Metro State University proudly co-hosted the Second Annual Military Cyber Symposium with the Minnesota National Guard on September 13, 2025. The symposium, held on Metro State’s campus, convened leaders from the Guard, federal and state agencies, local government, law enforcement, international partners, and industry to address critical issues in cybersecurity.
The event opened with a keynote delivered by Major General Teri Williams of the National Guard Bureau. The program continued with presentations from John Israel, Chief Information Security Officer at Minnesota IT Services; Special Agent Jake Iverson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Special Agent Arthur Carlson of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension; Major General Macias; Chuck Weissenborn; Master Sergeant Solem of the Minnesota Air National Guard; and Tim Herman, President of InfraGard Minnesota, who provided cyber updates. Members of the Norwegian Armed Forces Cyber Defence contributed an international perspective on cyber capabilities.
The symposium concluded with remarks from Dr. Faisal Kaleem, Professor and Director of Cybersecurity Programs at Metro State, highlighting the university’s contributions to advancing cyber education and workforce development.
The program closed with a social hosted by Metro State and the Minnesota National Guard, where members of the Military Cyber Professionals Association, Minnesota Chapter, were recognized. In a highlight of the evening, Major General Williams presented the Bronze Order of Thor to honorees, celebrating excellence in cyber service and leadership.
Hosting this symposium at Metro State underscores the university’s role as a trusted convener for military, government, and industry partners. It also reflects Metro State’s commitment to strengthening Minnesota’s resilience and advancing the nation’s security posture.
With its dual National Security Agency (NSA) National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (NCAE-CD) and Cyber Operations (NCAE-CO) designations, and its Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)-designated Intelligence Community Center of Academic Excellence (IC CAE), Metro State is not only educating students—it is shaping the nation’s cyber and intelligence workforce of tomorrow.