Cyber challenges and solutions focus of summit

  • Published
  • By Patty Welsh
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  A fall summit addressing "Cyber Challenges and Solutions: Today and Tomorrow," will be held Nov. 13-14 at The MITRE Corp in Bedford, Mass.

Sponsored by the Association of Old Crows Patriots' Roost Chapter, the event will focus on cyber challenges facing the U.S. and its allies. Both of Hanscom's program executive officers are scheduled to speak.

"We know cyber is an important topic and this will be the first time this AOC chapter is having an event focused solely on cyber activities, as requested in previous symposia and summit feedback," said Nino Amoroso, chapter president.

The summit will also address how to increase collaboration between local, state and federal government agencies, industry and academia.

Day one will address cyber challenges of today, during which Hanscom's PEOs will provide presentations. Maj. Gen. Craig Olson, PEO for C3I and Networks, will talk about the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center cyber acquisition activities and challenges, while Steven Wert, PEO for Battle Management, will focus on specific battle management programs impacted by cyber threats.

Another speaker planned for day one is Brig. Gen. Sarah Zabel, director of Cyberspace Strategy and Policy from the Office of Information Dominance and Chief Information Officer, SAF.

According to event organizers, some expected topics throughout the event are technology applications, system options and best practices from differing organizations.

"We have an outstanding mix of both DoD and commercial activities represented, which demonstrates that the future of cyber is dependent on partnerships and synergy with the various government and non-government organizations," said Russ Graves, summit chairperson.

Additional speakers on day one include: Joe Bradley, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center technical director; Scott Shyne from the Air Force Research Lab Information Exploitation and Operations Division; Cmdr. Nikhil Thakur, senior program manager, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration; and Charlie Benway, Advanced Cyber Security Center executive director.

To fit in with day two's theme of cyber solutions for tomorrow, Dr. Mark Maybury, MITRE chief technology officer and former AF chief scientist, will speak on "Cyber Solutions," including international efforts. Dr. Tim Rudolph, AF Life Cycle Management Center chief technology officer, will moderate a panel on data centers.

Other speakers that day are Maj. Gen. L. Scott Rice, Mass. National Guard adjutant general, and Danny Holtzman, MITRE AF Cyber Integration chief.

To register for the conference, go to:  www.patriotsroostaoc.org/upcoming_events.php. Cost for industry attendees is $350 per person. For government attendees there is no cost to attend the summit; however, there is a charge for meals. Registration must be made by Nov. 5. Anyone who encounters issues with online registration may contact Coree Chandler at 781-225-9308 or coreechandler@odysseyconsult.com. For additional information about the summit itself, contact Graves at 781-271-2749.