OCRI
Quarterly Newsletter
May 2026 Newsletter | Subscribe
As executive staff director of OCRI, I’m proud of the strong collaboration across our Regional Programming Centers as we build a connected statewide cybersecurity ecosystem. Together, we’re expanding hands-on learning, strengthening cyber resilience for local governments and small businesses, and increasing access to training through shared resources like the Cyber Library and Ohio Cyber Range. This work reflects our shared commitment to developing a skilled workforce while supporting and protecting organizations across Ohio.
Students Begin Meeting with Local Governments to Scale O-PCI
Dozens of students from nearly every OCRI Regional Programming Center began meeting with local government leaders in April, tasked with expanding the impact of Ohio Persistent Cyber Improvement (O-PCI), OCRI’s free cybersecurity training program for local government entities.
Called the “Persistent Cybersecurity Clinic Internship Program,” (PCCIP), the effort is led by SOCHE and made possible by the Ohio Department of Higher Education’s Third Frontier grant. OCRI has already served more than 110 local governments with over 25,000 public employees; PCCIP interns will assist in more than doubling this impact over the next year.
The students are paid $20/hr for their work and can work a maximum of 200 hours throughout their internship. The OCRI Regional Program Centers (OCRI-RPC) Persistent Cybersecurity Clinic Internship Program (PCCIP) is Ohio’s innovative response to new state regulations requiring cybersecurity programs at the local government level.
To get involved, contact Stewart Mustin, associate director of OCRI RPC engagement.
TTX+ Brings Real-World Cyber Training to Ohio Communities
In April, OCRI completed a pilot rollout of its Tabletop Exercise (TTX+) with local government employees from Ohio’s Tuscarawas County. The realistic, scenario-driven cyber exercise strengthens coordination, validates response protocols and enhances overall cybersecurity readiness. Through hands-on participation, teams practice decision-making under pressure, identify gaps in incident response plans and improve cross-department communication—ensuring a more unified and resilient approach to emerging cyber threats.
The OCRI exercise team has scheduled its next TTX+ training event for June, continuing its efforts to strengthen cybersecurity capabilities by training another Ohio county and building a more unified defensive front.
Building Ohio’s Cyber Future: 226 Students Compete in OCRI's Statewide Capture Ohio ’26
Our second annual statewide CTF - Capture Ohio '26 - was a big success thanks to the participation of 19 Regional Programming Centers and two Cincinnati-area high schools. Thank you to the 68 teams (226 students across Ohio) who participated in our Capture Ohio '26: OCRI Statewide CTF on April 11, 2026, that gave students the opportunity to deepen their cybersecurity skills while competing in hands-on cyber challenges for a coordinated day of learning. We gave out cool swag (posters, branded coins, tote bags, Raspberry Pi's), consumed more than 135 pizzas across Ohio and had meaningful statewide collaboration around a shared cybersecurity mission.
Congratulations to our winners:
🏆First Place: Team Cyber@UC, University of Cincinnati: Ethan Bernhardt, Gabriel Lowden, Nathan Hagan, Ian Balfour, and Sean Huggins.
🏆Second Place: Team cu_sweetpotatoes, Cedarville University: Stephen Reid, Isaac Lloyd, Jaden Butler, Matthew Dudley, Benjamin Thayer.
🏆Third Place: Team Ohio, Ohio, Ohio, Ohio University: Tin Vuong, Drew Tumblin, Tommy Miller, and Andrew Gill.
Cedarville Cyber Team Wins Midwest Title, Earns Program-Best Third Place National Finish
Cedarville University’s cybersecurity team earned top honors during the 2026 competition season, highlighted by a Midwest divisional championship and a program-best national finish. In February, Cedarville won the Midwest division at the NCAE Cyber Games, completing a seven-hour live-fire cyber defense exercise against industry professionals. The team continued its success in March at the National Cyber League, finishing third out of 549 schools—the highest placement in program history. Together, the results mark a significant milestone and underscore Cedarville’s growing presence in collegiate cybersecurity competitions.
Ohio State University Earns Top Honors at 2026 Cyber RECon, Including Commander’s Cup from U.S. Cyber Command Leader
Students and researchers from The Ohio State University received national recognition at the 2026 Cyber Research and Education Conference (Cyber RECon), earning three major awards for excellence in cybersecurity research and analysis. The Ohio State team took home the Analyst Award and the Student Poster Expo award, highlighting their technical expertise and research contributions among top collegiate and professional participants from across the country. The group also earned the conference’s highest honor, the Commander’s Cup, awarded by General Joshua M. Rudd, Commander of U.S. Cyber Command and Director of the National Security Agency. The award recognizes overall excellence and leadership in cybersecurity innovation and research.
Bootcamps Launch Learners into New Careers with Industry-Recognized Certifications
Summer Bootcamps
Certified Associate Project Management (CAPM®), UC Skills
6/8/2026-7/5/2026 | Price: $496 | Learn more
The CAPM® bootcamp is designed to prepare learners for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM®) certification, a globally recognized credential offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI).
Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals, UC Skills
7/6/2026 - 8/2/2026 | Price: $496 | Learn more
Learn about the types of solutions made possible by artificial intelligence (AI) and the Microsoft Azure services used to build them. No prior experience with Azure is required, though a basic understanding of computer technology and the internet is recommended.
Certified Information Systems Security Professionals (CISSP), UC Skills
7/20/2026 - 8/16/2026 | Price: $656 | Learn more
The Certified Information Systems Security Professionals (CISSP) is a NICE-aligned, (National Initiative in Cyber Education) in-demand cybersecurity certification that signifies the experienced IT security professionals' breadth of knowledge in areas of oversight and governance, design and development and implementation and operation.
Lorain County Community College (LCCC) offers a Cyber Security Bootcamp I, a short-term cyber technical certificate in an online format. The bootcamp provides a foundation in computing technology, information assurance, cyber-crime investigation, ethical hacking and countermeasures, digital forensics, software exploitation, data integrity, risk assessment and mitigation techniques. Learn more from the LCCC website.
Ohio Cyber Range Launches User Group to Strengthen Collaboration and Drive Innovation
The Ohio Cyber Range (OCR) has established a new user group to bring together stakeholders from across its diverse user community, creating a collaborative forum for feedback, insight and continuous improvement.
The group includes representatives from K–12 schools, higher education institutions, workforce development programs and government partners—ensuring that perspectives from every level of cyber range use are represented. By convening these voices, the Ohio Cyber Range Institute (OCRI) aims to better understand how the range is being used in real-world settings and what users need to be successful.
Meeting quarterly, the user group operates under an established charter and serves as a dedicated space for open dialogue. Participants share firsthand experiences, discuss challenges and highlight opportunities to enhance training, exercises and overall functionality of the cyber range.
“This group gives us honest, valuable feedback we might not otherwise receive,” said Sam Bricking, assistant director of the OCRI range. “It helps us align our services and capabilities with the evolving expectations of our users.”
The initiative also acts as a focus group for future development—informing decisions around new features, expanded services and improved support. Insights gathered from the group help ensure the range continues to meet the needs of educators, students, cybersecurity professionals and public-sector teams alike.
As the foundation for all OCRI initiatives, the Ohio Cyber Range supports everything from instruction to immersive cyber exercises. This collaborative, feedback-driven approach helps enhance cybersecurity education, workforce development and resilience statewide.
OCRI's Cyber Library Expands Statewide Impact with New Platform, Workforce Investments, and Data-Driven Innovation
OCRI's Cyber Library (OCL) is entering a new phase of growth in 2026, strengthening its role as a central hub for cybersecurity education, collaboration, and resource sharing across the state. Designed to support Ohio’s broader cyber ecosystem, the library continues to enable statewide engagement through accessible content, structured learning pathways, and consultative support for educators and organizations. By preserving critical cybersecurity resources and aligning them with frameworks and real-world needs, OCL is helping build a stronger, more connected pipeline of cyber talent.
A major focus this year is the launch of a new, more dynamic Cyber Library platform powered by Always Education. This upgraded system introduces enhanced features such as customizable learning pathways, real-time communication tools, and advanced analytics to track engagement and outcomes. The platform’s decision-based organization goes beyond traditional content libraries by clearly identifying the “why” behind cybersecurity topics—connecting resources to emerging threats, certification domains, and instructional goals. These improvements will increase accessibility, foster collaboration, and ensure users can easily find relevant, high-impact materials.
In addition to its technological advancements, OCRI's Cyber Library is investing in people and partnerships to expand its reach. New staff roles—including an Associate Director, analysts, and research support—will strengthen program delivery and data analysis efforts. At the same time, OCL continues its outreach across Ohio, engaging students and educators through hands-on demonstrations, career discussions, and local partnerships. As the library prepares for its next phase, it is also calling on regional partners to share success stories and contribute content—ensuring the platform reflects the collective impact and innovation happening across Ohio’s cybersecurity community.
Miami University’s Summer Scholars Program Engages High School Students Across Disciplines Such as Cybersecurity
Miami University offers a Summer Scholars program, a selective, week-long summer experience for academically talented high school students who will be juniors or seniors the following fall. Cyber Defenders: Protecting the Digital World will be taught as part of Session 1: Sunday, July 5 - Friday, July 10, by instructors James Walden, director of the Center for Cybersecurity at Miami University; Honglu Jiang, and Joe Kennedy.
The hands-on cybersecurity session will explore how networks are secured, how data is protected, and how cyber threats are detected through interactive labs, puzzles, and competitions. Students will collaborate with other tech-curious students while building real-world skills in digital security and ethical hacking. The module wraps up with a fun Capture the Flag competition where everything learned is put to the test.
Ohio Cyber Integration Center Strengthens Statewide Cyber Defense Through Collaboration and Real-Time Intelligence
The Ohio Cyber Integration Center (OCIC), part of Ohio Homeland Security, serves as a centralized hub for cybersecurity coordination across the state. It brings together government, private-sector, and federal partners to share intelligence and respond to cyber threats in real time.
OCIC supports organizations by providing threat alerts, incident response assistance, and best practices to strengthen defenses against risks like ransomware and phishing. Through collaboration and training, it plays a critical role in improving cybersecurity readiness and resilience across Ohio.
2026 marks four years that the OCRI has been conducting its signature cyber exercise event: Ohio Cyber Guardian. Save the date for the Ohio Cyber Guardian (OCG). This year the premier exercise will be July 10 – 14, with Distinguished Visitor's Day on July 13.
College students interested in volunteering 9AM-4PM for any of the days can reach out to whitney.olibo@uc.edu. Requirement: Must be a U.S. citizen. Free lunch and breakfast and service credit opportunity.
SAVE THE DATE for our 8th Annual OCRI Symposium that takes place 9AM-4PM on October 7, 2026, at the Digital Futures Building, University of Cincinnati. This year's theme of Advancing Intelligence-Driven Cybersecurity Together will spotlight shared progress and collective insight. To submit a proposal to present at the symposium, please visit the OCRI website to learn more.
Bowling Green State University is helping build the future of cybersecurity through its Cyber Guardians Summer Camp, a hands‑on educational program designed for students in grades 8 through 11. The camp runs from June 22 - 26, 2026, and introduces participants to core cybersecurity concepts while promoting K‑12 cybersecurity education, increasing cybersecurity awareness, and sparking early interest in STEM fields.
University of Findlay will host the 25th Annual Information Assurance Forum (IA Forum) Oct. 28. The forum is a regional cybersecurity conference and educational event focused on information security, emerging technology, and cyber threats.