CyManII, SAMA spotlight cybersecurity at Manufacturing Day 2025
The Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institute (CyManII) at UTSA and the San Antonio Manufacturing Association (SAMA) hosted a 2025 Manufacturing Day celebration at CyManII’s Cybersecurity for Manufacturing (C4M) hub at Port San Antonio on October 3. The event brought industry professionals and other stakeholders together to explore how cybersecurity is reshaping modern manufacturing.
“Securing America’s manufacturing sector is a national priority,” said Dr. Howard Grimes, CyManII CEO. “Events like Manufacturing Day help industry leaders understand the critical role cybersecurity plays in keeping U.S. manufacturers safe from cyber threats.”
Manufacturing Day is a national movement that promotes modern manufacturing and the rewarding career paths it offers. Each year, companies and educational institutions across the U.S. invite community leaders to experience how the industry is evolving.
“What we’re doing is raising the visibility of manufacturing in our nation,” said Dan Yoxall, SAMA President and CEO. “We’re trying to inspire the next generation. We’re going to have four million manufacturing jobs to fill within the next 10 years. We’re in dynamic economic region.”
Throughout the morning at C4M, attendees watched live demonstrations where experts tested real manufacturing equipment against simulated cyberattacks. Others took a tour of CyManII’s Mobile Training Vehicle (MTV) to experience how cyber threats happen on the factory floor and how teams are trained to respond to them.
CyManII and SAMA officials said the goal of the event was to show how protecting digital infrastructure is essential to modern manufacturing. By highlighting its mission, CyManII aimed to raise awareness about the vulnerabilities manufacturers face and the tools available to defend against them.
“CyManII’s work is about staying ahead of bad actors,” said Nate Acevedo, CyManII Acting Chief Cybersecurity & EWD Officer. “By fortifying manufacturing systems against cyber intrusions, we’re not just preventing breaches, we’re protecting critical operations, jobs, and the nation’s supply chain.”
At Port San Antonio, that message came through clearly as attendees discussed how innovation, workforce development, and cybersecurity are converging to shape the future of American manufacturing.
“CyManII is developing the safeguards that protect America’s manufacturing industry,” Grimes said. “By combining innovative cybersecurity solutions with workforce readiness, we’re ensuring factories across the country remain secure against the threats of tomorrow.”
