VICEROY National Director Mr. Chester “CJ” Maciag emphasized how VICEROY’s mission—to deliver a qualified, mission-capable cyber and spectrum workforce ready to contribute on Day One—aligns with the Department of War’s broader cyber workforce strategy. Speaking to the Military Cyber Professionals Association (MCPA), Mr. Maciag underscored VICEROY’s role in strengthening the American military cyber community and advancing investment in the next generation of cyber leaders.  

He was joined by fellow senior leaders working to accelerate the Department’s talent pipeline including: 

• Mr. Mark Gorak, Director of the Cyber Academic Engagement Office and Principal Director for DoW CIO’s Resources & Analysis 

• Dr. Diba Hadi, Principal Director of Cyber Academic Engagement Office 

• Col. (Ret.) Dr. Daniel “Rags” Ragsdale, Former Assistant Director for Cyber, in the Office of the Director of Defense Research and Engineering, Research and Technology 

Together, they reinforced the importance of cross-sector collaboration between government, academia, and industry to build the next generation of cyber and spectrum professionals. 

VICEROY’s presence at HammerCon 4.0 reflects the advancements of a maturing pipeline of defense-ready talent, capable of contributing immediately to mission-critical cyber and spectrum operations. By empowering students to participate in real-world research, VICEROY is not only shaping technical excellence in students but also delivering on national security priorities.