Janice Reese’s Post

Former NSA head Paul Nakasone to helm national security institute at Vanderbilt. Why it matters: 1. The appointment of retired U.S. Cyber Command and NSA chief Paul Nakasone as the head of Vanderbilt University's Institute for National Defense and Global Security enhances the center's credibility in national security research. His leadership will likely encourage broader partnerships in academia, industry, and national defense. 2. Nakasone's multi-disciplinary approach aligns with Vanderbilt's educational research style, and his experience tackling cybersecurity threats such as election security, ransomware, and geopolitical crises provides the institute with strong practical insights. 3. Nakasone's potential involvement in the private sector could further support collaboration between academia, industry and national defense, bolstering future American cybersecurity strategies. Learn more by visiting The Record from Recorded Future News: https://lnkd.in/dpQR_Vnx

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

🌏 💻 How can #cybersecurity statecraft advance the human security of Pacific Small Island States? Academics from UNSW, Arizona State University, and King's College London, are delving into this question, supported by a Security & Defence PLuS seed grant. By shifting from top-down approaches to collaborative, culturally-informed initiatives, the project addresses real challenges Pacific Islanders face, including the existential threat of #ClimateChange. Hear from the experts leading this research: Elena Tartaglione Steiner, PhD (ASU Global Security Initiative), Tim Stevens (Department of War Studies), and Debi Ashenden (UNSW Institute for Cyber Security) and get in touch to learn more! https://lnkd.in/eyXsgxPm

Our director Debi Ashenden's research on how cyber security statecraft can advance the human security of small Pacific Island States featured in a short film.

Maryland is home to one of the most expansive, competitive cybersecurity sectors in the country–and thanks to new investments from the Moore-Miller administration, its about to get even stronger! Yesterday, Governor Wes Moore announced a $1.8 million award to BCR Cyber and the Maryland Association of Community Colleges to bolster Maryland’s cybersecurity talent pipeline during a ribbon cutting at Howard Community College. The funding, secured in partnership with U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, will help make Maryland more competitive by empowering all of Maryland’s 16 community colleges to offer cutting-edge experiential training that both complements and enhances technical skills through new cyber ranges. The Maryland Department of Information Technology (DoIT) provided feedback to the Maryland Department of Labor, providing technical guidance on skills and certifications that should be prioritized within the initial proposal. After incorporating the feedback, Labor asked for a DoIT representative to serve on the award panel. Johnny Miranda, DoIT’s Director of Security Engineering, was selected due to his extensive knowledge of the target audience and of the cyber range capabilities being used within the Department of Defense. Read the Press Release: https://lnkd.in/eiV8BGC7

"MSU, Keesler AFB, Biloxi, Gov. Reeves sign partnership to advance Mississippi Cyber and Technology Center" Mississippi State University (MSU), Keesler Air Force Base, the City of Biloxi, and Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves have partnered to establish the Mississippi Cyber and Technology Center. The 100,000-square-foot facility at Keesler AFB will serve as the headquarters for the MSU-led Mississippi Cyber Initiative, advancing cybersecurity training, research, and collaboration statewide. The project, supported by a $3 million contribution from Mississippi Power and Southern Company, builds on partnerships with entities like Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, which has hosted MCI personnel and capabilities. The center will enhance military cyber training, economic growth, and community outreach, including K-12 programs and digital forensics services. Leaders highlighted its role in positioning Mississippi as a cybersecurity leader and driving technological innovation. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gJxE8QPN #Mississippi #Cybersecurity #Technology #Education #Keesler #AirForce #Biloxi #Workforce #Research #Msstate #HailState

ICYMI: USDOD is working with University of North Texas cyber experts to modernize their hiring (more than 3MM people work for DOD). Andrey Voevodin, Clinton Purtell, Harrison Keller, Wynn Rosser, Jason Kelley, Tony Cucolo, David Daniel, Larry Peterson, Erin Carney Carter, CCE, IOM, Cihan Tunc, National Security Innovation Council. https://lnkd.in/gyj4gdjK

The final featured paper from our 2024 Research Showcase focuses on deepfakes and comes from researchers at Virginia Tech and The University of Texas at San Antonio “An Analysis of Recent Advances in Deepfake Image Detection in an Evolving Threat Landscape” develops concrete and specific future work directions to build resilient and reliable deepfake detectors. Authors: Sifat Muhammad Abdullah, Aravind Cheruvu, Shravya Kanchi, Taejoong Chung, Peng Gao, Bimal Viswanath, Murtuza Jadliwala Read the abstract for this paper here:  https://lnkd.in/eNRn84cb Learn more about all of our 2024 Research Showcase papers on our site: https://lnkd.in/eUiamR6B #Cybersecurity #cyberresearch #cci #cyberworkforce #cyberlearning #cybermonth #cybermonth2024 #cybersecurityawarenessmonth #deepfakes #deepfakeresearch #airesearch 

Strengthening Europe’s cyber defenses, one collaboration at a time 🤝 This week, we had the pleasure of hosting members of the FACT - Federated Advanced Cyber physical Test range consortium in Søborg, Denmark. It was a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when industry leaders come together with a shared vision for resilience and innovation. ✅ Together, we're tackling some of the toughest challenges in cybersecurity and operational technology across the European Union — Diving deep into federated architecture, knowledgebase, development, and demonstration plans — an essential roadmap for a safer, more connected future. These insightful conversations underscored the strength of partnership in advancing the goals of the European Defense Fund project. We’re thrilled to be part of a consortium that’s paving the way for robust Cyber Resilience Testing in the critical infrastructure that protects us all. Thank you to all the brilliant minds who joined us. Let's keep pushing the boundaries of what's possible in cyber defense! 🌐 #FACTConsortium #Cybersecurity #CyberPhysicalTest #OperationalTechnology #EDF

🎥 National Service Panel 08/10/2024! 🏡⁠ 🏴☠️⁠ "National Service and Cybersecurity: Bridging the Gap Across Experiences" In an increasingly interconnected world, cybersecurity stands at the forefront of national security and defense. This panel brings together a diverse group of veterans, federal civilians, and actively serving soldiers to delve into the critical intersection of national service and cybersecurity. Through their unique perspectives and experiences, the panelists will shed light on how their respective roles play a vital part in protecting national interests and addressing the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats. Our panel aims to underscore each group's indispensable contributions to the cybersecurity field, from veterans' strategic and operational insights to active service members' hands-on expertise and federal civilians' policy and management perspectives. By attending, you will gain valuable insights into the synergies between these roles and the pivotal role of collaboration in fortifying national security. Join us for a compelling discussion on the profound impact of national service on cybersecurity, the challenges encountered by each group, and the vast opportunities for future collaboration to fortify our digital infrastructure. ⁠ https://lnkd.in/e9GduMF⁠ Nikkia Henderson Sydney Johns Hugh Shepherd Jr., CISSP, CEH Dr. William (Bill) Butler Military Cyber Professionals Association Capitol Technology University ⁠ #BlacksInCyber #BIC_Village #BIC_CTF #DEFCON #DEFCON32 #AWS #Amazon #MCPA #CapitolTech