GPN & ARE-ON Joint Conference 2026: Full Schedule

Welcome to the GPN & ARE-ON Joint Conference 2026 schedule. Use this page to browse sessions, view speaker and session details, and build your personal agenda for June 22–24 in Rogers, Arkansas. Check back through May as additional sessions and details are added.

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9:00am CDT

Conference Registration Opens

Monday June 22, 2026 9:00am - 4:00pm CDT

NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Lobby @ 900 SE Eagle Way, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA

Registration and check in at NWACC - Shewmake Center for Global Business Development Building Lobby. Come and get your badges and other information.

Monday June 22, 2026 9:00am - 4:00pm CDT
NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Lobby 900 SE Eagle Way, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA

Logistics

9:30am CDT

*Workshop: Setting Up and Maintaining a Science DMZ - Part I

Monday June 22, 2026 9:30am - 11:30am CDT

NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Peterson Auditorium @ 900 SE Eagle Way, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA

If you need a secure network that firewalls research activities from your enterprise network, this is a workshop for you. Providing a framework for implementing segmented, locally managed academic technology environments for cybersecurity, networking, wireless, and advanced computing programs, a DMZ allows researchers to engage freely with their data without the concerns faced on the larger campus network. The proposed architecture uses isolated wired and wireless zones, internal firewalls, localized virtualization, and edge-level administrative control to support hands-on instruction — including red/blue team exercises, wireless security testing, and data-intensive computing — while protecting institutional systems.

Max Attendee Tickets Available: 25
*IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Attendees must first complete their Joint Conference registration prior to attending this workshop. In addition, pre-registration for this workshop session is required at: https://gpnandareonjointconference2026.eventbrite.com/

Speakers

Jason Zurawski

Science Engagement Engineer, ESnet

Monday June 22, 2026 9:30am - 11:30am CDT
NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Peterson Auditorium 900 SE Eagle Way, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA

Workshop

Audience Network Engineers, CIOs, IT Leaders, Security Professionals

11:30am CDT

Networking Lunch

Monday June 22, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm CDT

NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Peterson Auditorium @ 900 SE Eagle Way, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA

Lunch will be a boxed lunch. Pick up your box lunch in the ENACTUS Lab and enjoy it with your cohorts in Peterson Auditorium.

Monday June 22, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm CDT
NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Peterson Auditorium 900 SE Eagle Way, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA

Meal

Company Great Plains Network
Subject Collaboration & Applications, Strategy

12:00pm CDT

Welcome

Monday June 22, 2026 12:00pm - 12:20pm CDT

NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Peterson Auditorium @ 900 SE Eagle Way, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA

Welcome to the participants for GPN's afternoon of organizational meetings, along with workshops for both GPN and ARE-ON members. Two of the committees are meeting concurrently with workshop activities, so they are open to all conference participants but please get your tickets at: https://gpnandareonjointconference2026.eventbrite.com/. The welcome will highlight GPN's actions and accomplishments of 2025/6 and what's coming soon.

Speakers

Mickey Slimp

Executive Director, Great Plains Network

Recently joined GPN after working on NTIA, HUD, and HRSA grants in Texas. Now constructing a home near UAMS, UALR, and Philander Smith University in Little Rock.

Monday June 22, 2026 12:00pm - 12:20pm CDT
NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Peterson Auditorium 900 SE Eagle Way, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA

General Session

Company Great Plains Network
Subject Collaboration & Applications, Strategy

12:30pm CDT

*Workshop: Setting Up and Maintaining a Science DMZ - Part II

Monday June 22, 2026 12:30pm - 2:30pm CDT

NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Peterson Auditorium @ 900 SE Eagle Way, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA

Continuing the morning session.

If you need a secure network that firewalls research activities from your enterprise network, this is a workshop for you. Providing a framework for implementing segmented, locally managed academic technology environments for cybersecurity, networking, wireless, and advanced computing programs, a DMZ allows researchers to engage freely with their data without the concerns faced on the larger campus network. The proposed architecture uses isolated wired and wireless zones, internal firewalls, localized virtualization, and edge-level administrative control to support hands-on instruction — including red/blue team exercises, wireless security testing, and data-intensive computing — while protecting institutional systems.

Max Attendee Tickets Available: 25
IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Attendees must first complete their Joint Conference registration prior to attending this workshop. In addition, pre-registration for this workshop session is required at: https://gpnandareonjointconference2026.eventbrite.com/

Speakers

Jason Zurawski

Science Engagement Engineer, ESnet

Monday June 22, 2026 12:30pm - 2:30pm CDT
NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Peterson Auditorium 900 SE Eagle Way, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA

Workshop

Audience CIOs, Network Engineers, Security Professionals, Researchers

12:30pm CDT

GPN Cyber Infrastructure Program Meeting

Monday June 22, 2026 12:30pm - 3:00pm CDT

NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Room 2048 @ 900 SE Eagle Way, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA

The GPN CIP Team initiates the program area ideas behind GPN, while facilitating their completion. Topics will include:

The GPN High Performance Computing infrastructure, including survey distribution and findings, NRP/OSG involvement, and the latest on the OAK SuperComputing Consortium. Contributors will include the GP-STOR NSF Project Team, NRP PI Frank Wuerthwein, and OAK project PI, Christopher Fennell.
State plans for A.I. activities and grant submissions.
Quantum projects within GPN
Emerging Institution activities
Priorities for 2027

Participation is open but voting is limited to committee members.

Speakers

Chip Byers

Chief Technical Strategist, Missouri Research and Education Network

Christopher Fennell

Interim Director, OAK Supercomputing Consortium, OSU

Derek Weitzel

University of Nebraska Lincoln

Frank Wuerthwein

Director, San Diego Supercomputer Center; CEO, Open Science Grid and the National Research Platform, University of California at San Diego

Monday June 22, 2026 12:30pm - 3:00pm CDT
NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Room 2048 900 SE Eagle Way, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA

Meeting

Company Great Plains Network

12:30pm CDT

GPN NPC/EC Meeting - Closed Meeting

Monday June 22, 2026 12:30pm - 3:00pm CDT

NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Enactus Lab @ 900 SE Eagle Way, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA

GPN Network Policy Committee / Executive Committee.

Discussion of GPN Administrative and Leadership Issues.

Closed to non-committee members.

Speakers

Benjamin Canlas

VP Info Tech/CIO, University of Missouri System

As the CIO of the Missouri System, Ben Canlas is also serving as the Chair of the GPN Executive Committee, heading the leadership and decision making team for the Consortium.

John Hennessey

Asociate Vice Chancellor for Information Technology & OneNet | CIO, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

Monday June 22, 2026 12:30pm - 3:00pm CDT
NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Enactus Lab 900 SE Eagle Way, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA

Meeting

Company Great Plains Network

12:30pm CDT

*Tabletop Exercise: CMMC NIST 800-171 with special invitation by the GPN Security Committee

Monday June 22, 2026 12:30pm - 3:00pm CDT

NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Room 2047 @ 900 SE Eagle Way, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA

Meeting for 30 min and then a Security Table Top Exercise: CMMC NIST 800-171

Max Attendee Tickets Available:20
*IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Attendees must first complete their Joint Conference registration prior to attending this workshop. In addition, pre-registration for this workshop session is required at: https://gpnandareonjointconference2026.eventbrite.com/

Institutions of higher education are frequently targeted by malicious cyber actors. Adversaries seek persistent access to vital systems and aim to disrupt essential operations and services.

CISA Cybersecurity State Coordinator H. Gayle Combs will conduct a tabletop exercise to examine preparedness for a significant cyber incident. The simulated attack will address the ability to detect, contain and restore services. The analysis will explore impact, response plans, and measures for continuous operations. Discussion will incorporate strategies to satisfy incident response compliance requirements for handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) - consistent with the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) and NIST SP 800-171 protocols.

Collaboratively, Supervisory Protective Security Advisor Glenn Moore will touch upon effects of cyber-attacks on physical security, to include CISA resources to enhance campus physical security.

Speakers

Helen 'Gayle' Combs

Cybersecurity Advisor (CSA), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

Monday June 22, 2026 12:30pm - 3:00pm CDT
NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Room 2047 900 SE Eagle Way, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA

Workshop

Company Great Plains Network

1:00pm CDT

Sponsor Check-In and Booth Setup Begins

Monday June 22, 2026 1:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom I - IV @ 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

Sponsor check-in and booth setup at Embassy Suites. Runs concurrent with NWACC committee meetings.

Monday June 22, 2026 1:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom I - IV 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

Logistics

2:30pm CDT

GPN NTAC Meeting

Monday June 22, 2026 2:30pm - 3:00pm CDT

NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Peterson Auditorium @ 900 SE Eagle Way, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA

GPN Network Technical Advisory Committee will follow the Science DMZ workshop and go from 2:30 pm - 3:00 pm. Only committee members eligible to cast votes.

Speakers

Shannon Spurling

Shannon Spurling is a network engineer at the University of Missouri for MOREnet, the research and education network for the state. As the lead engineer, his team designs the network and the routers to support connections to the higher education, K-12, and government facilities for... Read More →

Monday June 22, 2026 2:30pm - 3:00pm CDT
NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Peterson Auditorium 900 SE Eagle Way, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA

Meeting

Company Great Plains Network

3:00pm CDT

Refreshment Break

Monday June 22, 2026 3:00pm - 3:15pm CDT

NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Lobby @ 900 SE Eagle Way, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA

Light refreshments available in the NWACC Commons. A short break between committee sessions

Monday June 22, 2026 3:00pm - 3:15pm CDT
NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Lobby 900 SE Eagle Way, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA

Break

3:15pm CDT

Keynote: GPN and the National Research Platform

Monday June 22, 2026 3:15pm - 4:00pm CDT

NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Peterson Auditorium @ 900 SE Eagle Way, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA

For more than a decade, GPN and the National Research Platform (NRP) have joined forces to assure researchers throughout the Midwest have the access to advance computing resources to conduct research and to teach researching skills. Dr. Frank Wuerthwin is a widely recognized leader in the field, as the director of the San Diego Supercomputing Center and the lead of the OSG network for science. Frank will discuss the emerging role of GPN within the national research infrastructure and share ideas on greater involvement over the next decade. He will be speaking in the Peterson Auditorium

Speakers

Frank Wuerthwein

Director, San Diego Supercomputer Center; CEO, Open Science Grid and the National Research Platform, University of California at San Diego

Monday June 22, 2026 3:15pm - 4:00pm CDT
NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Peterson Auditorium 900 SE Eagle Way, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA

General Session, Keynote

Company Great Plains Network

4:00pm CDT

*Tour: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art - Self-Guided (SHUTTLE)

Monday June 22, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm CDT

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art @ 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, AR 72712

SHUTTLE IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS TOUR (From NWACC and Embassy, To and From and back to Embassy for the Monday, June 22 Opening Night Reception)

Located just a few miles from Rogers in neighboring Bentonville, the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art [link to https://crystalbridges.org/about] offers free general admission to world-class galleries set within 134 acres of native Ozark forest. During a self-guided tour, visitors can wander at their own pace to admire five centuries of art, view Frank Lloyd Wright's relocated Bachman-Wilson House, and explore over three miles of scenic sculpture and walking trails.

This is a self-guided tour, so you're free to explore at your own pace once dropped off.

Prefer to drive yourself? Standard visitor parking is available on the Crystal Bridges campus, and the local campus shuttles can get you around the grounds.

Please note the museum closes at 6:00 PM.

Monday June 22, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm CDT
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, AR 72712

Tour

4:00pm CDT

*Tour: C‑TEC - (Cycling and Trails Education Center) at NWACC

Monday June 22, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm CDT

NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Lobby @ 900 SE Eagle Way, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA

Attendees of this tour will gather in the lobby of the Shewmaker Center at 4 PM and take a short walk over to the CTEC Center. Those who wish to drive can park in a limited parking lot on the west side of the CTEC Center (1201 SE Eagle Way, Bentonville, AR 72712).

NOTE: There is a competing tour for this tour so the shuttle will NOT be available to take attendees of this tour back to Embassy. See Mickey Slimp for more details.

*IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Attendees must first complete their Joint Conference registration prior to attending this Tour. In addition, pre-registration for this Tour is required at: https://gpnandareonjointconference2026.eventbrite.com/

Tour the C‑TEC Facility at NWACC

Experience the C‑TEC (Cycling and Trails Education Center), a state‑of‑the‑art facility created through an $8 million investment from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation. C‑TEC serves as an integrated hub for hands‑on skills training in bicycle repair and maintenance, trail design, trail architecture, and sustainable construction practices, all supported by purpose‑built labs, specialized tools, and outdoor learning spaces.

This guided tour offers an inside look at how applied technology and real‑world instruction come together in a single facility to support the growing cycling and trail economy. Attendees will see how C‑TEC functions as a replicable model for workforce training, facility design, and industry engagement—bridging education, infrastructure, and outdoor recreation.

Monday June 22, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm CDT
NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Lobby 900 SE Eagle Way, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA

Tour

Subject Emerging Technologies

6:00pm CDT

Opening Night Reception

Monday June 22, 2026 6:00pm - 8:00pm CDT

Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Ambassador A & B @ 3303 South Pinnacle Hills Parkway, Rogers, AR, USA

Join us for the opening night reception sponsored by Palo Alto Networks. Drinks, dinner and networking! All participants in GPN and ARE-ON are invited to this event as the official opening of the GPN & ARE-ON Joint Conference 2026. Don't miss it!

Menu:
Build Your Own Salad Bar