Explore upcoming events from across the Foundation – See Calendar

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X

About Us

About Us

Advancing cybersecurity awareness, education, and innovation for a safer digital world.

Our Team

Meet the leaders and visionaries driving the NCF's mission forward every day.

FAQs

Find quick answers about our mission, membership, and how to get involved.

Our History

From codebreakers to cyber defenders — preserving a legacy that shapes the future.

NCF Financial Data

Review audited reports and filings that reflect our commitment to transparency, accountability, and responsible stewardship.

nav about us group of professionals in conversation

More Than a Mission — A Movement

The NCF brings together educators, experts, and enthusiasts who believe in building an informed, cyber-safe future.

Programs & Events

All Programs

Explore all of the NCF's programs driving cyber awareness, education, and history forward.

Escape Room

Hands-on puzzle challenge: crack codes, solve clues, experience real-time cryptologic logic.

Convening to Act

Catalyzing strategic dialogue on emerging cyber & cryptologic challenges in partnership with NSA.

Cocktails & Codebreakers

A celebratory evening honoring cryptologic legacy, networking, and thought leadership.

Crypto Cup

A signature fundraiser merging sport and mission — advancing cryptologic education through golf.

Cryptologic History Symposium

An academic event that explores the role of cryptology across eras and its lasting influence on security, strategy, and society.

Student Ambassador Program

Catalyzing strategic dialogue on emerging cyber & cryptologic challnges in partnership with NSA

Cyber Saturday

A full-day, interactive event for youth and families to explore cybersecurity through play.

Cyber Feud

A live, fast paced competition where students test cyber knowledge in game show format.

Maryland History Day

Highlighting student research on cryptology's impact across Maryland's past.

nav programs and events three students learning together

Events That Build a Cyber-Safe Future

The NCF programs spark growth, foster collaboration, and make cybersecurity a shared mission across generations and industries.

Resources

Podcast Series

Listen to #CyberChats and Cyber Pulse — the NCF's two podcasts exploring stories, insights, and innovations shaping cybersecurity.

Cyber Games

Engaging students through interactive challenges that build real-world cybersecurity skills and teamwork.

Downloads

Access classroom-ready lessons, tools, and activities to teach cryptology, cybersecurity, and digital citizenship.

Insights & Updates

Explore thought leadership, event recaps, and the latest news from the world of cryptology and cyber education.

Outsmart Cyberthreats Collections

Clear, engaging resources that build foundational cyber safety skills through activities and practical guidance.

Cybersecurity Curriculum Guidelines

Guidelines that support creating cybersecurity-focused lessons and inspire students to pursue cyber careers.

How to Be Cyber Safe + Savvy — A Data Care Booklet for Adults

Clear, practical steps to protect their devices, data, and privacy from today's online threats.

nav resources two young students learning on laptop

Empowering the Next Generation of Cyber Thinkers

Through resources, stories, and shared knowledge, the NCF helps educators, professionals, and students strengthen our cyber future together.

Cryptologic History

Trailblazers

Discover the pioneers who broke barriers and paved the way for future generations in cryptology.

Historical Figures in Cryptology

Meet the brilliant minds whose work in codes and communication shaped global history.

Cryptologic Bytes

Dive into quick reads and fascinating facts that reveal hidden history of code communication.

Commemorate

Honor the people and achievements that advanced the art and science of cryptology.

Acquisitions Archive

Explore rare artifacts, documents, and exhibits preserved to tell the evolving story of cryptology.

NSA/CSS Cryptologic Hall of Honor

Celebrate individuals whose exceptional contributions strengthened our nation's intelligence security.

nav cryptologic history hands using engima machine

Preserving the Code of Our Past

From hidden messages to historic breakthroughs, the NCF keeps the stories of cryptology alive—honoring the people, events, and innovations that shaped modern intelligence.

Explore upcoming events from across the Foundation – See Calendar

About Us

About Us

About Us

Advancing cybersecurity awareness, education, and innovation for a safer digital world.

Our Team

Meet the leaders and visionaries driving the NCF's mission forward every day.

FAQs

Find quick answers about our mission, membership, and how to get involved.

Our History

From codebreakers to cyber defenders — preserving a legacy that shapes the future.

NCF Financial Data

Review audited reports and filings that reflect our commitment to transparency, accountability, and responsible stewardship.

nav about us group of professionals in conversation

More Than a Mission — A Movement

The NCF brings together educators, experts, and enthusiasts who believe in building an informed, cyber-safe future.

Programs & Events

Programs & Events

All Programs

Explore all of the NCF's programs driving cyber awareness, education, and history forward.

Escape Room

Hands-on puzzle challenge: crack codes, solve clues, experience real-time cryptologic logic.

Convening to Act

Catalyzing strategic dialogue on emerging cyber & cryptologic challenges in partnership with NSA.

Cocktails & Codebreakers

A celebratory evening honoring cryptologic legacy, networking, and thought leadership.

Crypto Cup

A signature fundraiser merging sport and mission — advancing cryptologic education through golf.

Cryptologic History Symposium

An academic event that explores the role of cryptology across eras and its lasting influence on security, strategy, and society.

Student Ambassador Program

Catalyzing strategic dialogue on emerging cyber & cryptologic challnges in partnership with NSA

Cyber Saturday

A full-day, interactive event for youth and families to explore cybersecurity through play.

Cyber Feud

A live, fast paced competition where students test cyber knowledge in game show format.

Maryland History Day

Highlighting student research on cryptology's impact across Maryland's past.

nav programs and events three students learning together

Events That Build a Cyber-Safe Future

The NCF programs spark growth, foster collaboration, and make cybersecurity a shared mission across generations and industries.

Resources Code

Resources

Podcast Series

Listen to #CyberChats and Cyber Pulse — the NCF's two podcasts exploring stories, insights, and innovations shaping cybersecurity.

Cyber Games

Engaging students through interactive challenges that build real-world cybersecurity skills and teamwork.

Downloads

Access classroom-ready lessons, tools, and activities to teach cryptology, cybersecurity, and digital citizenship.

Insights & Updates

Explore thought leadership, event recaps, and the latest news from the world of cryptology and cyber education.

Outsmart Cyberthreats Collections

Clear, engaging resources that build foundational cyber safety skills through activities and practical guidance.

Cybersecurity Curriculum Guidelines

Guidelines that support creating cybersecurity-focused lessons and inspire students to pursue cyber careers.

How to Be Cyber Safe + Savvy — A Data Care Booklet for Adults

Clear, practical steps to protect their devices, data, and privacy from today's online threats.

nav resources two young students learning on laptop

Empowering the Next Generation of Cyber Thinkers

Through resources, stories, and shared knowledge, the NCF helps educators, professionals, and students strengthen our cyber future together.

Cryptologic History

Cryptologic History

Trailblazers

Discover the pioneers who broke barriers and paved the way for future generations in cryptology.

Historical Figures in Cryptology

Meet the brilliant minds whose work in codes and communication shaped global history.

Cryptologic Bytes

Dive into quick reads and fascinating facts that reveal hidden history of code communication.

Commemorate

Honor the people and achievements that advanced the art and science of cryptology.

Acquisitions Archive

Explore rare artifacts, documents, and exhibits preserved to tell the evolving story of cryptology.

NSA/CSS Cryptologic Hall of Honor

Celebrate individuals whose exceptional contributions strengthened our nation's intelligence security.

nav cryptologic history hands using engima machine

Preserving the Code of Our Past

From hidden messages to historic breakthroughs, the NCF keeps the stories of cryptology alive—honoring the people, events, and innovations that shaped modern intelligence.

headshot photo of jamil jaffer ncf board member

Jamil Jaffer

Board Member

jlinde@gmail.com

(555) 555-5555

Jamil is also a Venture Partner with Paladin Capital Group, where he assists the firm with investments across the full range of its themes and theses, including a focus on dual-use national security technologies. Jamil also serves on the board of directors of RangeForce, a cybersecurity training and readiness platform startup and Tozny, a digital identity startup, and on the advisory boards of U.S. Strategic Metals, North America’s largest primary producer of cobalt, a critical mineral used in EV batteries, aerospace, and other national security applications; and Constella Intelligence, a deep and dark web intelligence startup. Jamil also serves as an advisor to Beacon Global Strategies, a strategic advisory firm and Duco, a technology platform startup that connects corporations with geopolitical and international business experts. Jamil is also the managing director of Trigraph Caveat Capital, a private investment vehicle.

Among other things, Jamil currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Greater Washington Board of Trade, the Board of Advisors for the Global Cyber Alliance, and the Advisory Board of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies’ Center on Cyber and Tech Innovation, the Executive Committee of the Reagan Institute Strategy Group. Jamil is also a Fellow at the Academy for Judaic, Christian, and Islamic Studies, an advisor to the Concordia Summit, and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Center for Intelligence Policy, the Board of Directors of Speech First, and the Executive Committee of the International Law and National Security Practice Group of the Federalist Society. Immediately prior to his current positions, from 2015-2021, Jamil served as a senior business leader at IronNet Cybersecurity, helping take the company from a bootstrapped first-year technology products startup through two rounds of venture capital fundraising, growing from 40 employees to over 300, and through its listing on New York Stock Exchange. In his role as IronNet’s Senior Vice President for Strategy, Partnerships & Corporate Development, Jamil worked directly for the co-CEOs of the company, Gen (ret.) Keith B. Alexander, the former Director of the National Security Agency and Founding Commander of U.S. Cyber Command, and Bill Welch, the former COO of Zscaler and Duo; in that role, Jamil led all of the company’s strategic and technology partnership efforts, including developing go-to-market and technology integration plans with some of the largest cloud platforms and cybersecurity companies in the market, evaluating potential acquisition targets, and developing overall corporate strategy and thought leadership around collective security and collaborative defense in the cyber arena.

Prior to his time at IronNet, Jamil served on the leadership team of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as Chief Counsel and Senior Advisor under Chairman Bob Corker (RTN), where he worked on key national security and foreign policy issues, including leading the drafting of the proposed Authorization for the Use of Military Force against ISIS in 2014 and 2015, the AUMF against Syria in 2013, and revisions to the 9/11 AUMF against al Qaeda. Jamil was also the lead architect of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act and two sanctions laws against Russia for its first intervention in Ukraine. Prior to joining SFRC, Jamil served as Senior Counsel to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence under Chairman Mike Rogers (R-MI) where he led the committee’s oversight of NSA surveillance, NRO intelligence issues, and NGA analytic and collection matters, as well as intelligence community-wide counterterrorism issues. Jamil was also the lead architect of the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act, the nation’s first cyber threat intelligence sharing legislation that was signed into law in 2015. In the Bush Administration, Jamil served in the White House as an Associate Counsel to the President, handling Defense Department, State Department, and intelligence community matters, and serving as one of the White House Counsel’s primary representatives to the National Security Council Deputies Committee.

Prior to the White House, Jamil served on the leadership team of the Justice Department’s National Security Division as Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for National Security, where he focused on counterterrorism and intelligence matters. At NSD, Jamil helped lead the division’s work on In re: Directives, the first ever two-party litigated matter in the FISA Court and the second case before the FISA Court of Review in its 30-year history. Jamil also led NSD’s efforts on the President’s Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative (CNCI), including the drafting of NSPD-54/HSPD-23, and related classified matters, and advised the National Security Agency (NSA) and U.S. Cyber Command’s predecessor organization, the Joint Function Component Command for Network Warfare (JFCC-NW), on matters related to cyber intelligence collection and offensive cyber activities. For his work on these matters, Jamil was awarded the Assistant Attorney General’s Award for Special Initiative and was among the group of lawyers awarded the Director of National Intelligence’s 2008 Legal Award (Team of the Year – Cyber Legal).

Jamil also served in other positions in the Justice Department, including in the Office of Legal Policy, where he worked on the confirmations of Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. and Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. to the United States Supreme Court. Jamil also served as a lawyer in private practice at Kellogg Huber, a Washington, DC-based litigation boutique, as a policy advisor to Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), and as a staff member or senior advisor on a number of political campaigns, including two presidential campaigns and a presidential transition team. While in law school, Jamil was a member of the University of Chicago Law Review, managing editor of the Chicago Journal of International Law, and National Symposium Editor of the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy. Following law school, Jamil served as a law clerk to Judge Edith H. Jones of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and, later in his career, as a law clerk to then-Judge Neil M. Gorsuch when he first joined the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit as well as a law clerk to Justice Neil Gorsuch when he joined the U.S. Supreme Court.

Jamil has published multiple op-eds and academic articles on national security, foreign policy, cybersecurity, counterterrorism, encryption, and intelligence matters, and is the coauthor of a book chapter with former NSA Director Gen. (Ret.) Keith B. Alexander on national security and the press in National Security, Leaks, and the Freedom of the Press: The Pentagon Papers Fifty Years On (2021) and a book chapter with former CIA Director Gen. (ret.) Mike Hayden on ISIS, al Qaeda, and other international terrorist groups in Choosing to Lead: American Foreign Policy for a Disordered World (2015). Jamil has also written book chapters on cybersecurity and surveillance, as well as op-eds and policy papers with former Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey, former National Counterterrorism Center Director Matt Olsen, and Congressman Mike Waltz (R-FL), among others.

Jamil has previously taught graduate-level courses in intelligence law and policy at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs and the National Intelligence University, served an outside advisor to the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, and has recently testified before committees of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives on China, cybersecurity, counterterrorism, and other national security matters. Jamil has also recently appeared on a range of national television and radio outlets including CNN, Fox News, Fox Business, MSNBC, Bloomberg, PBS, Voice of America, and National Public Radio, and in various print and online publications, including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and the Washington Post on a range of national security matters including cybersecurity, counterterrorism, surveillance, encryption, privacy, and foreign policy issues.

Jamil holds degrees from UCLA (B.A., cum laude), the University of Chicago Law School (J.D., with honors), and the United States Naval War College (M.A., with distinction).

Recent News & Updates

The NCF Announces New Board of Directors’ Members

The NCF is pleased to welcome Dr. Radica Sipcic and Mr. Siraaj Hasan to the Board of Directors.

President & CEO Laura Nelson Announces Her Retirement

Laura Nelson looks forward to her next chapter as she prepares to bid farewell to the NCF.

August 2025 MD Cyber Feud Visits Georgia

We were pleased to share the Cyber Feud experience in Georgia at the BDPA National Conference.

2025 Convening to Act: Accelerating National Security AI Adoption

Leadership and Organizational Practices Toward Successful AI Outcomes - March 27-28, 2025

2024 Cocktails & Codebreakers Recap with Video & Photos

The 3rd Annual Cocktails & Codebreakers event took place on October 24, 2024 and featured a Fireside Chat with Mr. Harry Coker Jr., White House National Cyber Director and Gen Timothy D. Haugh, USAF, Commander, U.S. Cyber Command; Director, National Security Agency/Chief, Central Security Service.

23rd “Tim Sheahan Memorial” Crypto Cup Recap

The 23rd Annual Eagle Alliance hosted "Tim Sheahan Memorial" Crypto Cup Golf Tournament benefiting the National Cryptologic Foundation (NCF) took place at Waverly Woods Golf Course in Mariottsville, MD on 3 October 2024.
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