NoVA Meetups

This section of the web site provides a list of infosec meetup events that are based in or around the Northern Virginia (NoVA) area. If there are any mistakes or information we should add, please let us know through our Contact Us form. For recent posts regarding this information, see the Recent Posts area below. Look for a complete list of all related posts on the NoVA Meetups category page.

Northern Virginia Infosec Meetup Events

OWASP Local Chapters: For more information on OWASP, see its description on our Infosec Organizations page.

  • OWASP - DC/MD Local Chapter: The original DC Chapter was founded in June 2004 by Jeff Williams and has had members from Virginia to Delaware. In April 2005 a new chapter, DC-Virginia, was formed and the DC Chapter was renamed to DC-Maryland. The two are sister chapters with common members and shared discourse. The chapters meet in opposite halves of the month to facilitate this relationship. Chapter meetings are held several times a year, typically in the offices of our sponsor. Please subscribe to the mailing list for meeting announcements. Meetings generally take place on the second Thursday of every month.
  • OWASP - VA Local Chapter: The sister chapter to the DC/MD one. The chapter leader is Stan Wisseman. Meetings generally take place on the second Thursday of every month.

ISSA Chapters: For more information on the ISSA, see its description on our Infosec Organizations page.

  • ISSA - NoVA Chapter: This chapter is based in Reston, VA and run by Marc Noble. It is ISSA’s largest chapter. Meetings generally take place on the third Thursday of every month.
  • ISSA - DC Chapter: This chapter is based in Washington, DC and run by Bob Schlansker. The National Capital Chapter of the ISSA is comprised of information security professionals located in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area. Members are actively involved in information security in government agencies, the military, non-profit organizations, and in large and small companies. The chapter holds regular meetings at various locations throughout the D.C. area. Through its meetings and other events, the chapter fosters professional development and support for computer and information security professionals. Membership is open to practicing security professionals or to those with an interest in the profession. New members are always welcome — please feel free to attend one of our open meetings or to contact the chapter for more information. Monthly meetings generally take place on the third Tuesday of every month in the evenings.
  • ISSA - Baltimore Chapter: This chapter is based in Baltimore, MD and run by William Smith Jr. The primary goal of the Information Systems Security Association, Inc. (ISSA) is to promote management practices that will ensure the confidentiality, integrity and availability of organizational information resources. Information systems security is an increasingly critical aspect of information systems design and maintenance. Many organizations do not have dedicated information systems and network security personnel they have generalists many of whom are not familiar with information security practices. The ISSA is dedicated to providing resources to such people and organizations, as well as to generally raising the level of security and data privacy consciousness among information systems personnel in all organizations. The Baltimore Chapter is a local resource to be used by members and non-members alike. Chapter meetings are normally held on the fourth Wednesday of every month.

NoVA Sec: “Pure technical gatherings for security professionals in the northern Virginia area. Check your certifications at the door.” This is a local group run by a well known security professional Richard Bejtlich, owner of TaoSecurity. Meetings generally take place on the fourth Thursday of every month.

CitySec Gatherings: For more information on CitySec, see its description on our Infosec Organizations page.

  • CapSecDC: Here’s their description from their site: “Cap Sec DC is a subset of the CitySec movement. We’re a bunch of Information Security professionals in the Washington DC Metropolitan area, who get together about once a month to socialize and have a few drinks. Currently, we’re meeting on the last Wednesday of every month at around 7:30 PM. We are taking a hiatus from the Brickskeller as our bar of choice, and are going to try another venue or two in the warmer months. Sometimes the date varies, so please check back occasionally.”
  • CharmSec: Here’s their description from their site: What - An informal meetup of information security professionals in Baltimore. Unlike other meetups, you will not be expected to pay dues, “join up”, or present a zero-day exploit to attend. Where - Wharf Rat at Camden, downtown, near I395 at Howard St and Pratt. We’re barside. When - CharmSec 4 will be June 26th, 2008. A Thursday. 7:00PM. We stay until people get tired of hanging out. That seems to be about 3 hours. (I imagine they will go to the regular schedule of the last Thursday of every month.) Why - It fills a gap. In other cities, there are regular professional meetups. We’re less formal than ISSA. Nobody takes minutes. We just try to get to know the locals in our field.

SecurityGeeks: Run by The Shmoo Group, this organization runs monthly meetings throughout the NoVA area. Back in the early 2000’s they seemed to be active, but we haven’t heard much from them lately. For more information on The Shmoo Group, see its description on our Infosec Organizations page.

  • SecurityGeeks - DC: This is simply a mailing list run by the Shmoo Group. They mention meeting monthly but it seems to be used more just for discussion.
  • SecurityGeeks - MD: This is simply a mailing list run by the Shmoo Group. They mention meeting monthly but it seems to be used more just for discussion.

DefCon Groups

2600 Meetings: 2600 meetings provide a forum to teach, learn, and discuss events in technology-land. Meetings are open to anyone regardless of age or level of expertise. For more information on 2600, see its description on our Infosec Organizations page.

  • 2600 Group - Arlington: I’ve never attended but here is the info. Meetings on the first Friday of the month at Pentagon City Mall in the food court near Panda Express, 6 pm.

ISACA Chapters: For more information on ISACA, see its description on our Infosec Organizations page.

  • ISACA - CM Chapter: The ISACA - Central Maryland (CM) chapter is based in Baltimore, MD and run by Wes Lewis. Chapter meetings are usually held nine times per year (no meetings in June, July or August). The meetings are normally held on the second Wednesday of the month at various times (e.g., breakfast, lunch, and dinner meetings).
  • ISACA - NCA Chapter: The ISACA - National Capital Area (NCA) chapter was founded on June 12, 1974 to serve the Washington, DC area. In serving its members, it provides educational seminars and workshops for continuing professional development, networking opportunities at periodic mixers, CISA and CISM review courses, chapter news through newsletters and periodic e-mails, and various online resources. Conferences (a.k.a., meetups) are held monthly during the year, except for July, August and December, on a wide variety of topics of interest but with a strong emphasis on control, audit, and security issues. All chapter meetings are held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in downtown Washington, D.C. Meetings dates vary but seem to usually be held either the third or forth Tuesday of these months.

InfraGard Chapters: For more information on InfraGard, see its description on our Infosec Organizations page.

  • InfraGard - NCMA Chapter: Creating Critical Resiliency in Metropolitan Washington, DC, the InfraGard - Nations Capital Members Alliance (NCMA) chapter consists of a growing membership of professionals who are creating a more resilient Critical Infrastructure in the Washington, DC metro area. These include defense industrial base, water supply systems, electrical energy, emergency services, law enforcement, health systems, gas and oil, storage and delivery, transportation, banking, and telecommunications. Our membership is voluntary yet exclusive and is comprised of individuals from both the public and private sector. The main goal of the Washington, DC Nations Capital Chapter of InfraGard is to promote ongoing dialogue, education, community outreach and timely communication between public and private members. Furthermore, to achieve and sustain risk-based target levels of capability to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from all hazards or events, and to minimize their impact on lives, property, and the economy. Meetings vary but seem to usually be held the first Wednesday of every month.
  • Infragard - Maryland Member Alliance: InfraGard is a non-profit alliance created with the goal of increasing our Nation’s security through enhanced awareness, communication, and cooperation between the companies and agencies that comprise the critical infrastructure of our country. The Maryland Chapter, started in 1999, now has over 300 registered members, who meet every other month at different venues across the Maryland region. Chapter activity involves presentations, training, and plenty of active discussion.  Our entire country benefits indirectly from the InfraGard environment; our members benefit directly via the Chapter programs and other members. The Maryland InfraGard Board works hard to produce the best program available for their chapter, including top-notch speakers from both the public and private sector, specific training, and lively ‘break-out’ discussion. In addition, the unique networking opportunity encourages the correlation and dissemination of security events and best practices. InfraGard is truly member-ran, and everyone is encouraged to actively participate in all aspects, including volunteering for one of our many member-led committees (such as the Web Committee, who maintains this website). Although active in the past it doesn’t seem that they’ve had many consistent meetings since 2006.

CSO Breakast Club Chapters: For more information on the CSO Breakfast Club, see its description on our Infosec Organizations page.

  • CSO Breakfast Club - Baltimore Chapter: They meet about every six weeks at one of the chapters; periodically they meet in Baltimore.
  • CSO Breakfast Club - DC Metro Chapter: They meet about every six weeks at one of the chapters; periodically they meet in DC.

AFCEA Chapters: Located around the world, AFCEA’s 134 chapters give engineers, programmers, managers, government officials and military personnel continuing opportunities to exchange ideas about communications, intelligence, imaging and information systems technologies. Nearly one-half of AFCEA’s chapters conduct symposia and seminars in addition to other chapter activities. For a listing of all AFCEA meetups, visit the events calendar on the main AFCEA site and search in VA, DC, and MD as well as each chapter’s own site. For more information on AFCEA, see its description on our Infosec Organizations page.

  • AFCEA - Belvoir Chapter: Since 1993, this chapter continues to focus on the Fort Belvoir Community and surrounding areas. Today, with over 200 members, they continue to provide great networking opportunities for business professionals with a core focus in Information Technology. They seem to have monthly luncheons toward the end of each month on Wednesdays.
  • AFCEA - Bethesda Chapter: Founded in 1998, the AFCEA Bethesda Chapter is a non-profit organization which encourages greater government/industry partnerships and fosters networking among peers in government and industry. The chapter focuses on US Civilian Agencies. They hold monthly breakfast meetings, provide annual scholarships, and hold an annual Charity Ball to benefit The Children’s Inn at NIH.
  • AFCEA - George Mason University Subchap: TBD
  • AFCEA - NoVA Chapter: The AFCEA - Northern Virginia (NoVA) chapter is the largest group in the AFCEA International family, with approximately 6,000 members, and an equal number of associates and friends in industry, government, & academia. They hold monthly luncheons at the Sheraton Premier in Tysons Corner September through June featuring top government speakers on how information technology enables National Security. These meetings vary but usually take place on a Friday. Additionally, the chapter hosts three major annual Service IT Day Conferences featuring speakers on information technology from the Army, Navy, USMC & Air Force. And, they have lots of fun with their very special Valentine’s Sweetheart Ball, a Golf Tournament, and many Young AFCEAN Events.
  • AFCEA - DC Chapter: The AFCEA - Washington, DC chapter has a proud heritage as the oldest and best established AFCEA regional point of presence in the Washington Metropolitan area. They are dedicated to providing their members with policy, regulatory, program and budget information that directly shapes governmental decisions in the technology arena. Monthly luncheons at the Pentagon City Ritz Carlton in Arlington feature senior government and industry executives that have tremendous impact on the federal technology market. These meetings vary throughout the month. Technical symposia offer government policy makers, program managers and oversight officials insight into the potential of new and emerging technologies as well as new ways to apply technology to reduce costs and improve mission performance. Finally, social events provide invaluable networking opportunities to build relationships that will endure over time.
  • AFCEA - CMD Chapter: The AFCEA - Central Maryland (CMD) chapter has over 1,250 members and serves Baltimore City and five counties: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, and Howard. The chapter has hosted monthly luncheon meetings (for the past fifteen years September-April). They meet at the BWI Marriott, featuring nationally known speakers. The CMD chapter, for the past eighteen years, has presented the annual Mid-Atlantic Intelligence Symposium each fall, and hosts the annual AFCEA CMD Chapter Awards Night banquet, where they award scholarships to deserving students. The Chapter also offers periodic technical seminars, biannual golf tournaments, and sponsors a very active group of Young AFCEANs who lead our Technology Over Bagels seminar series.
  • AFCEA - Germantown Chapter:The Germantown/DOE Chapter of AFCEA was officially incorporated on June 17, 1998. The charter was established through collaboration of DOE and industry senior representatives. The chapter format has been modified over the years to its current luncheon format, primarily in Germantown near the DOE facilities, but also at select D.C. locations. The number of meeting attendees has grown significantly over the years and the monthly chapter meetings are also held in the Main Auditorium at the DOE Headquarters at the Forrestal Building in D.C. The monthly meeting speakers have typically been DOE staff and executives. As the chapter matured, the speaker selection broadened outside of DOE to those government and industry representatives that provided insightful and relevant information to the mission of DOE. The chapter will continue to provide programs with timely content to DOE and other government and industry representatives.

In summary, here is a list of when confirmed local meetings take place. But remember, most of these are volunteer organizations so things tend to fall through the cracks sometimes:

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
1 * 2600 Arlington
2 * ISACA CM * OWASP DC/MD
* OWASP VA
3 * ISSA DC * ISSA NoVA
4 * ISSA Baltimore
* CapSecDC (or last Wed)		 * NoVASec
* CharmSec (or last Thursday)

Other Security Meetup Events

For those interested in learning more about some of the above organizations that have meetups in other areas, here is some information about them.

OWASP Local Chapters: TBD. For more information on OWASP, see its description on our Infosec Organizations page.

ISSA Chapters: TBD. For more information on the ISSA, see its description on our Infosec Organizations page.

CitySec Gatherings: Other meetings take place all over the world. For more information on CitySec, see its description on our Infosec Organizations page.

DefCon Groups: Other meetups take place everywhere.

2600 Meetings: Other meetings in various countries around the world generally take place on the first Friday of the month at 5 p.m. local time, with various exceptions. For more information on 2600, see its description on our Infosec Organizations page.

ISACA Chapters: TBD. For more information on ISACA, see its description on our Infosec Organizations page.

InfraGard Chapters: TBD. For more information on InfraGard, see its description on our Infosec Organizations page.

CSO Breakast Club Chapters: For more information on the CSO Breakfast Club, see its description on our Infosec Organizations page.

AFCEA Chapters: For more information on AFCEA, see its description on our Infosec Organizations page.

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