Hello Friend -  Welcome to the latest edition of the NCF Web Link. We have lots of information to share with you. From upcoming events to new branding and an important message from our President & CEO. Finally, we invite you to check out recaps of our recent events. If you attended, sponsored, or otherwise supported the Crypto Cup, Cocktails & Codebreakers, or our Education Summit - we thank you for helping to make these events memorable and successful.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the national security landscape—demanding innovation, trust, and vigilance in equal measure.

Join the NCF for a pivotal 1.5-day convening, bringing together leaders from government, industry, and academia to chart the path forward:

Mission Assurance in Agentic AI Operations:
Building AI Security & Assurance to Accelerate National Security Adoption

Wednesday, December 3 – Thursday, December 4, 2025
Carahsoft Conference & Collaboration Center
11493 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 100, Reston, VA 20190

Keynote Speakers

General Paul M. Nakasone, U.S. Army (Ret.), Founding Director, Vanderbilt University’s Institute of National Security
Former Commander, U.S. Cyber Command and Director, National Security Agency

Ron Bushar, Chief Security Officer and Managing Director of Cyber Solutions, Google Public Sector 

Jason Matheny, President and CEO, RAND Corporation

The program will also include AI experts and leaders from across the Department of War and Intelligence Community, offering diverse perspectives on building trust, security, and assurance into AI systems for national security missions. View the detailed draft agenda online.

Registration Rates:

Early Bird: $299 (through Nov 22)— Get your discounted tickets before November 23!
Standard: $349 (Nov 23–Dec 3)
Complimentary tickets available for current U.S. Government employees (limited quantity available)
Speakers attend free

We are very grateful to our strategic partner - Carahsoft - and for our generous December 2025 AI sponsors - including MANTECH, AWS, Google Public Sector, Cranium, Verstandig Family Foundation, TwoSix Technologies, and Janos, LLC. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available.

NCF President & CEO Laura Nelson has officially announced her upcoming retirement. Please take a moment to read her farewell message to our community.

"What an incredible journey it has been! After nearly seven years as President and CEO of the National Cryptologic Foundation, I have decided to retire. When I accepted the role as the NCF’s first CEO in 2019, I could not have imagined the path that lay ahead....."

We have been working with ADG Creative to update our branding and messaging, and we introduced our new logo at Cocktails & Codebreakers. Stay tuned for the launch of our new website in December.

The new NCF logo was designed to reflect both the legacy of cryptology and the future of cyber. Click below to learn more about its significance.

The 24th Annual Crypto Cup, hosted by GDIT, took place on October 8th at Waverly Woods Golf Course in Mariottsville, MD. We were fortunate to have exceptional turnout for this important annual fundraiser - emphasis on FUN! The event raised over $35,000 for the NCF's mission.

Congratulations to FedData/Dell Team #1 for taking 1st Place! And congratulations to all of the tournament contest winners.

MANY THANKS to GDIT and to all of our generous sponsor companies. Please visit our recap page to learn much more about this event, see our list of sponsors, and enjoy lots of photos.

The 2025 NCF Education Summit was held on October 17th at TAC in Columbia, MD and brought together more than 100 educators, administrators, industry professionals, and government leaders to explore strategies for strengthening cyber literacy and workforce readiness among students. 

Many thanks to ALL who participated in this exciting program and to our generous sponsors. Please visit the recap page for more details & photos. 

The 4th Annual NCF/INSF Cocktails & Codebreakers was held on October 22, 2025 in Hanover, MD and was an evening of engaging presentations and networking. The program included keynote speaker Tom Fanning, retired Chairman, President, & CEO of Southern Company and a Fireside Chat featuring ADM Michael Gilday, USN (Ret) and Frank Cilluffo, Director of Auburn University’s McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security.

We were also honored to present the NCF Teacher of the Year award to Robin Burns, a high school educator in Calvert County, MD and Maryland's 2025 CTE Teacher of the Year. 

Thank you to all who attended and to our generous sponsors. Visit the recap page to learn more details, see our list of sponsors, and enjoy event photos.

OC BOOKLET UPDATE – Outsmart Cyberthreats (Fall 2025 Release)

We’re excited to announce the Fall 2025 release of our newly enhanced Outsmart Cyberthreats (OC) booklet. The updated edition includes:
* AI-powered content to reflect emerging tech threats
* Integrated data metrics system with pre/post-assessments
* Built to support measurable learning outcomes in K-12 classrooms

The Commemorate area of our website features the In Memoriam Registry & Panel, as well as a page to recognize those from our community who have most recently left us.

Mr. Robert Ellett Rich was a long-time NCF member and a founding member of the Board, serving as its first vice president. He served as the NSA's deputy director in the early 1980s. Mr. Rich passed away in September 2025.

We were also saddened to recently learn about the passing on November 1, 2025 of Lt. General Kenneth A. Minihan (USAF). Lt. General Minihan played a pivotal role in the founding of the NCF (formerly the NCMF) during his tenure as NSA director. He was a steadfast advocate of the National Cryptologic Museum, a longtime NCF Board member, and he served as Chairman of our Founders' Group.

Learn more about Mr. Rich and Lt. General Minihan on their respective Registry pages. 

You can honor a departed colleague with a Tribute Donation. Have memories to share about a Registry honoree? We welcome your submissions.

Thank you for your support & for being part of our community,

Your colleagues at the National Cryptologic Foundation