Samuel Benke

Sam C. Benke is an experienced IT educator and leader with over 30 years in the industry, currently serving as an IT Professor at Virginia Peninsula Community College. He is the Co-Chair of the VCCS IT Peer Group, an Executive Committee Member of the Virginia Cyber Range, and a Steering Committee Member of the VCCS AI Advisory Board. Throughout his career, Sam has led IT departments, developed innovative cybersecurity and cloud computing curricula, and created hands-on learning environments that prepare students for real-world success. He actively collaborates with cybersecurity professionals and industry experts to ensure programs stay current with evolving threats, technologies, and certification standards. Sam is deeply committed to statewide collaboration, faculty development, and aligning education with emerging technologies and workforce needs.