In today's digital age, the importance of cybersecurity cannot be overstated, especially for Department of Defense (DoD) manufacturers in the Chippewa Valley. These manufacturers are crucial to national security, making them prime targets for cyberattacks from state-sponsored actors, organized crime groups, and opportunistic hackers. A successful cyberattack on Western Wisconsin's DoD manufacturers could have catastrophic consequences, potentially compromising sensitive defense information, disrupting operations, and endangering national security. To address these critical cybersecurity needs, the Wisconsin Procurement Institute and UW-Stout Manufacturing Outreach Center (MOC), in collaboration with Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) and the Chippewa Economic Development Corporation (CEDC), hosted a BEAR Discussion event. This event tackled the pressing challenges faced by the manufacturing sector. Expert speakers, including Stephen Casselman, IT-Network Specialist Instructor at CVTC’s Center for Cyber Defense, Ron Thomas, Senior Management Engineer [...]