DHS Science and Technology Directorate’s Post

Arizona State University's Global Security Initiative catalyzes defense and security research throughout the university — from building new sponsor relationships through project execution. As part of this mission, GSI offers targeted pre-award support for faculty and staff pursuing security-related research. In fiscal year 2023, GSI research and programming centers generated: $28.8M+ in total research expenditure with 93 proposals submitted in FY23. GSI has extensive experience with government and industry sponsors, particularly in the Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC). GSI has helped create successful projects with federal DoD/IC/DHS sponsors, and has shepherded partnerships with national labs and research-centric industry partners. Learn more about our impact in our 2023 Year in Review, available here: https://ow.ly/CW3z50SJGcT #cybersecurity #resources #dataprivacy #nationalsecurity #research #development ASU Knowledge Enterprise

CyberRECon: Breaking New Ground in Cybersecurity and Intelligence Analysis U.S. Naval Academy’s Alumni Hall, April 17-18, 2024 The second CyberRECon Symposium, hosted by U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM), recently brought together brilliant minds from academia across the nation. Held at the historic U.S. Naval Academy’s Alumni Hall, this event was a melting pot of innovation, collaboration, and strategic thinking. What is CyberRECon? CyberRECon is the flagship program of USCYBERCOM’s office of academic engagements. It challenges teams to tackle critical mission challenges by partnering with colleges and universities. Through research sharing and technical mentorships, student teams develop original solutions for real-world cyber problems facing our nation. Strategic Significance Rear Admiral Dennis Velez, Director of Plans and Policy at USCYBERCOM, underscored the event's importance. "CyberRECon engages with academic institutions long-term, posing hard questions and problems," Velez explained. "Our goal is to harvest real-world solutions that can be implemented across the command." Military-Academic Collaboration Seventeen schools participated in this year’s CyberRECon, fostering a robust collaboration between military and academic spheres. Their collective efforts ensure that our nation's cyber defenses remain at the forefront, even in the face of emerging threats. Teams worked on projects categorized into four areas, each with its own award: 1. Hunter Award: Research with offensive Cyberspace Operations applications. 2. Analyst Award: Research focused on threat actors or intelligence analysis methodologies. 3. Guardian Award: Research with defensive Cyberspace Operations applications. 4. Strategist Award: Research focused on Cyber Policy and strategy. Congratulations to all participants for advancing our cyber readiness! #CyberSecurity #AcademicCollaboration #Innovation #USCYBERCOM #WeWinWithPeople #OwnTheDomain

Today I was accepted into the Order of the Sword and Shield National Honor Society (Omicron Sigma Sigma). The Order of the Sword & Shield National Honor Society is recognized as the largest organization representing Homeland Security, Intelligence, Emergency Management, Cyber, Information Security, and all Protective Security disciplines. It is distinguished as the honor society encompassing the complete spectrum of the homeland security mission. One more class to go before completing the Master of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance degree program at Western Governors University.

Major news that Paul Nakasone, the former head of US Cyber Command, will lead an institute at Vanderbilt University. We need more instances where practitioners get included in universities - true interdisciplinarity. Retired four-star general and former U.S. Cyber Command and NSA chief Paul Nakasone is set to lead Vanderbilt University's newly established Institute for National Defense and Global Security. “One of the things that really attracted me to Vanderbilt was the fact that it has a very strong belief in an interdisciplinary approach," he said. The institute, set to launch this fall, evolved from Nakasone's involvement in Vanderbilt’s annual Summit on Modern Conflict and Emerging Threats. “We had conversations about it initially, about whether this particular approach made sense. We love working with him. So, we started talking about it … Then gelled into an idea for how these things can reinforce each other," said Chancellor Daniel Diermeier. Nakasone brings to the institute his unparalleled experience in navigating complex challenges. “The only way that we were able to have success against all of those threats was the fact that we had a broad partnership with a number of different players — academia and industry and our interagency allies,” he noted. The new hub will “drive outcomes” and focus on recruiting fellows who can contribute significantly. This is the perfect way to integrate genuine practitioners into a university environment, providing tailored, high-impact learning opportunities for students and ensuring that universities are focused on producing relevant research. Looking forward to tracking more of this effort! #NationalSecurity #CyberLeadership #VanderbiltUniversity https://lnkd.in/ejZZBYiA

🎉 Excited to Share Another Milestone Achievement! 🎉 I am thrilled to announce that I have recently completed the Network Defense Essentials (NDE) certification through EC-Council, further solidifying my expertise in cybersecurity. The NDE course has equipped me with a comprehensive understanding of fundamental concepts in network security, ranging from identification and authentication to technical network defense controls. This certification covers a wide array of topics, including administrative and physical network defense controls, virtualization, cloud computing best practices, wireless network fundamentals, mobile and IoT device security, cryptography techniques, data encryption, and network traffic monitoring. This training has not only enhanced my knowledge but has also provided me with practical skills to effectively defend against evolving cyber threats in today's dynamic digital landscape. I am excited to leverage this expertise to contribute meaningfully to the field of cybersecurity and to continue safeguarding digital assets against potential threats. #NetworkDefense #Cybersecurity #CertificationAchievement #ECcouncil #DataSecurity #IoTSecurity #CloudSecurity #NetworkMonitoring

🚀 Exciting Announcement Alert! 🚀 I am thrilled to share that I've recently completed the intensive Network Defense Essentials course offered by EC-Council! 🎓 As cyber threats continue to evolve, it's crucial to stay ahead of the curve in safeguarding digital infrastructures. This comprehensive program equipped me with the latest strategies and techniques to protect networks from potential breaches and attacks. What I have learnt in this course: ✅ Fundamental concepts of network security ✅ Identification, authentication, and authorization ✅ Administrative network defense controls ✅ Physical network defense controls ✅ Technical network defense controls ✅ Virtualization and cloud computing concepts and best practices ✅ Wireless network fundamentals, types of wireless encryption, and security measures ✅ Mobile device security ✅ IoT device security ✅ Cryptography techniques, cryptographic algorithms, and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) ✅ Data security concepts, data encryption, and data loss prevention ✅ Network traffic monitoring Excited to apply my learnings and contribute to bolstering cybersecurity efforts! Let's strengthen our cyber defenses together! #NetworkDefense #Cybersecurity #ECcouncil #ProfessionalDevelopment

I am excited to share that I have been accepted to the Texas A&M Bush School of Government and Public Service's Master of International Affairs program for this Fall to pursue my passion for cybersecurity and cyber policy. This opportunity marks a significant milestone in my early-professional journey, and I am eager to take a further step into the dynamic world of cyber policy and governance. #TexasAM #BushSchool #MIA #CyberPolicy

Cybersecurity continues to be an emerging field, especially for those in the military. With more national threats occurring in cyberspace, even the military has launched divisions of cybersecurity within their respective military branches. This reason is why Adrian Valesquez, a current student in Boise State's cyber operations and resilience program, decided to pursue a career in cybersecurity. “I’ve attended several briefings where Air Force leaders emphasized the importance of the cyber domain in future battles and the need for more personnel in this field. I plan on joining this career field soon in the Air Force.” Although challenges may arise for those who choose to go to college while in the military, Boise State's cyber operations and resilience program is tailored to military schedules and provides support systems that are important in fighting these obstacles. Professors and advisors in the program also understand how many military members and veterans tend to gravitate toward careers in cyber and national security. Learn more about this program and hear from three current military students on our blog: https://buff.ly/3XJ3LOW Boise State Institute for Pervasive Cybersecurity #BoiseStateUniversity #CyberInstitute #CyberOperations #Cybersecurity #uCORe

Throughout my Air Force career, I championed cyber capabilities as critical for future warfare. However, challenges in prioritization, talent management, and resource allocation for cyber forces were significant obstacles, eventually leading me to seek new opportunities to contribute to our national security. I'm now eagerly anticipating the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD)'s publication on establishing a separate Cyber Force. This landmark paper, releasing tomorrow, represents a crucial step forward. It advocates for a dedicated Cyber Force, underscoring the need for a strategic overhaul to enhance our national security posture in the digital age. This effort resonates with my experiences and the urgent need for focused expertise in digital defense. I'm optimistic about the transformative potential of a Cyber Force in safeguarding our digital frontiers against evolving cyber threats and if necessary project power in this critical domain. #CyberForce #NationalSecurity #DigitalDefense #FDD #USCYBERCOM #USCYBERFORCE Rebecca Lively Lt Col Casey “Waldo” Miller Will Walker Jack Long Jonathan Ghahary Austen Bryan Drew Belk Gabe Scarberry

𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝗠𝘆 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗖 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝟯𝟭 𝗨𝗣 𝗚𝗶𝗿𝗹𝘀 𝗡𝗖𝗖 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 This week I had the privilege of addressing some of the future leaders of our nation at the 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽 (𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗖) 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟯𝟭 𝗨𝗣 𝗚𝗶𝗿𝗹𝘀 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗡𝗖𝗖 at Gaurs International School, Greater Noida. The session focused on a topic critical in today's digital age: 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 & 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆. These young women, brimming with potential and curiosity, actively engaged in discussions about 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲. But more importantly, we delved into the very real concerns surrounding 𝗰𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘀. From o𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗵𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝘀, we explored the challenges they might face in the digital world. The session wasn't just about highlighting the dangers; it was about 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. I equipped the cadets with practical tools and knowledge to use the online landscape safely and responsibly. It was 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 to see their enthusiasm for learning and their commitment to becoming 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻𝘀. As we increasingly rely on technology, 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁. Let's work together to foster a generation that can harness the power of the 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 while staying 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Lieutenant Yashodhara Raj Ji and the 31 UP Girls Battalion NCC for allowing me the privilege to educate these promising young cadets. #cybersecurity #socialmedia #NCC #gaursinternational #empowerment #Tempt