The Converged Skies Summit (CSS) is a full day focused on unmanned threats, aviation security, academic and workforce training, operational response and readiness, drone forensics, and emerging security challenges.

Presented by the Institute for Cyber Security at Marshall University, Marshall University Aviation, and DroneTrace, Inc., this free, one-day conference brings together government, public safety, aviation, cybersecurity, research, industry and education partners for focused discussion around emerging technologies, security challenges and preparedness needs.

View the event agenda below. Visit the event website for additional CSS details.

Holiday Inn | Martinsburg, West Virginia

Thursday, July 23

Time	Topic	Name
8 – 9:00 a.m.	Registration
9 – 9:10 a.m.	Welcome to Converged Skies Summit 2026	Marshall University Institute for Cyber Security
9:10 – 9:25 a.m.	Opening Remarks \| Defending the Homeland in an Era of Unmanned Threats	DroneTrace
9:25 – 10:00 a.m.	Keynote Address \| Adapting at the Speed of Threat: Evolving Technologies, Insider Threats, and the New Realities of Aviation Security	Brenna Murphy \| Secure Horizons International, LLC
10 – 10:05 a.m.	Transition Break
10:05 – 10:35 a.m.	Drones at the Intersection of Capability, Intent, Creativity and Physics	Luke Canfield \| Renaissance Drone Consulting, LLC
10:35 – 10:40 a.m.	Transition Break
10:40 – 11:10 a.m.	Session Details Coming Soon
11:10 – 11:15 a.m.	Transition Break
11:15 a.m. – noon	Panel Discussion: Academic and Workforce Training for Unmanned Threats	Dr. Robin Verma \| Assistant Professor, Marshall University Nancy Ritter \| Chief of Aviation Operations, Marshall University Tom Jordan \| Special Agent, WMD and C-UAS Coordinator, FBI
Noon – 1 p.m.	Lunch
1 – 1:45 p.m.	Panel Discussion: Operational Response and Readiness for Unmanned Threats	Jason Berty \| Senior Special Agent, ATF Representative \| U.S. Secret Service Dawn Rae Smith \| Digital Forensics Unit, West Virginia State Police Tom Jordan \| Special Agent, WMD and C-UAS Coordinator, FBI
1:45 – 1:50 p.m.	Transition Break
1:50 – 2:20 p.m.	Drone Cases, Investigations, and the Federal Legal Response to Unmanned Threats	Andrew Cogar \| Assistant U.S. Attorney, Northern District of West Virginia
2:20 – 2:35	Cyber Takeover of ArduPilot Drones: Non-Kinetic Mitigation Using Authentication Bypass	Justin Smith \| Student Research Assistant, Marshall University Kendra Shamblin \| Student Research Assistant, Marshall University
2:35 – 2:50 p.m.	Drone Fingerprinting and Detection Using Passive Scanning of 2.4GHz Bands	David LeGrow \| Student Research Assistant, Marshall University Adam Aucoin \| Student Research Assistant, Marshall University
2:50 – 3:00 p.m.	Closing Remarks	Alexandria Donathan \| Executive Director, Institute for Cyber Security, Marshall University James Lanham \| Director of Operations, Institute for Cyber Security, Marshall University
4 – 6:00 p.m.	Please join us for our Converged Skies Networking Reception at The Wren & Rye, located inside the Holiday Inn Martinsburg	Sponsored by DroneTrace