of the big things we missed was being able to share our experiences among ourselves and bring that back and integrate with all of our junior folks. So, we decided to bring a mini version of that to Georgia. Out of that came a smaller event, the very first AvengerCon, back in 2016.”

Onken explained that the event grew organically from there, supported by leadership within the 780th and across Army Cyber Command. He emphasized the importance of AvengerCon as a forum not only for technical training and education but also for building strong relationships within and across organizations.

“It’s really important for us to keep that going and keep building on it because we’re in a service, in a career field, where we’re staring at empty SCIF desks because we can’t fill seats fast enough,” said Onken. “We need to be able to grow and develop our force from within and part of that is getting our leaders to understand what our junior folks do.”

AvengerCon VIII concluded with a closing ceremony that featured awards recognition for participants, speakers, and sponsors. Heybey highlighted that the event would not have been possible without the efforts of many volunteers and sponsors who contributed their time, resources, and expertise to make the conference a success.

“The magic of AvengerCon is that we have highly technical people, highly dedicated volunteers who do a phenomenal job bringing this event to life,” said Heybey. “It wouldn’t happen without everybody getting involved and that’s really what makes it successful.”

Moving forward, the organizers of AvengerCon are already looking ahead to next year’s conference, with plans to expand the scope and reach of the event while continuing to provide a valuable training and networking opportunity for members of the cyber community.

In summary, AvengerCon VIII was a resounding success, bringing together members of the U.S. Cyber Command, the Department of Defense, and other organizations to share knowledge, build relationships, and further develop the cyber workforce. The event served as a platform for technical training, professional development, and networking within the cyber community, highlighting the importance of collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning in the field of cybersecurity.

Overall, AvengerCon VIII was a testament to the dedication and expertise of the individuals involved in organizing and participating in the conference, and it will undoubtedly continue to serve as a valuable resource for the cyber community in the years to come.

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