This month has marked several important milestones for TAC, reflecting our continued growth and commitment to advancing cybersecurity training and innovation.
TAC Enters a New Chapter of Leadership
Gregg Smith, who has guided TAC with vision and dedication as CEO, will transition to our Board of Directors. In this role, he will continue to help shape the strategic direction of TAC and support our mission of advancing cybersecurity innovation.
Stepping into the role of Chief Executive Officer is Chris Hollifield, formerly TAC’s Chief Strategy Officer. With deep expertise in cybersecurity and a strong passion for workforce development, Chris is well-positioned to lead TAC into its next phase of growth and impact.
This leadership transition reflects our ongoing commitment to building a stronger cyber workforce and advancing defense capabilities that protect our nation’s most critical systems.
Launch of the TAC Training Hub
TAC introduced the new TAC Training Hub, a centralized platform for workforce and training development. The Hub represents a major step forward in engaging learners, expanding access to training opportunities, and strengthening the cybersecurity workforce pipeline.
OT BoOTcamp: First 5-Day Course Completed
TAC successfully delivered its first five-day OT BoOTcamp course, offering participants a rigorous, hands-on training experience in operational technology cybersecurity. The program was designed to strengthen real-world skills, and participant feedback confirms its value as a cornerstone in our training portfolio.king rail infrastructure.
“Anyone in a Security Operations Center (SOC), they need to go to this course. They need to understand the world they see, with all of their internet protocol tools, there’s a whole other world out there and while they are busy trying to protect and defend data, or a company’s crown jewels or PII, there are other people out their defending the sluice gates of a dam that if it opens people might die. It’s a different environment and different world. And as technologies continue to converge between IT and OT, people in the IT SOC need to have this understanding and this skill set.”
– Dan , Helping the Air Force and Space Force See and Assess Their Cyber Terrain to Strengthen Defense.”
Cyber Range Integration at TheLink
We have combined the TechValley and Adega Airport Cyber Ranges into a single, fully integrated environment at TheLink. Previously, training at TAC meant moving between two separate rooms, plugging and unplugging hardware and software, and working in distinct environments for different sectors. Now, everything lives in one connected space, the city environment on one side and the airport environment on the other, ready for seamless exercises, evaluations, and demonstrations. This enhanced setup enables greater collaboration and technical capability in one location.
Expansion into Virtual Training
TAC’s cyber ranges now feature a virtual training component, extending accessibility for learners across geographies while maintaining the realism and interactivity of our in-person range experience. By modernizing our infrastructure with support from a state grant, TAC now has the capability to connect up to 48 simultaneous students to the environment, even remotely. With Raspberry Pi systems, live camera feeds, and integrated slide presentations, participants can follow along from anywhere in the world. It’s the same level of immersion as being in the room, delivered in a format as seamless as a live webinar. This addition reflects TAC’s commitment to meeting organizations where they are while delivering industry-leading training.
Looking Ahead: Defend The Railroad 2026
Planning is underway for the next Defend The Railroad conference, scheduled for 2026. This flagship event will once again convene experts and leaders in rail and transportation cybersecurity for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation. As we close out a month marked by new training programs, expanded range capabilities, and the launch of the TAC Training Hub, Defend The Railroad represents the next milestone in our ongoing mission to strengthen cybersecurity across critical infrastructure.
We look forward to building on this momentum together and thank you for your continued partnership in advancing the mission.
