Rick Miner, Deputy Assistant Chief Information Officer for Satellites, National Environmental Satellite and Data Information Service (NESDIS) Brian Weeden, PhD, Systems Director, Center for Space Policy and Strategy, The Aerospace Corporation Anna Brady-Estevez, Founding Partner, American DeepTech	8: 55 AM - 9:35 AM
Special Presentation: TraCSS Update Dmitry Poisik, Program Manager, Traffic Coordination System for Space, NOAA Office of Space Commerce Madeleine Chang, Director of Policy, Satellite Industry Association	9:35 AM - 9:55 AM
Break	9:55 AM - 10:10 AM
Presentation - Cyber Resilience for Space Systems Ernest Wong, Technical Lead, PNT & Space Systems, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science & Technology Directorate (S&T)	10:10 AM - 10:30 AM
Moderated Panel: Cybersecurity at the Edge for Advanced Protection for the In-space Environment The panel will examine why and how space systems require evaluation of risk at all levels of the systems lifecycle. Experts will share insights on cutting-edge innovations and actionable strategies shaping the cybersecurity needs and applications for the in-space environment and on-orbit operations. Michael Barton, Director, Sales and Services, a.i. solutions Sariah Fischer, Director of Business Development, Interlune Wajid Hassan, LogicFinder Eric Jones, CISSP, Principal, Director of Space Mission Infrastructure and Security, Booz Allen Moderator: Stephanie Harris, Principal Product Security Engineer, FedRAMP ISSM, Red Hat	10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Moderated Panel: Implementing Cybersecurity Solutions for Network and Space Sustainability Space systems support multiple layers of networked parties and connections that require tiered approaches for ensuring the continuity of operations, which in turn helps preserve the sustainability of the outer space environment. This panel will discuss solutions to enable better cyber postures for complex space networks for manufacturers, owners, operators, and managers without compromising security, reliability, and cost. Daniel T. Carroll, Senior Director, Solutions Management and Dell Federal Field Chief Technology Officer, Dell Technologies Federal Guru Nagaraja, Chief Executive Officer, US WebSoft Corp Jim Neidich, Vice President, Cybersecurity Services, Kratos Defense José María Legido, International Markets Director, GMV Secure e-Solutions Moderator: Matthew Neal Miller, Principal Security Program Manager, Red Hat	11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Keynote - NIST’s Cybersecurity Framework 2.0 and Possible Implications for Space Profiles Suzanne Lightman, Computer Security Analyst, NIST	11:30 AM - 11:50 AM
Moderated Panel: Evolving Cybersecurity Landscape and International Technology and Policy The rapidly changing landscape of cyber threats and the need for global collaboration to develop and adapt policies is essential. As technologies and cybercrimes become increasingly sophisticated, international cooperation to establish norms, best practices and coordinated responses across borders become ever more important. This panel will discuss key issues about evolving cybersecurity and international policy, including data privacy, critical infrastructure protection, attribution of cyberattacks, and building cyber resilience. Christine Hirst Bernhardt, Ph.D., STEM Education Coordinator, Northern VA Community College, and Science Faculty, University of Maryland Global Campus Alex Herbets, Director of Business Development & Government Affairs, Starfish Space Tim Ruthemeyer, Empowered Official, Import Export Office, United States Naval Research Laboratory Moderator: Andrew D’Uva, President, Providence Access Company	11:50 AM - 12:15 PM
Break	12:15 PM - 12:30 PM
Lunch Keynote - Strategies and Policies for Risk Mitigation and Innovation Madeleine Chang, Director of Policy, Satellite Industry Association	12:30 PM - 12:50 PM
Technical Presentation - Where No AI Has Gone Before: Optimizing Intelligence for Space and Edge Cybersecurity As we extend our digital reach into the far edges of space and the front lines of cyber defense, AI must adapt to operate in environments never originally designed for it. This session will explore how model optimization techniques—like sparsification, quantization, and pruning—are making it possible to deploy advanced AI in constrained, mission-critical settings. From satellites and space-based systems to forward-operating cyber infrastructure, we’ll highlight how tools like Neural Magic and edge-native platforms enable efficient, tailored AI that’s resilient, secure, and fast. Join us to learn how we’re taking AI where no AI has gone before—powering the next wave of intelligent, adaptive systems. Frank La Vigne, Principal Technical Marketing Manager Red Hat AI	1:00 PM - 1:20 PM

Technical Presentation Kip Gering, Chief Revenue Officer, SpiderOak	1:20 PM - 1:40 PM
Technical Presentation - Applying the NIST Cybersecurity Framework to Responsible Use of PNT Services Ya-Shian Li-Baboud, Cyberinfrastructure Group Lead, Information Technology Laboratory, NIST	1:40 PM - 2:00 PM
Closing Keynote - Security for Space Systems: A Retrospective The presentation looks at security for space from the ‘old’ days to the present with a peek to the future. It provides an overview of the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS), the lack of security for civilian space missions, the creation of the Security Working Group, and the development of security standards and security guidance for space systems. Howard Weiss, Senior Systems Engineer, Parsons Inc	2:00 PM - 2:20 PM
Wrap-up and Closing Remarks Event Chairs - Dianne Poster and Michael Epley	2:20 PM - 2:30 PM

Speakers

Michael Barton

Director, Sales and Services, a.i. solutions

Christine Hirst Bernhardt, Ph.D.

STEM Education Coordinator, Northern VA Community College, and Science Faculty, University of Maryland Global Campus

Anna Brady-Estevez

Founding Partner, American DeepTech

Daniel T. Carroll

Senior Director, Solutions Management and Dell Federal Field Chief Technology Officer, Dell Technologies Federal

Madeleine Chang

Director of Policy, Satellite Industry Association

Andrew D’Uva

President, Providence Access Company

Michael Epley

Chief Architect and Security Strategist, Red Hat

Sariah Fischer

Director of Business Development, Interlune

Kip Gering

Chief Revenue Officer, SpiderOak

Stephanie Harris

Principal Product Security Engineer, FedRAMP ISSM, Red Hat

Wajid Hassan

CEO, LogicFinder

Alex Herbets

Director of Business Development & Government Affairs, Starfish Space

Eric Jones, CISSP

Principal, Director of Space Mission Infrastructure and Security, Booz Allen

Mark Lance

Vice President, DFIR and Threat Intelligence, GuidePoint Security

Frank La Vigne

Principal Technical Marketing Manager Red Hat AI

Ya-Shian Li-Baboud

Cyberinfrastructure Group Lead, Information Technology Laboratory, NIST

Suzanne Lightman

Computer Security Analyst, NIST

José María Legido

International Markets Director, GMV Secure e-Solutions

Matthew Neal Miller

Principal Security Program Manager, Red Hat

Rick Miner

Deputy Assistant Chief Information Officer for Satellites, National Environmental Satellite and Data Information Service (NESDIS)

Jim Neidich

Vice President, Cybersecurity Services, Kratos Defense

Dmitry Poisik

TraCSS Program Manager, NOAA, Office of Space Commerce

Dr. Dianne Poster

Senior Advisor, Director's Office, Material Measurement Laboratory, NIST and NOAA Office of Space Commerce, U.S. Department of Commerce

Guru Nagaraja

Chief Executive Officer, US WebSoft Corp

Tim Ruthemeyer

Empowered Official, Import Export Office, United States Naval Research Laboratory

Matt Scholl

Chief of the Computer Security Division, Information Technology Laboratory (ITL), National Institute of Standards and Technology

Brian Weeden, PhD

Systems Director, Center for Space Policy and Strategy, The Aerospace Corporation

Howard Weiss

Senior Systems Engineer, Parsons Inc.

Ernest Wong

Technical Lead, PNT & Space Systems, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science & Technology Directorate (S&T)

Travel / Location

Location:
Ronald Reagan Building
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Rotunda
Washington, 20004, United States

Red Hat is committed to the health and safety of our customers, partners, and employees. All attendees will be expected to follow Red Hat and local guidelines regarding COVID-19. Please do not attend if you are feeling ill or have any symptoms of a viral infection. Please note that all protocols are subject to change.

Date: Thursday, May 1, 2025
Time: 8:00 AM - 2:30 PM (UTC-04:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)
Any questions? Reach out to knichols@redhat.com.

Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity - an Open Forum