CMMC & Defense Conferences

CMMC webinar

Name of Event: Why “We Have an MSP” Isn’t Enough: What Defense Contractors Need to Know About CMMC
Date: Apr 30, 2026 01:00 PM ET
Location: San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA
Event Topic Summary: Your competitors are getting CMMC certified. Primes are flowing compliance requirements down the supply chain. And DoW solicitations are already requiring it. CMMC Level 2 certification is no longer a future consideration. It determines whether you can bid on contracts, stay in the supply chain, and protect the revenue you’ve already built. Most contractors don’t start until something forces them to. By then, the timeline is compressed and the pressure is high. This fireside chat cuts through the noise. An honest, in-depth conversation between a CMMC-certified MSP and an independent C3PAO, covering what this process actually requires and what it takes to get it right. What you’ll walk away with:

• A clear picture of where most organizations fall short, and how to avoid it
• What the assessment process actually involves, straight from a C3PAO
• Why starting with a certified MSP changes your timeline and your outcome
• A CMMC Level 2 Audit Readiness Checklist
• A visual Customer Journey Map: the full path from where you are to where you need to be

Everything you need to know from both sides of the process. Speakers: Host: Scott Bernoudy, CEO of Open Approach Brandon Szych-Brown (CISSP, CCSP, CCP), Manager of Security Operations at Open Approach, will walk through what preparation looks like from the inside, the gaps most organizations don’t see coming, why policies and documentation matter as much as technology, and what working with a certified MSP actually changes about the process. Brendtly Lauck (CISA, CISM, CRISC, AAIA, AAISM, LCCA), a lead CCA from Eide Bailly’s CMMC practice, a certified C3PAO, will share the independent assessor’s perspective: what they evaluate, what prepared organizations look like, and what consistently trips contractors up before they get there.
Registration: Register Here

CMMC DAY 2026

Name of Event: CMMC Day 2026
Dates: May 4, 2026
Location: The Hotel UMD, College Park, Maryland (Washington, DC metro area)
Event Topic Summary: CMMC Day is the dedicated annual conference focused entirely on the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification framework and its impact on the federal defense supply chain. Now in its sixth year, the event provides a comprehensive overview of CMMC certification requirements, NIST 800-171 standards, and supply chain cybersecurity best practices. The audience includes over 300,000 U.S. government DIB subcontractors who will be affected by CMMC requirements, as well as product developers, integrators, testing laboratories, compliance consultants, and DoD officials. Government keynotes, practitioner sessions, and hands-on workshops make this the most focused CMMC-specific event on the calendar. CMMC Day is presented as part of a broader DIB Cybersecurity Certification Week alongside the CSfC Conference.
Website: cmmcday.org

CS5 WEST 2026

Name of Event: CS5 West 2026: The Official Conference of The Cyber AB
Dates: April 16–17, 2026
Location: Gaylord Pacific Resort, San Diego (Chula Vista), CA
Event Topic Summary: CS5 West is the definitive conference for the CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) compliance ecosystem. Presented by the Cyber AB — the official accreditation body for CMMC — the event brings together every layer of the compliance community: defense contractors seeking certification, Registered Provider Organizations (RPOs) that prepare them, C3PAOs (Certified Third-Party Assessment Organizations) that assess them, and the training and tool providers that support the process. Topics include CMMC Level 2 readiness, NIST SP 800-171 alignment, controlled unclassified information (CUI) protection, assessment expectations, and long-term compliance program development. If your organization is in the defense industrial base, this is the event to attend for CMMC clarity.
Website: cs5west.org

DIBCON 2026

Name of Event: DIBCON 2026: Defense Industrial Base Conference
Dates: April 7–9, 2026
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Event Topic Summary: DIBCON is the only national conference dedicated specifically to strengthening and growing the U.S. Defense Industrial Base (DIB). Now in its third year, the event connects small and medium-sized manufacturers, economic development organizations, DoD leaders, and defense industry stakeholders. The focus is on building new pathways between American manufacturers and the Department of Defense, empowering small businesses to compete in defense contracting, and addressing the shrinking supplier base — over 40% of small manufacturers have exited the DIB in the
past decade. Sessions cover defense procurement, supply chain readiness, and how manufacturers can enter or expand their presence in the defense supply chain.
Website: www.dibcon.us

WEST 2026

Name of Event: WEST 2026: “Sustaining Maritime Dominance: Warfighting Readiness for the Future Fight”
Dates: February 10–12, 2026
Location: San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA
Event Topic Summary: WEST is the premier annual Sea Services conference co-hosted by AFCEA International and the U.S. Naval Institute, now in its 36th year. The event brings together senior leaders from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard alongside industry, government, and academic professionals to address maritime defense readiness, emerging technology, cybersecurity, and operational strategy. It is the only West Coast event where all Sea Service Chiefs appear together. Key themes include naval operations, force integration, advanced technology adoption, and threat response in a contested global maritime environment.
Website: www.westconference.org