7th Annual OCRI Symposium:
Expanding Horizons, Strengthening Resilience, Empowering Ohio
Join us for the 7th Annual OCRI Symposium. The event is an opportunity to engage with leading experts, explore the latest trends and challenges in cybersecurity, and participate in hands-on activities.
​
Event Details:
-
Date: October 1, 2025
-
Time: 9AM-4PM
-
Location: Digital Futures, University of Cincinnati
-
Address: 3080 Exploration Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45206​​​​​​​​​​​​
Breakout Session 1 (10:15 - 11:15AM)
Training Thousands of Public Employees: O-PCI's Impact and How You Can Help
Mission Touchpoint: Workforce Development
Presented by Peter Kobak, Associate Director, O-PCI; Jonathan Ludvigsen, O-PCI student worker; Grant Neeley, Director, Center for Cybersecurity and Data Intelligence, University of Dayton; Darren Rozenek; Chief Technology Manager, City of Akron; Engelbert Gal - IT Security and Infrastructure Manager, City of Akron
Over the last year, thousands of public servants across Ohio have participated in free cybersecurity training provided by OCRI. See what that training looks like and how it's making a difference in Ohio's local governments. The session will feature the major stakeholders of the training: a representative from a local government that participated in the training, OCRI staff that have developed and deliver O-PCI training, as well as a Regional Programming Center leader from University of Dayton that have supported the dissemination of the training in their backyards. This session provides an opportunity to see OCRI's impact in local government and learn how governments and Regional Programming Centers can get further involved.
​​​​​Proof of Personhood Protocol
Mission Touchpoint: Education
Presented by Michael Jones, PhD, Kautz-Uible Assistant Professor of Economics, Lindner College of Business, UC
With AI agents and bots surging, the security question for many companies is not "are you logged in?" but "are you a person who is physically present?" In this session, we introduce a hardware-backed protocol, developed at the University of Cincinnati, that verifies human presence. By using a cell phone tap to an NFC device, the protocol opens a signed and single-use session that is bound to a particular time and place.Â
Cyber Control Towers: A Conceptual Framework for Coordinated Cybersecurity Operations
Mission Touchpoint: Workforce Development
Presented by Opetunde Ibitoye, PhD Candidate, School of Information Techology, UC
This breakout session from UC's School of Information Technology presents a conceptual framework called the Cyber Control Tower, designed to improve how organizations coordinate cybersecurity operations. The session will define what a Cyber Control Tower is, outline its core components, and identify the key roles and skills needed to operate it effectively.
​​​​​Building a Cybersecurity Clinic
Mission Touchpoint: Education
​
Presented by James Walden, PhD, Director of the Center for Cybersecurity, and Joseph Nwankpa, PhD, FSB Director of Cybersecurity Initiatives, and Anthony "Tony" Rose, MBA, Program Director, Cybersecurity, Networking & Platform Engineering Lecturer, Miami University
Miami University will introduce the concept of cybersecurity clinics and how they work as they have started their own clinic, providing an overview of resources on how to start one in your community.
​​​​​Enhancing Cybersecurity Workforce Readiness Through Gamified Cyber Exercises: Insights from A Systematic Review
Mission Touchpoint: Education
Presented by Joel Appiah, PhD Candidate, School of Information Technology, UC
Explore the role of cyber exercises in building a resilient and future-ready cybersecurity workforce. Based on a systematic literature review covering 32 studies, the session will present evidence on how gamified Capture-the-Flag (CTF) competitions, red/blue team simulations, and adaptive learning exercises enhances cybersecurity skills and readiness. Participants will learn how these exercises bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, how it enhances technical proficiency and essential soft skills like teamwork, communication, critical thinking, and ethical decision-making. The session will discuss strategies to overcome the high resource and scalability challenges often associated with cyber exercises. Additionally, the session will discuss pedagogical issues and how to align with the NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework.
Breakout Session 2 (12:30 - 1:30PM)​
Increasing Ohio's Cybersecurity Posture Through Volunteer Efforts of the Ohio Cyber Reserve
Mission Touchpoint: Workforce Development
Presented by Ben Fraley, Senior Security Engineer, Christ Hospital, Ohio Cyber Reserve Member
CyberSafe: Virtualizing Cybersecurity Awareness Training for K-12 Students
Mission Touchpoint: Education
Presented by Zhongmei Yao, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science, University of Dayton
In an era where digital literacy is as crucial as reading and writing, CyberSafe at the University of Dayton aims to empower K-12 students with essential knowledge and skills to navigate the Internet safely. This project develops an interactive virtual environment using unity, a leading game development platform, to engage young learners in understanding and tackling Internet risks such as phishing, cyberbullying, malicious software/sites, and more.​
A New Courseware Developed for Introduction to Security of Satellite Systems
Mission Touchpoint: Education
Presented by Avinash Karanth, PhD, Professor & Chair, Ohio University
This course at Ohio University introduces the fundamentals of space systems, including satellites, ground stations, and users, as well as the general principles of wireless and satellite communications. It then delves into spacecraft subsystems and the core concepts of network and system security. The course further examines security threats targeting space, ground and user segments, analyzes potential adversaries, and explores practical applications through case studies and hack-a-sat writeups. Presented by Avinash Karanth, Professor & Chair, Ohio University
Explore how Ohio boosted its cybersecurity posture through volunteer efforts harnessing local talent and strengthening public resilience.
Current Research and Projects at Ohio State University's Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence
Mission Touchpoint: Economic Development
Presented by Vimal Buck, Senior Researcher at The Ohio State University's Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence (CDME), and Ted Allen, PhD, is a professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering and Computer Science Engineering, The Ohio State University.
An overview of current research and projects at OSU's CDME to help secure Defense Critical Infrastructure and the Manufacturing Supply Chain. OSU will present on recent research for the NSA that resulted in an undergraduate team award. OSU will also present on the design of experiments for blockchain for NSF and a look at the continued work to educate small businesses and tools for manufacturers to navigate CMMC.
Bridging Cybersecurity Education: Cybersecurity Testbed for Critical Infrastructure Protection
Mission Touchpoint: Education
Presented by Taiwo Peter Akinremi, PhD Candidate, School of Information Technology, UC
Cybersecurity testbeds are essential tools for safeguarding modern critical infrastructure enabling safe assessment of vulnerabilities and testing security solutions. The complexities of today's infrastructure require innovation for critical infrastructure resilience. This session presented by UC's School of Information Technology will foster the understanding of how students and professionals can leverage cybersecurity testbeds for real world infrastructure defense in water, manufacturing, energy, defense, transportation, and other critical sectors.
Breakout Session 3 (2:15 - 3:15PM)
Ohio Cyber Range: An Interactive Hands-On Session on How To Use The Range
Mission Touchpoint: Education
Presented by Bekah Littlepage, Range Analyst 2, and Sam Bricking, Assistant Director, Range​, and Will Nguyen, Range Analyst OCRI, UC
An overview of the recently upgraded Range with an interactive session on how to use its many features.​
Building Cyber Capacity through Partnerships
Mission Touchpoint: Workforce Development
Presented by Cassie Barlow, PhD, President, SOCHE; and Patty Buddelmeyer, Vice President, Business Development, SOCHE
Presenters will talk about the Cin-Day Cyber initiative and how several Colleges, Universities, K-12, Trade Associations, and Economic Development agencies came together to address shortfalls in cybersecurity occupations.
​​​​​Lessons from the OCRI-Funded Summer Bootcamps Driving Youth Readiness in Cybersecurity
Mission Touchpoint: Workforce Development
Presented by Kathy D. Wright, EMBA, M.Ed., Director of Educator Experiences, PAST Foundation
The PAST Foundation will highlight its transformative impact of the OCRI-funded Cybersecurity Summer Bootcamps as part of its role as a Regional Programming Center (RPC). Over the past two summers, these bootcamps have brought together students from diverse districts across Ohio to engage in immersive, hands-on cybersecurity education, credential attainment, and exposure to real-world workforce applications.
Advanced Digital Forensics Techniques
Mission Touchpoint: Education
Presented by Stanley Smith, University of Akron; and Larry Atkinson, Professor, Lorain County Community College
This session introduces students, educators, and IT professionals to chip-off forensics, an advanced mobile forensics technique used at the University of Akron to recover data directly from a mobile device’s memory chip. The presentation covers the full chip-off workflow, including device teardown, chip extraction, memory imaging, and data interpretation. Emphasis is placed on understanding low-level data structures, NAND flash memory, and handling encrypted or damaged devices.
Mapping Your Cybersecurity Path
Mission Touchpoint: Workforce Development
Presented by Mark Bell, Cyber Security Outreach Coordinator at The Adjutant General's Department of Ohio, and, Bekah Michael, Co-Director, OCRI, UC
A demonstration of using the NICE Framework to map your path to cybersecurity careers, degrees and certifications.
Poster Session (Daylong)
-
Jericho: A Cyber City for Enhancing Cyber Operations Education, Cedarville University
-
Exploring CUDA Acceleration to Speed Up RSA Cryptography, Cleveland State University
-
Cybersecurity Research at the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Ohio University
Past Events
.png)
Symposiums
Symposiums
Workshops
Workshops
-
Ohio Persistent Cyber Improvement (O-PCI) Webinar
-
Ohio CyberEd Workshop - March 2023 at Cedarville University
Bootcamps/
Cyber
Exercises
Bootcamps/Cyber Exercises
-
Workforce development bootcamp courses
-
Workforce development cyber exercises