Join ISC2 Northern Virginia Chapter and ACT-IAC Cybersecurity Community of Interest (COI) on Thursday, March 19th at 6:00 PM for a special joint chapter meeting.
This event represents a unique opportunity for ISC2 NOVA and the ACT-IAC Cybersecurity COI, both leaders in the federal cyber space, to collaborate as each group tries to further the collective cyber cause and reach new audiences with proposed remedies.
This is a unique opportunity to bring together members from both organizations and hear directly from top senior cybersecurity leaders in the U.S. government.
Executive Insights from CISA and DOT Leadership
Nick Andersen, Acting Director and Deputy Director of CISA (recently appointed to this leadership role) will provide high-level perspective on the nation’s most pressing cyber threats, CISA’s current priorities for protecting critical infrastructure, emerging risks to the federal enterprise and private sector, and key strategies for building national cyber resilience.
Plus (tentatively confirmed): Laks Prabhala, CISO at the U.S. Department of Transportation — sharing insights on transportation sector cybersecurity.
Expect candid discussion on real-world challenges, government–industry collaboration, and forward-looking approaches to defending against sophisticated adversaries.
Interested in connecting with more federal IT & cybersecurity professionals?
Learn more about ACT-IAC and consider joining actiac.org. Follow the ACT-IAC Cybersecurity COI on LinkedIn here.
Event Location:
Capital One
1600 Capital One Drive
McLean, VA 22102
Bldg C1 | Maplewood Hall (Floor 7)
Meeting in different building
We are usually in the Capital One building called "C2." For this event, we are in a different building at Capital One called "C1" (the large glass building above Ometeo and Stellina Pizzeria).
C1 Parking: There is a surface parking lot adjacent to C1 for guest parking. If that is full, consider utilizing the usual C2 Garage (1680 Capital One Drive) and walking, or the Wegmans parking garage under the Perch happy hour location.
C1 room directions to Maplewood Hall: Enter the C1 lobby. Proceed past the welcome desk to the elevators and select "floor 7". On floor 7, proceed to the left until you see the security desk. We are opposite the security desk in Maplewood Hall. If you are lost, just ask security for "C1 Maplewood Hall."
On the map below, the C1 building is the red circle and the surface parking lot is the green square.
Attendance Options:
This event is offered in-person and virtually. A virtual attendance option will be available — you may select it during registration.
Event Agenda:
6:00 - 6:30pm Check-in and Networking (Food provided - first come, first served)
6:30 - 8:00pm Joint Chapter Meeting
8:00 - Onward Cyber Social Hour at Starr Hill Brewpub
Cyber Social Hour – Sponsored by Foxhole Technology
Join us after the meeting for our Cyber Social Hour at Starr Hill Brewpub — a relaxed setting where cybersecurity professionals from both ISC2 NOVA and ACT-IAC COI can connect, share insights, and unwind. Complimentary drinks will be provided.
We’re grateful to Foxhole for sponsoring this portion of the event and supporting our local cybersecurity community!
CPE Credits: Attendees can earn CPE credits for attending this event.
Please log in to register. Attendance is free for ISC2 NOVA Chapter members. Guests of members should register separately.
Membership dues and the small non-member fee help offset event hosting costs (catering, venue, etc.).
Joining as a member provides the most value — free events, CPE credits, and stronger support for our cybersecurity community.
Not yet a member? Join ISC2 NOVA today here.
Speaker:
Nicholas (Nick) M. Andersen
Acting Director and Deputy Director
CISA / DHS
Speaker Bio:
Nicholas (Nick) M. Andersen will act as the Acting Director and the Deputy Director for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). In this role, he helps lead CISA’s mission to understand, manage, and reduce risk to the cyber and physical infrastructure that the American people rely on every day. He formerly served as the Executive Assistant Director for Cybersecurity.
A decorated veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, Andersen brings discipline and strategic foresight to the CISA mission through his extensive experience and leadership. As the President and Chief Operating Officer at Invictus, Andersen oversaw cybersecurity, intelligence integration, and technology delivery for federal and commercial partners.
As the Chief Information Security Officer at Lumen Technologies Public Sector, he developed and implemented a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, delivered secure offerings and formed strategic partnerships with public sector and private sector customers.
From 2019-2021, Andersen served both as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and performed the duties of Assistant Secretary for the Department of Energy’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response. In these roles, he directed national efforts to protect America's energy grid from cyber and physical threats, led responses to Iranian cyber threats, Puerto Rican disaster recovery, and energy crises, and spearheaded critical programs like Cyber Testing for Resilient Industrial Control Systems to mitigate supply chain vulnerabilities in energy infrastructure.
In 2019, as the Federal Cybersecurity Lead and Senior Cybersecurity Advisor to the Federal Chief Information Officer at the White House, he developed and implemented cybersecurity policies for the federal enterprise, enhancing transparency and risk management. He established the first government-wide Vulnerability Disclosure Programs and Trusted Internet Connections 3.0 policy and strengthened federal incident response capabilities and prioritized workforce strategies to address cyber talent gaps.
As the State of Vermont’s Chief Information Security Officer, he developed Vermont's cybersecurity strategy, integrating efforts across academia, critical infrastructure, and law enforcement. While there, he implemented strategic risk management and supply chain protection actions to include first in the Nation prohibition against the use of certain Chinese- and Russian- state sponsored technology firms across both State- owned and vendor- owned/operated infrastructure.
Among other distinguished positions, he has also served as Chief of the Office of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Systems and Technologies/CIO for Intelligence for the U.S. Coast Guard, and CIO/Senior Cyber Risk Executive for U.S. Naval Intelligence.
Andersen earned a Master of Science degree in Cybersecurity from Brown University, a Master of Science degree in Information Security and Assurance from Western Governors University, a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology Management from American Military University. He also holds a Certificate in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School. He was recently named a Pinnacle Awards Intelligence Executive of the Year and one of the top 10 CISOs to watch by Washington Executive Magazine.
Speaker:
Laks Prabhala
CISO
U.S. Department of Transportation (tentatively confirmed)
Speaker Bio:
Bio coming soon – stay tuned for details on Laks Prabhala's background and perspectives from his role as CISO at the U.S. Department of Transportation.
