Jason Dion

What happens when you showcase 15 industry certifications at a cybersecurity forum? At the 20th Annual AFCEA OKC Cyber & Tech Forum, it was an honor to display WGU's competency-based educational pathways. The response was incredible - alumni, current students, and potential students all gathered to learn about our IT and Cybersecurity degree programs. Here's what caught everyone's attention: 15 industry certifications included at the bachelor's level, plus five additional certifications at the master's level. Many also explored our single courses in Data Analytics, showing how flexible learning meets real career needs. The best part? Connecting with our amazing guest speaker and watching our educational materials find their way to people ready to advance their careers. Even our swag found new homes with future cyber leaders! When education meets industry demand, magic happens. These conversations reminded me why competency-based learning is changing how professionals build their careers. #WGUEducation #Cybersecurity #CompetencyBased

31

What does it take to forge Mission-Ready Cyber Leaders? At the 20th Annual AFCEA OKC Cyber & Tech Forum, I had the honor of presenting on how WGU is creating pathways for Active duty, Veterans, Dependents & Civilian professionals in cybersecurity. I shared how our Bachelor's and Master's in Cybersecurity & Information Assurance programs include industry certifications that industry demands. From WGU Academy single courses to our open skills library, we're meeting service members where they are in their careers. What makes WGU different? Our competency-based education model allows military learners to accelerate through material they already know while diving deep into new skills. This approach creates real pathways to opportunities not just degrees on paper. To our military community: your experience is valuable, and the right education can amplify that value in the cyber workforce. #MilitaryEducation #Cybersecurity #Veterans

7

Free Cybersecurity Training for anyone who works at any level of Florida Government One-Day Cyber Exercise | Phishing Scenarios | Scenario-based | Practical & collaborative Phishing remains one of the most common—and costly—cyber threats facing organizations today. The UWF Center for Cybersecurity is offering a one-day, scenario-based phishing exercise designed to strengthen awareness and improve coordinated response across roles. Participants will work in cross-functional teams to analyze realistic phishing scenarios, identify indicators of compromise, verify message legitimacy, and plan effective responses. The exercise concludes with a review of real-world cybersecurity incidents, how organizations responded, and key lessons learned. 🔍 What participants will gain: • Improved ability to recognize phishing attempts • Practical experience responding to incidents as a team • Insight into attacker techniques and common warning signs • Lessons learned from actual cybersecurity incidents 👉This interactive exercise is ideal for technical and non-technical professionals participants looking to strengthen organizational cyber resilience. 📅 One-day course Learn more and register through the UWF Center for Cybersecurity: https://lnkd.in/gA3JavuG

34

"What a better place to perform research and development, than a place that defines our future." -Joshua Sitta, Sittadel Today we signed an agreement with Florida Polytechnic University that will allow Sittadel and Florida Polytechnic University to create a student powered (SOC) Security Operations Center. This will be led by Garrett Poorbaugh who will also lead the research and development arm of the SOC. Stay tuned for the good things to come! This is just one more step closer in realizing our mission of making cybersecurity more accessible. https://lnkd.in/enDxfXZQ #cybersecurity #partnership #sittadel

110

15 Comments

🚨 Exciting News for Educators and Cybersecurity Professionals! 🚨 I’m thrilled to share that the 2nd Cybersecurity and Justice Pedagogy Conference will take place on December 4, 2025, at Bridgewater State University! This event continues to be a cornerstone for advancing innovative teaching methods in criminal justice and cybersecurity. Reflecting on last year’s conference, several themes stood out: ✅ Hands-on Labs & Simulations – We explored how immersive platforms like cyber ranges and virtual labs prepare students for real-world challenges. ✅ Gamification & Project-Based Learning – Engaging students through game-like scenarios and real-life case projects proved to be powerful tools for building critical thinking and technical skills. ✅ Hybrid Learning Models – Balancing online and in-person instruction remains essential for accessibility and engagement. ✅ Generative AI in Pedagogy – We debated the opportunities and ethical considerations of AI-driven personalized learning. ✅ Equity & Access – Ensuring all students have equal opportunities in cybersecurity education is a priority for the future. My biggest takeaway? The future of cybersecurity education lies in experiential learning and adaptability. Whether through gamified exercises, AI integration, or equity-driven strategies, we must prepare students for a rapidly evolving threat landscape while fostering creativity and resilience. My perspective as a panelist: Coming from the world of professional certifications like #CMMC, #CCA, and #CCP, I believe certification programs must evolve by adopting higher education teaching methodologies. This approach is critical to building a resilient workforce that can adapt to emerging threats and technologies. This year’s agenda promises even more forward-thinking discussions, including sessions on Digital Forensics, Cybersecurity Resilience, and an AI Academic Working Group. I’m excited to see how these conversations will shape the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. 👉 Join us on December 4th at Bridgewater State University for a day of collaboration, innovation, and networking! Click here to register: https://lnkd.in/eA93AhhN Bridgewater State University #CybersecurityEducation #Pedagogy #CriminalJustice #BridgewaterState #AIinEducation #CyberResilience #FutureReady

12

🛡️ Thrilled to Announce 🛡️ My research paper, “Safeguarding the Artificial Pancreas: A Review of Security and Reliability Gaps and AI-Driven Resilience”, was officially accepted and presented at the Intelligent Cybersecurity Conference (ICSC 2025) this May in University of Tampa, Florida! 🎉📍 👉 This work critically explores how AI both enhances and threatens the safety of Artificial Pancreas (AP) systems — vital devices for people living with type 1 diabetes. From reinforcement learning to adversarial attacks, we mapped a clear and urgent call for secure, explainable, and resilient medical systems. While this research was completed as part of my academic work at Sacred Heart University, it also strengthens my broader commitment to cybersecurity education and outreach — including my ongoing efforts at District Arts & Education (dae) to inspire and prepare the next generation of cyber leaders. 📄 The paper will soon be available on IEEE Xplore, and I’ll share the link when it’s live. Thank you to my incredible co-authors and the ICSC team for hosting such a meaningful event. Let’s keep driving cybersecurity research forward — especially where lives and trust are on the line. 🔗 Certificate of Appreciation attached. #Cybersecurity #AI #MedicalDevices #ICSC2025 #ArtificialPancreas #DAE #IEEE #Research #ExplainableAI #DigitalHealthSecurity #CyberResilience #ConferenceMilestone IEEE

33

10 Comments

According to the article, Government agencies are adopting Verkada’s hybrid cloud platform to modernize physical security across offices, labs, remote sites, and conservation areas. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) compliant cameras, GovCloud hosting, and FIPS-validated hardware meet strict federal standards while easing IT burdens. Cellular and solar gateways enable monitoring in rugged or temporary locations, and AI-powered analytics streamline investigations and response. Scalable management tools let teams oversee cameras, access controls, and sensors through one dashboard—reducing costs and complexity while improving safety. Author(s): Verkada https://lnkd.in/em87hPSu

10

US DOD PROGRAMS TO HELP SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED DIB COMPANIES ADOPT CMMC https://lnkd.in/gbJX_6Gb Help is available! Here’s a comprehensive list of U.S. DoD and federal programs designed to help small and medium-sized businesses meet CMMC requirements—and how to contract or apply for them.

14

3 Comments

The Cybersecurity Leadership and Strategy Professional Education Program is something that every cybersecurity professional in the state of Florida and beyond should take advantage of. It covers a tremendous amount of beneficial information that anyone responsible for their organizations cyber security operations and/or program should take advantage of. Even as a refresher its good to see how a lot of these things work together within an organization. https://lnkd.in/eXHbHmcK

40

1 Comment

SecureXperts and Technology Advancement Center announce our partnership to add Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) Training Program into Training in IT/OT Bootcamp Program Empowering Military, Civilian, and Critical Infrastructure Stakeholders to secure high-value classified systems. Connect with us for details.

20

1 Comment