Jess's Thoughts: Hi! I'm Jessica Park, Business Development Manager for Cybersecurity at Loudoun Economic Development. Every month, we bring together the cybersecurity community at Loudoun CyberTech to hear from industry leaders, make connections, share ideas, and shape the future of cybersecurity.
‘Tis the season for connection, travel, busy inboxes, and a little more “click first, think later” energy, but it’s also a time when cyber threats try to sneak into the mix. Loudoun’s cyber companies lead the world in keeping data secure, and the habits we practice at home and at work help strengthen that ecosystem. Stay safe, enjoy the season, and thank you for being part of Loudoun’s CyberTech community!
Have questions about the cybersecurity industry in Loudoun County? Feel free to reach out!
Loudoun CyberTech: Signals in the Dark - A Cybercanon Dialogue
In partnership with The Cyber Guild, join host Rick Howard for a conversation and live Q&A with authors and industry leaders Dr. Bilyana Lilly (author: Digital Mindhunters) and Bob Gourley (author: Dragon Falls: Standing Up to Beijing's Shadow War) about their experiences and how it shaped their publications.
Rick Howard is the CEO of the Cybercanon Project, a nonprofit dedicated to curating timeless wisdom for the infosec community. His previous roles include CSO at N2K and Palo Alto networks, CISO at TASC, Chief of the U.S. Army Computer Emergency Response Team, and more!
Dr. Bilyana Lilly, CISSP, has over 20 years of experience with technology and defense. Dr. Lilly is currently an Associate Director at Accenture and serves on multiple advisory boards, including Night Dragon. She is also a speaker at RSA, DefCon, CyCon, and the Executive Women's Forum.
Bob Gourley served as a Naval Intelligence Officer and was a CTO at multiple organizations, including the Defense Intelligence Agency and Northrop Grumman. Currently, Bob is the CTO of the OODA Network, enabling a community of global experts, executives, and innovators focused on navigating global risks.
The holiday season is a time to rest, recharge, and reconnect, but it also happens to be the busiest time of the year for cyber threats.
With shifting travel schedules, rotating team coverage, and inboxes filling with seasonal deals and delivery notices, hackers know this is a moment when people are more distracted and vulnerable. A little cybersecurity diligence can make a big difference, and you don’t need a major overhaul to stay protected. Small, intentional actions can strengthen your defenses and help ensure your business, your team, and your personal accounts stay secure throughout the season.
To learn more, use the link below to read our latest blog: 'Tis the Season to Pause Before You Click.
DC Tech Week is a week-long celebration of innovation across the DMV, that brings together founders, investors, technologists, and startup leaders for hundreds of community led events. DC Tech Week spotlights the region's strengths in cyber, AI, data, federal tech, cloud, and emerging industries, making it one of the most dynamic tech gatherings on the East Coast.
With workshops, panels, socials, pitch events, and neighborhood-specific activations, event creates an energizing environment for networking, knowledge sharing, and showcasing the DMV's growing innovation economy.
📅 December 7 - 14, 2025
⏰ Event times vary
🗺️ Various locations throughout the DMV
For more information and to see scheduled events, use the button below.
