Call for Proposals

The VASCAN conference relies largely on its members in sharing their experiences, and best practices. As a reminder VASCAN’s membership, and conference attendees, include representatives from most public and private higher ed institutions and the community college system in Virginia, as well as attendees from local and state Virginia government agencies. Selected presentations will be featured at the conference and a complimentary registration will be provided to the presenter. If you submit a proposal, do NOT register for the conference. The CFP will close on Thursday, July 30, 2026 @ 11:59pm so that we can get the schedule published early this year.

Questions? Contact Hope Adams, VASCAN Conference Coordinator.

VASCAN is looking for speakers and presentations from its member community, to share their experience and expertise for the 2026 conference. We are hoping to have a technical track if we get enough “technical” proposals. Space is limited for presentations so get yours in early!

Note: Platinum and Gold sponsors will receive a separate submission link directly from Hope Adams.

Questions? Contact Hope Adams, VASCAN Conference Coordinator.

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Attendee Registration

• For Virginia higher education, state government, and local government employees only.
• If you are a higher ed, state, or local government employee and presenting, register for training only. Do not register for Conference or Conference + Training.
• REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE FOR THE CONFERENCE AND TRAINING CLASS ON Thursday, October 15th at 11:59PM. Onsite or late registration will not be available. Advance registration is mandatory for this conference.

2026 Sponsorship opportunities are SOLD OUT. Sponsor and vendor representatives must email Hope Adams. Do not register using these links—registrations will be canceled (minus a processing fee).

Registration Fees

• Conference Only: $150
• Conference + Training: $250 **
• Training Only: $100 (higher ed/agency presenters only) ***

Registrants must have a .edu or .gov email address.

Important: Do not register until you are ready to pay. You may register multiple attendees and complete payment in a single transaction.

Registration includes both days of the conference, all sessions, keynote, breakfast, lunch, breaks, sponsor meet & greets, and evening social events. Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits will be available.

**Attendees must register for the conference in order to attend the training.
***If you select this, and are NOT a presenter, your registration will be canceled and you will be refunded, minus the $10 processing fee.

Cancellation Policy: No cancellations will be allowed. Substitutions only – please contact Hope Adams to facilitate the substitution. In the event of day-of illness, your registration can be moved to the next conference year.

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Lodging & Parking

Hotel Madison Room Block: Hotel Booking Link              

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Founder’s Award Nomination

The VASCAN Founder’s Award (formerly the Shirley Payne IT Security Advancement Award) is presented during the annual VASCAN Conference to an IT security professional, manager, or auditor who has made a notable contribution to the Virginia information security community.

This award also recognizes individuals who demonstrate a strong commitment to professional growth, developing others, and advancing effective information security practices.

Nomination Deadline: Friday, September 11, 2026 at 5:00 PM

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Training Information

Training Class Title: Hacking Risk Management – How to Think, Decide, and Lead Like a Hacker

Format: 1-day, 8 hours (in-person)

Trainer: Jake Kouns

Audience

Security and technology leaders, vendor risk teams, red/blue teams, product/security engineers, governance & audit, curious non‑security executives. Mixed‑experience friendly; designed so even seasoned pros get fresh mental models.

Overview

We’ve all been taught to color inside the lines. Adversaries don’t. This class rewires how you think and more importantly how you see, prioritize, and act on risk by using adversarial thinking, cognitive bias awareness, practical risk frameworks, and real-world decision-making under pressure. You’ll also learn how to stay focused, lead more effectively, and operate with clarity when it matters most. You’ll leave with a repeatable playbook and practical tools you can apply the very next day.

Electronics Policy

This session is built around discussion, exercises, and real thinking. We respectfully ask that you only check email during breaks and lunch — your mind needs to be engaged!

Trainer Bio

Jake Kouns is a renowned cybersecurity expert and Managing Partner at JK2 Heavy Industries. He was the founder of Risk Based Security (acquired by Flashpoint) and has spent his career helping organizations protect critical assets against evolving threats. His expertise spans vulnerability intelligence, third-party risk, and enterprise security risk management, and he is a sought-after speaker and trusted advisor to organizations of all sizes. Jake holds an MBA from James Madison University with a concentration in Information Security and has held multiple security certifications. Jake is a founding partner of the annual RVAsec Security Conference (rvsasec,com) and a frequent speaker at major industry events including RSA, Black Hat, and DEF CON. Jake is an active angel investor and startup advisor, including being an LP at two different VC firms, and has authored multiple books on computer security. Beyond cybersecurity, he was recently featured as an ICON on the investment TV show America’s Real Deal. Jake has spent decades helping organizations better understand real-world risk, moving beyond theory, compliance, and security theater to focus on what actually matters.