CMMC Phase 2 Pause: What It Means for Your Business
In July 2026, the Department of War suspended CMMC Phase 2, the requirement for third-party C3PAO certification that was set to begin November 10. Many contractors read that as a reason to slow down. The reality is different. Phase 1 self-assessments are still in effect, DFARS 7012 and NIST SP 800-171 obligations have not changed, and defense primes are still choosing suppliers who can show they protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).
For Long Island manufacturers, the pause is an opportunity. Companies that keep moving toward CMMC readiness now will be ahead of competitors when the program resumes, and they’ll stand out to the primes who decide where work goes today.
Win More Work with CMMC is an in-person panel hosted by DataSoftNow in collaboration with the Ignite Long Island CMMC Task Force. Four people who see CMMC from every side of the table will share what’s really happening and what your business should do next.
In July 2026, the Department of War suspended CMMC Phase 2, the requirement for third-party C3PAO certification that was set to begin November 10. Many contractors read that as a reason to slow down. The reality is different. Phase 1 self-assessments are still in effect, DFARS 7012 and NIST SP 800-171 obligations have not changed, and defense primes are still choosing suppliers who can show they protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).
For Long Island manufacturers, the pause is an opportunity. Companies that keep moving toward CMMC readiness now will be ahead of competitors when the program resumes, and they’ll stand out to the primes who decide where work goes today.
Win More Work with CMMC is an in-person panel hosted by DataSoftNow in collaboration with the Ignite Long Island CMMC Task Force. Four people who see CMMC from every side of the table will share what’s really happening and what your business should do next.
Location
Conference Center
145 Pinelawn Rdoad
Lower Level
Melville, NY 11747
145 Pinelawn Rdoad
Lower Level
Melville, NY 11747
Date & Time
November 19, 2026
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Speakers
John Regan
supplier development engineer
bae systems
bae systems
John Regan is a Supplier Development Engineer at BAE Systems, one of the world’s largest defense and aerospace companies. In his role, John works directly with suppliers to build capability, improve quality and delivery performance, and help them meet the requirements that come with supporting defense programs. John brings a prime contractor’s view of what makes a supplier ready to win and keep defense work, including how cybersecurity requirements like DFARS 7012 and NIST SP 800-171 factor into the relationship.
Herman Kuller
CFO
Sylhan LLC
Sylhan LLC
Herman Kuller is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Sylhan LLC, a Long Island precision manufacturer founded in 1988. Sylhan makes tight-tolerance components from refractory metals such as tungsten, molybdenum and tantalum, and from super alloys. It serves the aerospace and defense, space, semiconductor, medical and industrial markets, and its parts support aircraft programs for primes including Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky and Boeing. He helped lead the company through CMMC Level 2 certification. He brings the business owner’s view of what readiness really takes: the investment, the timeline, the people involved, and the return.
Thomas Nohs
President, CISSP, LCCA
Datasoftnow, inc.
Datasoftnow, inc.
Thomas Nohs is the Founder and President of DataSoftNow, which provides CMMC assessments, cybersecurity compliance and managed security services for the Defense Industrial Base. He holds the CISSP and is a Lead CMMC Certified Assessor (LCCA). Thomas led DataSoftNow through its DoD DIBCAC assessment to become an Authorized C3PAO in 2023, and the company is now pursuing full accreditation. Under his direction, DataSoftNow also earned its own CMMC Level 2 certification as an MSP/MSSP. His team both conducts official Level 2 assessments and has been through one itself, and he brings that real-world view to what it takes to get ready, pass, and use certification to win more work.
Jamie Moore
president
ignite long island
ignite long island
Jamie Moore is President of Ignite Long Island, a consortium of the region’s manufacturers. He is also President of Industry Grants, where he specializes in Empire State Development capital-expansion and job-creation grants and in federal grant programs. Jamie has long advocated for Long Island manufacturing. He served as founding Executive Director of the Manufacturing Consortium of Long Island, which launched to give local manufacturers a unified voice, promote their capabilities, and push for business-friendly policy. He has spent years championing Long Island’s manufacturers and helping them find the funding and partnerships they need to grow.
Schedule
8:00-8:35 AM
Registration and Breakfast
Check in, enjoy a complimentary breakfast, and connect with fellow Long Island manufacturers, defense contractors, and industry professionals before the program begins.
8:35-8:40 AM
Welcome and Opening Remarks
DataSoftNow and Ignite Long Island open the morning and explain why primes still want suppliers who can prove they protect CUI, even with CMMC Phase 2 on hold.
8:40-9:00 AM
The Prime’s View – John Regan, Supplier Development Engineer, BAE Systems
A moderated conversation on what primes check today, including DFARS 7012, NIST SP 800-171 and SPRS, and how cybersecurity readiness shapes supplier selection.
9:00-9:20 AM
A Manufacturer’s Journey – Herman Kuller, CFO, Sylhan LLC
A moderated conversation on what CMMC Level 2 certification really took for a local manufacturer: the time, cost, surprises, and lessons learned.
9:20-9:40 AM
Inside the Assessment – Thomas Nohs, President, CISSP, LCCA, DataSoftNow
How a C3PAO assessment works from first call to final result, common readiness gaps, and how to prepare, from an authorized C3PAO and CMMC Level 2 certified MSP/MSSP.
9:40-10:00 AM
Funding & the Task Force – Jamie Moore, President, Ignite Long Island
Funding available to help Long Island companies get started, and how the Ignite Long Island CMMC Task Force supports local businesses on the path to certification.
10:00-:10:30 AM
Live Panel Q&A
All four panelists take the stage together for open audience questions on compliance, assessments, funding, timelines, and next steps.
10:30-11:00 AM
Networking Session
Connect with the panelists, peers, service providers, and industry leaders to talk through CMMC readiness, partnerships, and next steps.