Publish Date

FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA (JULY 26, 2021).  United States Senator Richard Burr, United States Senator Thom Tillis, Fayetteville Technical Community College and the North Carolina Military Business Center will host the 19thAnnual North Carolina Defense Trade Show (DTS) & Cybersecurity Forum on August 4, 2021, in Fayetteville, NC. 

This event includes a one-day trade show, extensive networking opportunities and government procurement and cybersecurity workshops for both prospective and current federal contractors.  The purpose of the DTS is to engage NC businesses in the federal market and to build relationships between representatives of the Department of Defense, other federal agencies and numerous defense contracting firms, including North Carolina small businesses.  

The DTS portion of the event will include a traditional trade show with over 70 indoor and outdoor exhibitors, static displays and demonstrations of military equipment, informal networking opportunities, live vendor demonstrations, installation small business panels and contracting workshops.  Fort Bragg military equipment displays and demonstrations will include an Infantry Squad, up-armored Humvee (HMMWV) with weapon system, MRZR all-terrain vehicle, parachute rigger display and explosive ordinance disposal display and demonstration.

The Cybersecurity Forum will include three panel discussions focused on cybersecurity talent and workforce development and Department of Defense (DoD) requirements, compliance and cyber resources for businesses in NC.  Any business engaged in or considering the federal market – including supply chain – should participate in this forum.  Specific sessions include:

Part 1: Developing the Cybersecurity Workforce.

  • Part 1A: Industry Challenges, Needs for a Cybersecurity Workforce Landscape.  Industry and institution representatives will discuss the need for North Carolina develop a comprehensive, resilient and coordinated infrastructure to produce a large pool of highly skilled cybersecurity talent to meet the needs of business, industry, and government. The panel will discuss challenges in the workforce system and opportunities to strengthen workforce preparedness programs to provide the talent pool that industry requires.  
  • Part 1B: Carolina Cyber Network: Goals and Responses. Fayetteville Technical Community College and the Carolina Cyber Center have partnered to establish the Carolina Cyber Network- a structured, comprehensive talent development program designed to address a growing workforce gap and protect the financial and intellectual property of North Carolina’s public agencies and private sector businesses. The session will provide a briefing on the initiative and will outline strategies used by the network partners to address the talent needs of the public and private sectors.
Part 2: Cybersecurity Compliance – A Key to Protecting National Security and Winning Contracts. DoD has made cybersecurity compliance a requirement for awarding contracts. New DoD
regulations require formal self-assessments and compliance with the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). The panel will discuss these cybersecurity regulations, how to
transition from NIST to CMMC, why compliance is a key discriminator, CMMC assessment tips, and how the NCMBC can help your company protect national security and win contracts by achieving compliance with DoD cybersecurity standards.  
 
Additional business-focused sessions at the DTS include a North Carolina Installation Contracting Small Business Panel and a Special Operations Contracting and Opportunities Small Business Panel.  During these sessions, installation and agency Small Business Representatives will present and engage in an interactive discussion with businesses about their current and future acquisitions and their contracting challenges, needs, requirements and processes. These experienced government contracting leaders will share their perspectives and provide advice on doing business with the government.
 
At the conclusion of the DTS, Booz Allen Hamilton, FTCC and the NCMBC will co-host a Veteran Transition to Tech Networking Event on the FTCC campus from 1530-1730.  Booz Allen Hamilton, FTCC, Wake Technical Community College, NC A&T, North Carolina State and Fayetteville State Universities will discuss the opportunities and resources available to the transitioning military personnel, veterans, family members and other students in technology-focused careers including artificial intelligence, machine learning and cybersecurity.  For more information, visit: https://www.ncmbc.us/booz-allen-hamilton-veteran-transition-to-tech-networking-event-aug-4-fayetteville/
 
A full list of exhibitors and event information can be found online at: https://defense.ncmbc.us.  Media inquiries contact: Courtney Smedick at courtney@ncmbc.us.