CompTIA Finalizes Agenda for 2017 D.C. Fly-In and Tech Policy Summit

News provided by

Feb 13, 2017, 08:00 ET

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 180 technology executives and business owners from across the country are expected Feb. 14-15 for the 2017 CompTIA DC Fly-In organized by CompTIA, the Computing Technology Industry Association and the Technology Councils of North America (TECNA).

Fly-in participants will meet with congressional members, participate in the Tech Policy Summit and the Capitol Hill Speaker Series and will honor CompTIA's Tech Champions at the association's annual awards dinner.

The two-day event begins on Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 14, with the Tech Policy Summit. Panels confirmed for the summit include:

Filling the Cybersecurity Workforce Pipeline
The data demonstrates that we are facing a shortage of skilled workers needed in the cybersecurity space. The problem is two-fold: filling the gaps that we have today while preparing the next generation to ensure an adequate workforce in the future. This is a problem that needs to be solved by the public and private sectors working together to create clear career paths for cybersecurity, while using all available tools for recruitment and retention of skilled personnel. This is also an opportunity for men and women looking for a well-paid and enduring career. This panel will examine what the public sector is doing at the various levels of government and what the private sector can do to get involved while aligning their own efforts.

Speakers:

Lynne Clark, OCP Chief, National Information Assurance Education and Training Program (NIETP), NSA/DHS National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Program Office
David Forscey, Policy Analyst, National Governors Association
Bill Newhouse, Deputy Director, National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Program Office, NIST
Chase Norlin, CEO, Transmosis
Moderator: Rick Geritz, CEO, LifeJourney (Invited)

Staying Ahead of the Curve: Industry Working with Government to Realize the Benefits of IoT
The Internet of Things (IoT) industry is booming, with millions of devices already in use, and billions more expected in the coming years. Because these devices are used in such a wide variety of ways (connected homes, smart vehicles, healthcare, smart grids, etc.), there are a number federal agencies monitoring the industry, but no clear standards in place for how they should assert their regulatory authority. Additionally, these devices will be transmitting massive amounts of data, and we will need both the spectrum and broadband infrastructure to accommodate data demands. To pave the way for innovation and growth in the IoT space, we need industry participation and input to help government understand what they can and should do to move the industry forward. This panel will look at what the federal government can do both in the near and long-term to ensure the success of the IoT.

Speakers:

Melika Carroll, Policy Advisor for Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI)
Melissa Glidden Tye, Vice President, Public Policy, Verizon
Travis Hall, Telecommunications Policy Analyst, Office of Policy Analysis and Development (OPAD), National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), U.S. Department of Commerce
Moderator: Matthew Starr, Director, Public Advocacy, CompTIA

Implications of a New Congress and Administration on the Tech Agenda
With a turbulent election season in the rearview mirror, 535 members of the House and Senate will be just beginning the 115th Congress, and a new President, who will be filling some 4,200 positions within his administration (1,200 of which will require Senate confirmation), will have been in office for just about a month. With such significant changes, we take a moment to examine the technology agendas of the House, Senate and Administration.. What is the outlook for STEM, cybersecurity, high-skilled immigration, privacy and much more? We will ask leading Hill and Administration staffers these important questions.

Speakers:

Matt Kellogg, Senior Policy Advisor and Counsel to the House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Invited)
Moderator: Jason Boxt, Executive Vice President, Penn Schoen Berland

Tech Champion Awards Dinner
On Tuesday evening, the CompTIA Tech Champion Awards Dinner will recognize individuals who exemplify leadership in the technology sector, and who have championed policies that advance the country's IT industry.

2017 Award Recipients:
U.S. Representative Will Hurd
U.S. Senator Cory Booker
Ron Culler, CTO, Secure Designs Inc.

Capitol Hill Speaker Series
Wednesday morning begins with the Capitol Hill morning speaker series featuring members of Congress, industry experts, and high-ranking officials from the executive branch. It is intended to provide Fly-In attendees with an informative overview of government priorities for the coming year around the tech agenda; and allows attendees to increase their knowledge of issues before hitting the halls of Congress for Fly-In meetings.

Speakers Include:

Maureen Ohlhausen, FTC Chairman (Acting)
Rep. Derek Kilmer (WA-6)
Rep. Ted Lieu (CA-33)
Tim Herbert, Sr. Vice President, Research & Market Intelligence, CompTIA

The remainder of the event is devoted to visits with congressional offices.

CompTIA: Building the Foundation for Technology's Future
The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is the world's leading technology association, with approximately 2,000 member companies, 3,000 academic and training partners, over 100,000 registered users and more than two million IT certifications issued. CompTIA's unparalleled range of programs foster workforce skills development and generate critical knowledge and insight – building the foundation for technology's future. Visit CompTIA online, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

About TECNA
The Technology Councils of North America (TECNA) represents almost 50 IT and technology trade organizations that, in turn, represent more than 16,000 technology-related companies in North America. TECNA serves its members and the industry through its strong peer-to-peer network and its regional initiatives to raise the visibility and viability of the technology industry.

Press Contacts:
Preston Grisham
[email protected]
202-682-4458

SOURCE CompTIA