The NICE Conference is the annual convening of community members and thought leaders from education, government, industry, and non-profits to explore ways of developing a skilled cybersecurity workforce ready to meet the challenges of the future. This event provides an opportunity to share best practices from around the world and across sectors in order to build the workforce we need to confront cybersecurity risks today and those still to come.
Hosted by Florida International University and New America, and supported by NICE, a program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the U.S. Department of Commerce, the conference brings together a vibrant community committed to advancing cybersecurity education, training, and workforce development.
The 2026 NICE Conference & Expo will take place on June 1-3, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The conference will offer a half-day of targeted workshops followed by two full days of thought-provoking sessions led by experts from across sectors, all focused on addressing the nation’s cybersecurity education, training, and workforce needs.
This year’s theme, “From Foundations to the Future: Transforming the Cybersecurity Workforce,” honors our historical roots while looking boldly ahead. Just as the Founding Fathers laid the groundwork for a new nation, the cybersecurity community has long been establishing a skilled and adaptive workforce that is prepared to meet the demands of an increasingly complex digital world.
The theme highlights the ongoing evolution of workforce development and the sustained efforts of connecting foundational practices with innovative, inclusive approaches designed to address emerging technologies and future challenges.
2026 Planning Committee
Academia
Dr. Michelle Angelo-Rocha
University of South Florida
Dr. Kristine Christensen
Moraine Valley Community College
Nick Falcone
University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Aunshul Rege
Temple University
Dr. Selvan Snow
Assumption University
Government
Daniel Eliot
NIST, U.S. Department of Commerce
Daniel Massey
National Science Foundation
Jared Neitzel
U.S. Department of State
Amanda Theel
Argonne National Labatory
Industry
Hila Hanif
Amazon Web Services
Brian Hansen
Mastercard
Franz Payer
Cyber Skyline
Tina Romeo
Microsoft Security
Bradley Wolfenden
Katzcy | Playcyber
Non Profit
Matthew Nagamine
Consortium for Cybersecurity Clinics
Betsy Sohren Jones
West Monroe
Neferteri Strickland
The National Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
Meredith Ward
National Association of State Chief Information Officers
Thank you for your interest in joining the 2026 NICE Planning Committee. At this time, the committee has been fully formed.
Who Should Attend?
- Employers and Hiring Managers who need to recruit, hire, develop, and retain a skilled cybersecurity workforce
- Educators from K12 Schools, Community Colleges, 4 Year Colleges, and Universities
- Advisors to students, job-seekers, and employees seeking careers in cybersecurity
- Students and aspiring professionals desiring to enter the cyber workforce
- Providers of training content and learning environments
- Suppliers of industry-recognized certifications in cybersecurity
- Managers of workforce development programs
- Organizers of community economic development initiatives
- Developers of innovative products and services that enable developing a skilled workforce
- Policymakers from local, state, federal, and international government
Florida International University (FIU) stands as one of the premier research institutions in the United States. It has received the Carnegie Foundation’s Research 1 designation for “Highest Research Activity,” a prestigious recognition that fewer than 3% of universities achieve. Our commitment lies in enhancing the lives of both the local and global community. With a student population exceeding 56,000, we rank among the largest universities in the country. FIU has ascended into the Top 50 best public universities and the Top 100 best national universities, including both private and public institutions, as noted in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings.
Additionally, the University has identified Cybersecurity@FIU as a leading emerging program, concentrating on key areas such as cybersecurity workforce development and international capacity building.
The NICE Conference is being led by the Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy and the Division of Information Technology.
New America is pioneering a new kind of think and action tank: a civic platform that connects a research institute, technology lab, solutions network, media hub and public forum. We are dedicated to renewing America by continuing the quest to realize our nation’s highest ideals, honestly confronting the challenges caused by rapid technological and social change, and seizing the opportunities those changes create.
NICE, led by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), is a partnership between government, academia, and the private sector focused on cybersecurity education, training, and workforce development. The mission of NICE is to energize and promote a robust network and an ecosystem of cybersecurity education, training, and workforce development. NICE fulfills this mission by coordinating with government, academic, and industry partners to build on existing successful programs, facilitate change and innovation, and bring leadership and vision to increase the number of skilled cybersecurity professionals helping to keep our nation secure.
NICE Strategic Goals:
- Promote the Discovery of Cybersecurity Careers and Multiple Pathways
- Transform Learning to Build and Sustain a Skilled and Resilient Workforce
- Modernize the Talent Management Process to Address Cybersecurity Skills Gaps
- Expand Use of the Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity (NICE Framework)
- Drive Research on Effective Practices for Cybersecurity Workforce Development