Photo By Josiah D Pearce | ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Dec. 4, 2019) Chief Cryptologic Technician (Networks) Courtney Lobo,...... read more read more
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FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (NNS) – U.S. 10th Fleet (C10F) Sailors are introducing midshipmen to cybersecurity at the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA).
Senior Chief Information Systems Technician Javon Burden, Chief Cryptologic Technician (Networks) Donald McCanless, both assigned to Cyber Defense Activity (CDA) 64, and Chief Cryptologic Technician (Networks) Courtney Lobo, assigned to U.S. Fleet Cyber Command (FCC), served as adjunct professors, instructing USNA's Introduction to Cyber Security Technical Foundations Course (SY110) during the Fall 2019 semester. This was the second semester USNA invited Sailors from FCC and its subordinate commands to serve as adjunct professors in the Cyber Science Department.
“Being an adjunct professor, I prepared weekly course material by reviewing the course objectives and preparing instruction material: props, presentations, practice exams, and quizzes,” said Lobo. “I prepared for lab instruction in which I provided hands on instruction for cyber technical fundamentals.”
SY110 is one of two mandatory classes offered at USNA providing a high-level education on the technical and operational understanding of cybersecurity. The class introduces the principles behind the use, function, and operation of computers, networks and applications with an emphasis on cybersecurity.
“The course (SY110) educates each Midshipman about cyber infrastructure and systems, inherent cyber domain vulnerabilities and threats, and appropriate defensive security procedures, thereby enabling them to make principled decisions regarding the potential benefits, consequences, and risks from a proposed use of an information system in the cyber domain,” said Lobo.
In response to the completion of the President’s 60-day Cyberspace policy review in May 2019, the USNA Academic Dean and Provost created the Cyber Warfare Ad Hoc Committee, August 2019, to define the scope of understanding of cybersecurity needed by midshipmen as future naval officers.
The committee looked at how other academic institutions incorporated cyber-warfare into their curricula as well as expected education and skills needed for entry into their cyber-warfare courses of study. The committee also consulted staffs of top leadership in the U.S. Navy and Marines on Cyber Warfare education that midshipmen should receive. Reports from the Cyber Warfare Ad Hoc Committee included a recommendation to create a required course based on computer science and information technology that provides the technical foundations of Cyber Warfare.
Introduction to Cyber Security – Technical Foundations classes began August 2011, under the Computer Science Department. In January 2015, USNA stood up the Cyber Science Department and administration of the class was placed under that department.
“Because SY110 is a core course and required for all plebes (freshmen), we teach around 30 sections of the course each semester,” said Capt. James Caroland, USNA Cyber Sciences Department Chair. “The Cyber Science Department, while steadily growing, is still relatively new and small in number. In order to cover all the Cyber Operations major courses and SY110, we currently rely on professors from outside our department to help teach SY110.”
The use of adjunct professors from the fleet not only assists USNA with the number of available professors to teach classes but also introduces valuable experience into the classroom.
“Using adjuncts from Fleet Cyber Command and its subordinate commands as adjuncts for SY110 provides those midshipmen an opportunity to hear from officers and enlisted who are currently involved in cyber operations on a daily basis,” said Caroland. “They can share their significant cyber knowledge and operational experience with future Navy leaders across all communities who will be headed to the fleet in a few short years.”
In addition to sharing technical experience with students, adjunct professors also have other experiences to share.
“Midshipmen are like my Sailors; they want competent leaders and want to understand the big picture,” said Burden. “I went into the experience expecting something completely different and with humble trepidation. It didn’t take long before I found myself mentoring mids (midshipmen) outside the classroom and helping them navigate through some of their life challenges. These were the moments when I realized that my duty as an adjunct goes far beyond the classroom, leadership development and mentorship is a full time responsibility.”
The partnership between USNA and Fleet Cyber Command in educating midshipmen on the technical and operational understanding of cybersecurity has contributed to the success of the class.
“In my opinion as Chair of the Cyber Science Department and as evidenced by ratings and comments in the SOFs (Student Opinion Forms), the partnership is going extremely well,” said Caroland. “SY110 is meeting and often surpassing expectations.”
FCC is responsible for Navy information network operations, offensive and defensive cyberspace operations, space operations, and signals intelligence. Comprised of more than 14,000 Sailors, Reservists and civilians stationed across the world, C10F is the operational arm of FCC and executes its mission through a task force structure similar to other warfare commanders.
For news and information from Commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command / U.S. 10th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/FCCC10F/ or follow us on twitter @USFLEETCYBERCOM.
| Date Taken: | 12.20.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 12.20.2019 14:21 |
| Story ID: | 356772 |
| Location: | FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, MARYLAND, US |
| Web Views: | 813 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
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