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 in years to come.
This event is hosted by Florida International University and New America, supported by NICE, a program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The 2025 NICE Conference & Expo will take place on June 1-3, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. The conference will offer a half-day of targeted workshops followed by two full days of insights from experienced thought leaders from education, government, industry, and non-profits who are addressing cybersecurity’s education, training, and workforce needs.
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See our 2025 Planning Committee →
2025 Planning Committee
Academia
Jeff London
Metro State University of Denver
Gretchen Bliss
UC Colorado Springs
Michele Robinson
Whatcom Community College
Eric Brown
Tennessee Tech
Martha Karavitis-Hemmati
William Rainey Harper College
Industry
Bradley Wolfenden
Katzy
Sarah Morales
Katie Brooks
Aspen Institute
Lindsey Caldwell
Leidos
Katie Boudreau
MasterCard
Government
Kevin Sanchez Cherry
US Department of Transportation
Kristy Daphnis
Office of Management and Budget
Jennie Banta
State of Colorado
Alyssa Zeutzius
State of New York
Eleanor Taylor
Idaho National Labs
Sean McAfee
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security US Agency
Interested in joining the 2026 NICE planning committee?
Email us at info@niceconference.org.
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) is one of the top research institutions in the U.S. FIU has earned the Carnegie Foundation’s Research 1: “Highest Research Activity” designation – a nationwide distinction less than 3% of universities can claim. As the largest minority-majority university in the United States and one of the nation’s largest Hispanic-serving institutions, FIU is ranked first in awarding bachelor’s degrees to minorities and bachelor’s and master’s degrees to Hispanic students. The University recently designated Cybersecurity@FIU as a preeminent emerging program with key pillars on 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 Diverse and Skilled 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