USAF Chief Scientist Joins CyberFutures Conference Line-Up

The U.S. Air Force's chief scientist, Dr. Mark T. Maybury, will join an agenda full of Air Force leadership, industry experts, and current cyber security specialists at the Air Force Association’s 2012 CyberFutures Conference! 

CyberFutures is AFA’s premiere spring conference, where conference-goers will have the unique opportunity to interact with military, government, academic, and private sector leaders. It highlights speakers from across the cyber security community as they gather to discuss the full spectrum of the nation’s efforts and challenges to unburden, protect and efficiently utilize the cyber domain.

Dr. Maybury serves as chief scientific adviser to the Chief of Staff and Secretary of the Air Force, and provides assessments on a wide range of scientific and technical issues affecting the Air Force mission. In this role he identifies and analyzes technical issues and brings them to attention of Air Force leaders, and interacts with other military and science and technology communities to address cross-organizational technical issues and solutions. He has edited or co-authored 10 books, authored more than 60 refereed publications, and been awarded several U.S. patents.

Invited speakers for the 2012 cyber conference include: Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley; General William Shelton, Commander, Air Force Space Command; Representative Mike Rogers, Chairman of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee; and Secretary Eric Rosenbach, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy.
 
This second annual conference will be held March 22-23, 2012, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center on the Potomac, in National Harbor, just across the river from Alexandria and minutes from downtown Washington, DC.

The CyberFutures Conference features a Technology Exposition hall where exhibitors from across the country will display their latest technology in cyber security. In addition, CyberPatriot IV, presented by the Northrop Grumman Foundation, will be holding their national finals competition in conjunction with the conference’s sessions. [P.S. The finalists for the All Service Division will be announced later this week!]

AFA Statement of Defense Strategy Review

Today, the Administration released its new defense strategy. The Air Force Association agrees that the United States is at a strategic turning point and our attention must focus on the broader threats affecting our core interests. The Air Force is uniquely positioned to meet future security needs through its ability to shape the global environment, deter potential adversaries, deliver precise combat effects on a global basis and empower the joint force. This strategy focuses additional attention on our commitments to the Asia-Pacific Region, the Middle East and to our allies in Europe. It also emphasizes the importance of maintaining critical industrial capabilities and organizations so the US can expand its capabilities if required to do so in the future. The nation needs appropriate funding for necessary military systems and a sustained commitment to a strong national economy. The budget and policy decisions made based on this strategy released today will shape fundamental security options decades into the future.

Click here to read the full DOD document on their priorities for 21st century defense.