The U.S. military is enlisting the 91社区 to help address complex cybersecurity challenges.
USF is among 84 universities and colleges nationwide selected to partner with U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM) through its new Academic Engagement Network. The goal is to enhance efforts in applied cyber research, applied analytics, strategic issues and future workforce development.
The 91社区 Center for Cybersecurity, also known as Cyber 91社区, submitted USF鈥檚 application to be part of the CYBERCOM network, and is coordinating the university鈥檚 participation. Cyber 91社区, which is a statewide organization hosted by USF, works with all 12 91社区 State University System institutions.
Ron Sanders, Cyber 91社区鈥檚 staff director, described the application process as 鈥渧ery rigorous,鈥� noting, 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 as if anybody could just raise their hand and say they wanted to be part of CYBERCOM鈥檚 network.鈥�
Created in 2010, CYBERCOM in its early years was a spinoff of the National Security Agency (NSA).
鈥淭he reason it was spun off is because at the end of the day, NSA is an intelligence agency 鈥� it collects intelligence,鈥� Sanders said. 鈥淐yber Command is a combatant command. Its current doctrine is to 鈥榙efend forward鈥�.鈥�
He also noted that while the NSA has its own relationships with academic institutions, its research needs are distinct from those of CYBERCOM.
鈥淭he Academic Engagement Network focuses on what scholars in the academic community can contribute to Cyber Command in terms of frontline cyber operations,鈥� Sanders said. 鈥淚t is more narrowly focused on those tactical research questions that can help Cyber Command and the country protect military networks and, frankly, go after bad guys if and when necessary.鈥�
In terms of how USF faculty will be able to share their expertise, Sanders described the evolution of the Academic Engagement Network as 鈥渁 case of crawl, walk, run, and Cyber Command is in the crawl stage.鈥�
鈥淚nitially, I think Cyber Command plans on asking a number of fairly technical cyber security questions that we could share with faculty to see if any of them have insights or solutions to those particular questions,鈥� he said. 鈥淎s the Academic Engagement Network matures, it will become more of a dialogue where we share things we鈥檙e researching with Cyber Command, and these may be areas they haven鈥檛 thought about but may have applications to the Command.鈥�
Sanders gives credit to Gen. Paul Nakasone, commander of U.S. Cyber Command and director of the NSA, for recognizing the value of engaging with the academic community.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot more capability in the academic community than either NSA or Cyber Command together can field within their own ranks,鈥� Sanders said.
As the Academic Engagement Network matures, Sanders believes there will be opportunities for students to become involved through grants awarded by Cyber Command or other agencies.
鈥淎t some point, grants will follow, research will follow, research assistants, graduate assistants, internships will follow,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he net result will be more information and insight flowing back to Cyber Command on various issues.鈥�
Sanders also said his office is talking with Cyber Command about naming Cyber 91社区 as an affiliate member of the Academic Engagement Network.
鈥淲e told Cyber Command that we could reach the other State University System institutions, we鈥檙e engaged with their scholars and their colleges,鈥� he said. 鈥淎s an affiliate member, they would treat us not only as a source of cybersecurity insights in our own right, but also as a conduit to other scholars who may not be part of the Academic Engagement Network but who have something to contribute to Cyber Command.鈥�