MCPA’s First National Convention, HammerCon, is May 19, 2022
Call for Papers now open!
By Christine Billingsley, MCPA COO
November 23, 2021
Like many important events in our lives, the first national convention of the Military Cyber Professionals Association (MCPA) was postponed due to the pandemic. Originally scheduled for June 2020 to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the establishment of United States Cyber Command, we are now delighted to announce that the MCPA will hold this epic gathering on May 19th, 2022 at Capitol Technology University in Laurel, Maryland.
HammerCon, as the convention is known, got its name from the hammer of Thor. This tool, like cyberspace, has both the power to build and to destroy. That mythological warrior, who operates in and through the clouds as the god of thunder, adorns the Order of Thor medal. This medal is the centerpiece of the MCPA’s recognition program and has been adopted by units and leaders across the Joint Force as a way to recognize excellence in the cyber community.
This grand assembly of military cyber professionals and the broader community of interest at HammerCon will be a prime opportunity for learning, team building, networking, professional development, and having a great time. Exhibitors, be they military units or tech sector startups, will have opportunities to share knowledge about their contributions to the fight. Over the course of this one day event, there will be multiple tracks and sessions covering diverse topics including techniques, threats, new solutions, legislation, and research. Adding to the fun, there will even be a Capture the Flag (CTF), Hacker Jeopardy, reception, and barbeque!
The convention will feature three tracks:
CORE (Cyber Operations Readiness & Experiences) is the main track in the auditorium that seats hundreds of personnel.
NERD (New Emerging Research & Development) is our scholarly research track that includes publishing in our journal's proceedings.
GIT (Growing Innovations in Tech) is our private sector solutions track.
Call for Papers
Now's your chance to take center stage and get published! We're looking for talks across all three tracks. The call for papers is now open! Submit your abstract for the CORE, NERD, or GIT tracks by December 31, 2021. Submit here.
Tickets
HammerCon ticket sales will open January 1, 2022. MCPA members will attend for free. Stay tuned for more details. Information about MCPA membership is available here.
Scholarship
Funds from HammerCon will be used to support a scholarship. While the complete details are not ready for publication yet, we can tell you that the initial criteria for the recipient will be:
Child of an active MCPA member
Majoring in a STEM related field at the college level
Sponsors
Thank you to our annual sponsors Capitol Technology University, Wickr, and Nutanix. If you’re interested in getting involved with sponsoring contact christine@milcyber.org or visit public.milcyber.org.
About the Author
Christine Billingsley is the MCPA Chief Operating Officer and Co-Lead for HammerCon. She has extensive experience in the nonprofit and technology sectors. Christine has organized events large and small, both domestically and internationally, including serving as the lead for the DEFCON Arcade Party.