Defending America/SpaceComm (now CYBERSPACE Symposium) was founded in 1998 as a forum for government and industry to exchange information, technical advancements, and increase cooperation in supporting military preparedness in the C4ISR domains. The first symposium was held January 26-28, 1999 at the Sheraton Hotel in Colorado Springs, CO. That event was attended by some 350 and has grown to over 1400 attendees and exhibitors.  Defending America/SpaceComm was the premier C4ISR symposium of its kind in the nation. This is the 14th year the Rocky Mountain Chapter, AFCEA has conducted the symposium of this kind and magnitude and the 10th year the event has been held at the Broadmoor Hotel. The symposium staff is extremely excited about the 7 -9 February, 2012 program. 
 The top communicators from all Services, numerous Agencies, and Commands have presented their top priorities and strategic vision. Each year the event focused on relevant space, homeland security and defense C4ISR topics.  The exhibit hall has been supported by hundreds of highly valued industry partners who have brought in first-class exhibits over the years. They understood it was a prime opportunity to network with integrated architecture developers, the DoD, other federal agencies and industry colleagues.
 A highlight of CYBERSPACE Symposium has been the annual presentation of the North American Information Technology Leadership Award to an international leader in the IT community. The first recipient and co-sponsor of the event was Lt Gen (Ret) Harry D. Raduege, Jr. Since then VADM Mike McConnell (USN, Ret), former Director NIA; Lt Gen Robert Shea (USMC, Ret), JCS/J6, LTG Stephen Boutelle (USA, Ret), Army/G6, and the Honorable Dale Meyerrose, (USAF, Ret), Associate Director of National Intelligence and Chief Information Officer   Lt Gen Charles Croom (USAF, Ret),  Director, Defense Information Systems Agency, and Commander, Joint Task Force - Global Network Operations, have received the award.   VADM Nancy Brown (USN, Ret), former Director, Command, Control, Communications and Computer Systems, The Joint Staff, was presented her award at  2010's12th Annual CYBERSPACE Symposium Honor's Luncheon and General Keith B. Alexander, Commander, United States Cyber Command was the 2011 recipient. The  tradition continues at the Honors Luncheon on Wednesday,  8 February 2012, where our next awardee will be announced.