NCMS Virtual Conference Agenda

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Time		Topic	Speaker / POCs	About
11:00am	11:15am	Introduction and Welcome	Kari Phillips, Chair and Trish Brokenik, President	Join us for the opening day introductions and welcome from NCMS President Patricia Brokenik.
11:15am	12:15pm	A new contract has been awarded, what is next?	Joyce Price	Coordinate with PM, contracts, customer, and subs; build and track security contract files; understand and communicate DD254 and SOW/PWS requirements; brief employees; manage visit requests and NISS updates; create OPSEC and program training; and refine templates based on lessons learned to strengthen overall program security.
12:15pm	1:15pm	Industry NISPPAC Winter Update	Katherine L. Andrews, LaToya Coleman, Jane Dinkel, Jennie Hardy, Leonard Moss, Isaiah Rivers, Charles Sowell and Chris Stolkey	Latest updates on Industry–Government partnerships and collaboration, including discussion of key issues and concerns that significantly impact industry.
1:15pm	2:15pm	Security Incidents	Kenneth Crummitt	“Houston, we have a problem.” “Uh-oh.” “The classified is WHERE?!?” When those phrases echo through your office, you don’t grab your vacation request—you take action. This engaging session dives into what truly constitutes a security violation or infraction and walks you through building a Security Incident process from the ground up. You’ll learn practical steps for managing incidents calmly, efficiently, and by the book—even when chaos hits. Expect insights, real-world examples, and a few laughs along the way. P.S. No lifejackets required.
2:15pm	2:30pm	Break	Sponsored by SIMS Software
2:30pm	3:15pm	DCSA NISP Mission Performance Division Operation Update	Misty Crabtree
3:15pm	4:15pm	Mental Health & Security Clearances: Breaking the Stigma	Amanda Clark and Rachel Perez	This session addresses the often-misunderstood connection between mental health and security clearance eligibility. Participants will learn what information is actually reportable, gain clarity on the process, and debunk the persistent myth that seeking mental health care could negatively affect clearance status.
4:15pm	5:15pm	Walking the DAAG: Staying In Step with DCSA's New Guidance	David Burger	This presentation will provide an overview of the new DCSA Assessment and Authorization Guide (DAAG) and explain how it modernizes DCSA’s Risk Management Framework (RMF) guidance through more modular, adaptable updates delivered via the NIST/NCSO 1800-series. We will highlight key changes from the previous DAAPM to the DAAG — including updates related to mobile system relocations, data transfers, and other policy shifts that impact any facility operating an information system.

Thursday, January 29, 2026

Time		Topic	Speaker / POCs	About
11:00am	11:15am	Introduction and Welcome	Kari Phillips, Chair	Join us for day 2 welcome and reminders from NCMS President Patricia Brokenik.
11:15am	11:45am	DCSA Update and Goals for 2026	Matthew Redding, Associate Director for Industrial Security	An overview of key updates from DCSA and a forward-looking discussion of the agency’s strategic priorities and objectives for 2026.
11:45am	12:45pm	Expert Networks	Jonathan Pyzynski	Expert Networks offer innovative solutions for business challenges but also create major security risks exploited by foreign and competitive intelligence actors. This session will explore defensive strategies and examine a case study on how such threats operate.
12:45pm	1:45pm	CMMC Lessons Learned So Far	James Goepel	DoD authorized CMMC 3rd Party Assessment Organizations ("C3PAOs") to begin conducting assessments in January 2025. After a slow start, approximately 450 companies are expected to earn CMMC certifications in 2025. Many more are struggling to become compliant. In this session, CMMC Lead Assessor and instructor James Goepel will walk through the foundational changes needed for, and common pitfalls that prevent, CMMC certifications.
1:45pm	2:00pm	Break	Sponsored by SIMS Software
2:00pm	2:45pm	CDSE/ST	Kristina Eddins
2:45pm	3:15pm	DCSA NAO Updates and eMASS/CORA Training	Jonathan Cofer
3:15pm	4:15pm	Trade Compliance Essentials for Security Professionals: Navigating ITAR, EAR, and Protected Information	Charles Seifert	This session will break down the core principles of ITAR and EAR with a practical focus on jurisdiction and classification, a critical area often overlooked in compliance efforts. Attendees will gain clarity on when these rules apply, how to spot and avoid misclassification, and the potential consequences of getting it wrong.