Governor Announces CyberMaryland 2012
State hosts convention, competition and recognition during
National Cyber Security Awareness Month in October

July 31, 2012 (Baltimore, MD) Governor Martin O’Malley today announced that during National Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October 2012, Maryland will host CyberMaryland 2012, a three-pronged conference, competition and celebration designed to showcase industry innovations, recognize cyber pioneers and groom the next generation of cyber experts.  Scheduled October 16 and 17, 2012, at the Baltimore Convention Center and Four Seasons Hotel, CyberMaryland 2012 will connect educators, innovators, employers and students and further demonstrate the state’s reputation as the nation’s epicenter for information security innovation and excellence.
 
“Maryland is home to many companies – emerging and established – that are working at the cutting edge of cybersecurity,” said Governor O’Malley. “In our rapidly changing digital economy, we are pleased that CyberMaryland 2012 will allow us to convene the best and brightest of our people so our State can move forward with innovation and ingenuity to secure a safer, more prosperous future.”
                                
Organized by a public-private partnership founded in response to the Governor’s original CyberMaryland strategic plan, and produced by the Federal Business Council, CyberMaryland 2012 will be anchored by the CyberMaryland Conference, the 2nd Annual Cyber Challenge & Competition, and the inaugural National Cyber Security Hall of Fame awards.  The conference and competition will be held 8 am-5 pm October 16 and 17 at the Baltimore Convention Center and the Hall of Fame celebration dinner at the Four Seasons in Baltimore the evening of October 17.
 
First produced in 2011, the 2nd annual CyberMaryland conference will cast an even wider net and include panels, speakers and exhibits for both established and emerging cybersecurity professionals in academia, business, industry and government. “This conference is geared for individuals and organizations who are – or who want to be – working in the State’s information security sector,” said Larry Letow, President & COO of Convergence Technology and member of the Cyber Maryland Advisory Board, adding, “It’s crucial for everyone – industry leaders and policy makers, programmers and educators – to connect with one another and learn what trends, challenges and opportunities are present in this expanding space.” He added that this year’s focus on the cyber generation recognizes that Maryland’s economy is inexorably linked to digital technologies.
 
The CyberMaryland Conference includes three tracks designed for government contractors, businesses services, technology companies, entrepreneurs, policy makers and government agency officials: Cyber Business; Cyber Innovation; and Cyber Generation. An industry showcase featuring three dozen exhibits and demonstrations will run concurrent to the sessions. Respected industry thought leaders will present workshops and panels on myriad topics. Scheduled sessions include Ethical Hacking, Cyber Security Basics, Selling to the U.S. Intelligence and Military Communities, and Best & Most Effective Contracting Vehicles for Cyber Products. Registration details and a complete schedule of workshops and speakers will be updated at www.FBCInc.com/CyberMDconference.
 
A featured activity of CyberMaryland 2012 is the Maryland Cyber Challenge & Competition (MDC3). Launched in 2011, the inaugural event attracted more than 300 high school, college and professional ‘code breakers’ to qualifying rounds. The event culminated with 150 finalists competing in an elimination round style “hackathon” for bragging rights, NSA-funded student scholarships, internships, and cash prizes for professional teams.  Like the inaugural event, the 2012 MDC3 will feature a progressing series of online competition with final live rounds, using the fun of the competition to teach participants the skills necessary to secure systems and defend against adversaries on an escalating basis.  Charles Beard, SAIC senior vice president and chief information officer, predicts MDC3-2012 will be an even bigger success, “We are excited to once again lead the charge highlighting the talent, technological prowess and opportunities in education and career advancement uniquely found in Maryland.” Participant and sponsor information can be accessed at www.fbcinc.com.

CyberMaryland 2012 culminates Wednesday, October 17, when 350 industry leaders gather at the Four Season Hotel in Baltimore to celebrate information security pioneers and luminaries at the inaugural Cyber Security Hall of Fame induction ceremony. According to Mike Jacobs, Hall of Fame Chairman and retired Director of Information Assurance at NSA, “We selected the theme ‘Respect the Past: Protect the Future’ to not only celebrate the trailblazers and codemakers who created the modern cyber security industry as we know it today, but also to reflect the information and educational resources this Hall of Fame serves to communicate the history and future of cybersecurity.” A limited number of seats remain for the awards banquet. Tickets are $250 and organizers expect the event to sell out.
 
In the almost three years since Governor O’Malley released the initial CyberMaryland report – the State’s business blueprint for developing the cybersecurity industry – great strides have been made in innovation, capital investments, education and policy.  “We’ve made phenomenal progress coordinating and communicating Maryland’s cybersecurity assets since 2010,” said DBED Secretary Christian Johansson. “CyberMaryland 2012 demonstrates yet again that Maryland – with a robust higher education system training the next generation of cyber warriors, creative companies and innovative institutions developing critical cyber technologies, and a rapidly growing information assurance and technology cluster offering the full spectrum of capabilities – is indeed the epicenter of cybersecurity.”
 
For information on becoming a CyberMaryland 2012 sponsor or exhibitor, contact Gabe Wollner at 240-841-2211 or Gabriel@fbcinc.com. CyberMaryland 2012 sponsors include BB&T, Citrix, CyberPoint, CyberCore, Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore, Norman Defense, Raytheon, Safenet, SAIC, State of Maryland, Department of Business & Economic Development, Susquehanna Bank, TrustWave, UMBC and Whiteford Taylor Preston. To reserve tickets for the Hall of Fame dinner, contact info@cybersecurityhalloffame.com. Follow conference updates, including announced speakers and exhibitors, on Twitter @CyberMaryland. 
 
About the Federal Business Council (FBC)
FBC specializes in producing conferences and trade show events at Federal Government locations throughout the U.S. Each month thousands of federal employees attend FBC events to evaluate the latest advances in technology, cybersecurity, military hardware, training and other product areas. FBC is a small business on the GSA Schedule and has 35 employees ranging from event managers and web designers to accountants. More than 10 employees have obtained their TS/SI/TK security clearances. In addition to being a complete marketing resource, FBC also provides secure registration and website development and secure hosting consistent with FISMA guidelines for collecting conference fees and disbursing payments.
 
About CyberMaryland
Launched in January 2010, the CyberMaryland initiative brings together federal, state and local government; private businesses; academia; and workforce to address challenges to the security of our nation’s digital infrastructure, reinforce Maryland’s leadership in cybersecurity and information technology, and help the fulfill its responsibility to support the nation’s cybersecurity mission while maximizing the benefits to and opportunities for Maryland.  For more information, visit www.CyberMaryland.org, follow us on Twitter @CyberMaryland or subscribe to Cyber Pulse.
  
About SAIC
SAIC is a FORTUNE 500® scientific, engineering, and technology applications company that uses its deep domain knowledge to solve problems of vital importance to the nation and the world, in national security, energy & environment, health and cybersecurity. The company's approximately 41,000 employees serve customers in the U.S. Department of Defense, the intelligence community, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, other U.S. Government civil agencies and selected commercial markets. Headquartered in McLean, VA, SAIC had annual revenues of approximately $10.6 billion for its fiscal year ended January 31, 2012. For more information, visit saic.com. SAIC: From Science to Solutions®