Learn from top security experts at Rocky Mountain Cybersecurity Symposium
CYBERSECURITY IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS — A promotional graphic for the upcoming Rocky Mountain Cybersecurity Symposium, RMCS 2026, scheduled for June 17-18 at the Walter H. Nolte Gateway Center on the Casper College campus. The two-day event will bring together national security analysts, former intelligence officers, and fraud watch networks to provide digital safety tools and awareness tracks for both nontechnical and technical audiences. (Casper College graphic)
The public is invited to learn from top security experts at the Rocky Mountain Cybersecurity Symposium June 17-18.
“The Rocky Mountain Cyber Security Symposium, RMCS 2026, isn’t just a cybersecurity conference. It’s a community event,” said Kent Brooks, director of information technology at Casper College. “Our RMCS Cyber Security Awareness Track is designed specifically for nontechnical audiences: teachers, parents, seniors, students, and everyday users who need the tools and knowledge to protect themselves,” he added.
An outstanding lineup of leading security experts, including past favorites, will present key information on cybersecurity on June 17-18 at the Walter H. Nolte Gateway Center, Rooms 224 and 225, on the Casper College Campus.
The day will begin with keynote speaker Cathy Holman, the Prairie Wife in Heels, who will discuss how the systems designed to protect children fall short in her talk, “Our Stalking Story.” In a powerful, deeply personal keynote, Holman shares her family’s real-life experience navigating a yearlong stalking and harassment campaign targeting her teenage daughter and another minor, carried out not by a peer but by an adult. “Through anonymous texts, impersonation, and psychological intimidation, Holman’s case exposes how modern stalking operates in a digital world and how difficult it can be to stop,” said Brooks.
Chief Information Security Officer for Jonah Bank, Galen Gough, will present “Human Hacked,” which examines how cybercriminals weaponize online and offline services to target Wyoming citizens and organizations. “I understand that today’s fraudsters are more sophisticated than ever, leveraging artificial intelligence and social engineering to exploit the human factor. But with the right mindset and training, we can be the strongest line of defense,” he said.
Terri Markham, co-founder and executive director of Uprising, will speak on “The Human Side of Cybercrime: Online Exploitation Trends Impacting Youth and Communities.” “I am dedicated to empowering individuals and communities to combat human trafficking through awareness, education, and outreach,” she wrote. The talk will draw on prevention work with youth and communities across Wyoming and examine how offenders exploit digital environments to manipulate, coerce, and financially exploit victims.
The AARP’s Mark Fetterhoff, program manager of AARP Elderwatch and senior adviser of the AARP Fraud Watch Network, will conclude the morning presentations. He currently works with volunteers to address thousands of inquiries each month about fraud, scams, and financial exploitation through the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline.
A lunchtime address, “Scary Scams You Would Have Likely Fallen For,” will be presented by Roger A. Grimes, chief information security officer adviser at KnowBe4. Grimes will walk through the ins and outs of long-game social engineering advanced techniques. “Even though these more sophisticated attacks make up less than 0.5% of all email attacks, they make up 66% of all successful attacks. One attack method is responsible for two-thirds of all successful attacks,” noted Brooks.
Following the lunchtime address, there will be a 30-minute book signing event at the Rocky Mountain Cybersecurity Symposium, where participants can purchase books and have them signed by the authors. Books available for purchase include Mishaal Kahn’s “The Phantom CISO: Time to Step Out of the Shadow,” Peter Warmka’s “Confessions of a CIA Spy: The Art of Human Hacking” and “WHY ARE YOU MESSING WITH ME?: Senior Survival Guide on Fraud, Privacy, and Security,” Grimes’s “How AI and Quantum Impact Cyber Threats and Defenses,” Josh Mason’s “Security with a Business Accent,” Ben Halpert’s “The Savvy Cyber Kids at Home: Three Book Collection,” “Mothers Against Cyber Crime,” and “Digital Parenting by the Ages.”
Following lunch, former CIA Senior Intelligence Officer Warmka will present “The Traitor’s Playbook,” analyzing the espionage cases of Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssen, two of the most notorious spies in U.S. history who compromised national security for money. Warmka will examine the two cases through the lens of the “Fraud Triangle,” which can help organizations identify insider threats.
The day will conclude with Halpert, who will present “Digital Native or Digital Naïve,” equipping parents with tools to teach their children the “modern street smarts” needed for digital safety. He will show parents how to talk with their children about what they are experiencing and how to empower them to make safe, appropriate decisions online. At home, parents can further emphasize the importance of privacy and cyber ethics, including thoughtfully maintaining a positive online persona and applying appropriateness and empathy to virtual decision-making.
Thursday will begin at 8 a.m. with Warmka and “When the Banker Gets Butchered.” Warmka will present a case study on “pig-butchering” scams, focusing on the CEO of Heartland Tri-State Bank, who was manipulated into transferring millions of dollars.
Halpert will return with Allie Hunter to speak on “You’re Not the Weak Link — You’re the Target: Rewriting the Human Side of Cybersecurity.” The session will challenge the outdated notion that people are the “weak link” in cyber incidents and instead reveal how attackers deliberately exploit human psychology to succeed. “Through a compelling blend of real-world storytelling and technical insight, this session will break down modern attack methods, including AI-driven scams, phishing, and identity manipulation, while exposing the emotional triggers, such as urgency, authority, and fear, that make even highly capable individuals vulnerable,” said Brooks.
A panel on “Behind the Screen: A Multidisciplinary Response to Cyber Exploitation” is scheduled to feature four panelists: Holman, Markham, an officer with Internet Crimes Against Children, and Jewel Parrish of Child Advocacy Centers of Wyoming. According to Brooks, the panel discussion brings together experts from multiple disciplines to examine how cyber exploitation cases unfold, from the moment a crime is discovered through investigation, victim support, and prevention efforts. Through perspectives from a parent advocate, law enforcement, child advocacy professionals, and prevention educators, participants will gain insight into the real-world impacts of cyber-enabled crimes and how collaborative responses can improve outcomes for victims. The session highlights how cybersecurity awareness intersects with victim services, investigations, and community prevention efforts.
During lunch, Khan, a highly respected figure in cybersecurity with expertise in ethical hacking, will speak on “GeoINT Mastery: A Pixel is Worth a Thousand Words.” After Khan’s interactive talk, attendees will never see images the same way again. The enlightening session explores the dynamic realm of GeoINT, or geospatial intelligence, an interesting subset of OSINT, or open-source intelligence, that unlocks a wealth of hidden insights within images and videos. “From identifying objects, landscapes, and aircraft to interpreting symbols, shadows, and reflections, we’ll go deep into the art of imagery analysis and learn how to decode the language of trees, signs, text, and logos and uncover the strategic implications behind seemingly mundane details using common browser tools. This talk promises to equip you with mind-blowing skills that you can easily learn as I take you through multiple demos,” said Khan.
After lunch, attendees will participate in a four-hour hands-on session led by Glen Sorenson, a solutions engineer with DeleteMe. During the session, attendees will learn to reduce their digital footprint to defend against AI-driven social engineering. Sorenson will focus on how exposed information and open-source intelligence are weaponized, in conjunction with AI, for social engineering attacks and how that factors into broader organizational cyber risk.
The cost to attend is $150 for both days, including breakfast and lunch. Wyoming PTSB credit for teachers is also available. Registration is open through Friday, June 12. For more information about the conference, visit rmcscon.com or contact Brooks at 307-268-2703 or kent.brooks@caspercollege.edu. For PTSB information, contact Steward at 307-268-3847 or andee.stewart@caspercollege.edu.
At a Glance:
- Event Focus: A community-oriented cybersecurity conference featuring an awareness track tailored to nontechnical audiences, including parents, seniors, and educators, as well as deep-dive technical sessions on digital safety, AI threats, fraud prevention, and footprint reduction.
- Key Participants: Kent Brooks, Casper College IT Director; keynote speakers and speakers including Cathy Holman, Prairie Wife in Heels; Peter Warmka, former CIA senior intelligence officer; Roger A. Grimes, KnowBe4; Mishaal Khan, ethical hacking expert; Terri Markham, Uprising; Mark Fetterhoff, AARP; and Glen Sorenson, DeleteMe.
- Logistics: Wednesday, June 17, and Thursday, June 18, 2026. Morning sessions begin at 8 a.m. on Thursday. The sessions are held at the Walter H. Nolte Gateway Center, Rooms 224 and 225, Casper College Campus, Casper, Wyoming.
- Admission: $150 covers both days and includes breakfast and lunch. Registration closes on Friday, June 12, 2026.