IEEE Tech Futures 2026: Cybersecurity Deep Dive – In Person – Orlando

Description:
Join the IEEE Young Professionals (Region 3) and IEEE Computer Society for the first event in the Tech Futures 2026 Deep Dive Series, focused on Cybersecurity.
This hybrid event will be hosted in person in Orlando and streamed live for virtual attendees. It brings together experts from academia, industry, and IEEE to share insights on emerging cybersecurity trends, real-world challenges, and future directions.
Featured Speakers:
– Gracie Pereira, VP & Head of Cybersecurity, DigitalNet.ai
– Elyson De La Cruz, Chief Information Security Officer, Imagine Believe Realize, LLC & Cyber Warfare Officer, USAF Reserves
– Franco Mezzarapa, Offensive and Hardware Security Researcher, The DRACO Lab, University of Central Florida (PI: Prof. Mike Borowczak)
About the Series:
The IEEE Tech Futures 2026 Series is a region-wide initiative led by IEEE Region 3 Young Professionals and the Computer Society. It is designed to engage students, young professionals, and members in exploring impactful emerging technologies identified in the Computer Society Technology Predictions 2026 report.
Through a combination of virtual and locally hosted hybrid events, this series aims to strengthen collaboration, expand technical knowledge, and foster industry-academia engagement across Region 3.
Key Objectives:
– Explore emerging technologies and future industry trends
– Strengthen collaboration between IEEE Young Professionals and the Computer Society
– Provide accessible, high-quality technical programming
– Enable impactful local hybrid events across sections
– Foster industry engagement through expert talks and discussions
We look forward to your participation in this exciting kickoff session on cybersecurity.
Co-sponsored by: IEEE Computer Society and IEEE Foundation
Speaker(s): Andy Seely, Michael Castiglia, Franco Mezzarapa, Gracie Pereira, Elyson De La Cruz
Agenda:
5:30 PM – 5:45 PM: Check-in and Informal Networking
5:45 PM – 6:00 PM: Welcome and Opening Remarks (Michael Castiglia, Nihad Bassis, Andy Seely)
6:00 PM – 6:30 PM: Cybersecurity Landscape & Future Trends (Gracie Pereira)
6:30 PM – 7:00 PM: The simple, not-so-simple life of a Penetration Tester and Red Team Member (Elyson De La Cruz)
7:00 PM – 7:30 PM: Hardware Side Channels with Demo (DRACO Lab – Franco Mezzarapa)
7:45 PM – 7:50 PM: Closing Remarks and Continuing Involvement (Michael Castiglia, Eren Siegman, Andy Seely)
8:00 PM – 8:30 PM: Networking – Hosted by Women in Engineering (Sonali Das)
Room: 101AB, Bldg: L3Harris Corporation Engineering Center (HEC), 4328 Scorpus St, Orlando, Florida, United States, 32816, Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/552721