The College of Professional Studies To Host Cybersecurity, Stronger Together 2026 Conference

WASHINGTON (January 27) – The George Washington University’s College of Professional Studies (CPS), in partnership with The Cyber Guild, will convene government, industry, and first-responder leaders for an immersive cybersecurity conference that treats cyber threats as real-world public safety risks. Framed around a hypothetical attack on the opening ceremonies of the 2028 Olympic Games, the conference follows a cascading scenario that begins with an operational-technology cyber intrusion and escalates into an on-the-ground attack, examining how cyber, physical security, and emergency response must be integrated to prevent and respond to high-consequence events. 

Attendees will experience immersive video scenarios, hands-on tabletop exercises, and real-world simulations designed to test crisis decision-making. 

For more information, watch the event trailer here.

Objectives & Goals:

As a catalyst for action, the 2026 conference inspires leaders to strengthen critical infrastructure through proactive engagement and purposeful connections. 

• Highlight Risks to Major Public Events: Examine how major events expose critical infrastructure to cyber-physical threats, and what they teach us about vulnerabilities at scale.
• Demonstrate Cyber-OT-Kinetic Convergence: Show how operational technology (OT) intrusions can escalate into kinetic disruptions, underscoring the need for integrated defenses.
• Advance Coordinated Response Frameworks: Promote cross-domain collaboration among cyber, OT, physical security, and policy leaders to strengthen readiness for complex, high-stakes incidents.

Panel Details:

• The High-Stakes Scorecard: Proactive Risk Assessment for Major Event
• The Critical Chain Reaction: Mapping Dependencies and Challenging Assumptions
• Moving at the Speed of the Crisis: Integrated Incident Response and Recovery

WHO:

For a full list of speakers, click here.

WHEN: 

Tuesday, February 3, 2026

8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

WHERE: 

The George Washington University

Jack Morton Auditorium

805 21st Street NW

Washington, D.C. 20052

Media Guidance: For any media interested in attending, please RSVP to Nadia Payne at nadia [dot] paynegwu [dot] edu (nadia[dot]payne[at]gwu[dot]edu). Please indicate whether you will need a camera location.

-GW-