The Shadow
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – As a leader in preparing students for careers in cyber and national security, William & Mary was selected to host the 2026 Virtual Institutes for Cyber and Electromagnetic Spectrum Research and Employ (VICEROY) symposium.
Held at the Alumni House April 14-16, the event emphasized empowering cyber-spectrum leaders by aligning critical technologies, education and operational readiness across sectors critical to U.S. national security. The symposium brought together senior leaders from the Department of War with academic institutions, industry partners and the nation’s top emerging cyber-spectrum talent.
The university hosted the symposium in partnership with the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering, the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Griffiss Institute. Administered by Griffiss, VICEROY helps students develop cyber and electromagnetic spectrum expertise through a variety of experiential opportunities related to national security. William & Mary is part of the VICEROY Network of Virtual Institutes.
The Whole of Government Center of Excellence (WGC) serves as the university contact for the W&M VICEROY Scholar program and collaborates with faculty in the School of Computing, Data Sciences & Physics.
“William & Mary is honored to serve as a VICEROY Virtual Institute and to help develop the next generation of cybersecurity leaders through hands-on learning and direct engagement with the Department of War,” said Kathleen Jabs, special assistant for military & veteran affairs and acting director at WGC. “Hosting the symposium was a tremendous opportunity to convene leaders from government, academia and industry around this important mission.”
Bridging history and the future
William & Mary was chosen to host the symposium in part because of its unique ability to bridge cutting-edge, cyber-spectrum education with a “deep, institutional commitment to national security,” said VICEROY Engagement and Communications Lead Pamela D. Mustee.
She added that the university’s recent designations as a United States-based AUKUS Center of Excellence and a National Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Research aided in the decision.
The selection of the venue was a collaborative effort involving stakeholders of the VICEROY initiative. On the university side, the Whole of Government Center of Excellence, the Office of Military & Veteran Affairs and University Events aided in the hosting selection.
William & Mary’s geographic proximity to major defense hubs such as Joint Base Langley-Eustis and Air Combat Command also made it an ideal strategic location to bring together educators, scholars and defense industry leaders.
“There’s no better place than William & Mary, our nation’s alma mater, to bring together leaders shaping the future of national security,” said Chester Maciag, VICEROY national director. “Whether attendees joined us from the Department of War, as a mission operator, an educator, industry partner or VICEROY Scholar, they were working side-by-side to solve real-world challenges.”
Preparing students for cyber careers
The theme throughout this year’s symposium was “Empowering mission-ready cyber-spectrum leaders.” Events and remarks — including a keynote address from Joseph S. Jewell, assistant secretary of war for science and technology — focused on the importance of transitioning students directly into the Department of War and the defense industrial base workforce pipelines. W&M Alum Kedar Pavgi ‘11 and Kevin Rudd Ph.D ‘07 led panels on converging cyber and spectrum capabilities.
William & Mary students attended the Gilded Guardian National VICEROY Cyber Competition in the Alumni House, an event showcasing live learning with cyber warfare. Tribe Cyber 1693, a team of W&M students led by retired Lieutenant Colonel and Professor Matt Chapman ‘90, placed third nationally among more than 200 teams in the multi-stage competition.
Additionally, scholars across the country showcased their operational research directly to War Department stakeholders, with opportunities for research to be published in the Military Cyber Professionals Association Journal this fall.
Last spring, William & Mary joined the VICEROY Scholars Program for its 14th Virtual Institute. In addition, the first cohort of William & Mary VICEROY Scholars completed their cyber internships with the U.S. Air Force’s Air Combat Command last summer.
Last month, William & Mary received a gold designation as a military-friendly institution from MilitaryFriendly.com, and the Raymond A. Mason School of Business was named the top military-friendly graduate school in the nation. The university provides a variety of support services for its over 1,600 military-connected students, ranging from clinical mental health counseling to resources on transition to civilian management positions.
“Hosting the 2026 VICEROY Symposium here bridges our country’s historical foundations with the future of national defense,” said Mustee. “It sends a powerful message: While the domains of warfighting are rapidly evolving into the cyber and electromagnetic spectrums, the core of American values of service, duty and mission-readiness remain timeless.”
Students interested in the VICEROY Scholar program can contact Parin Shah Finch at the Whole of Government Center of Excellence.
