Guest Blogger: CyberFutures Technology Exposition Blog - Thursday, March 22

Captain Matthew Stines III, Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs (SAF/PAO) Media Officer, Press Desk, had the opportunity of attending the 2012 CyberFutures conference last week. The following are his photos and his personal reaction to his experience on the exposition floor. Stay tuned for more video footage from Captain Stines, as well as recaps from the speaker sessions! 

On Thursday March 22, 2012, I attended the Air Force Association’s (AFA) CyberFutures Conference at the Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Maryland. During the conference I enjoyed viewing the technology exposition hall where exhibitors from across the country displayed their latest technology in cyber security.  

The products on display illustrated how the cyber threats our nation faces are urgent, sometimes difficult to detect, potentially devastating and growing. 

Recent high profile intrusions highlight the threat to U.S. businesses and critical infrastructure, and they underscore the need for a strategy for Department of Defense (DoD) to work closely with the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) and support Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in its efforts in other critical infrastructure sectors. As technologies continue to evolve and spread, the Nation and DoD, face the very real possibility that these threats will continue increase.

DoD’s success in cyberspace depends on a robust public/private partnership. The defense of military networks will matter little unless our critical civilian infrastructure is also able to withstand attacks.

I had an opportunity to talk with an IT industry expert from Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) regarding how their company works with the Air Force to deter cyber security threats with its command and control capability.

“We’re here to showcase some of the SAIC capabilities that are needed for cyber defense. The cyber mission is very important to national defense,” said Michael R. Raker, SAIC Senior Engineer. 

The Department of Defense depends on cyberspace to execute its national security mission and provide timely responses to crisis or contingency, conduct its operations, project power abroad and keep our troops safe.

DoD continues to pursue new ways of sharing information and expertise with its partners in the private sector. DoD’s support is always done in coordination with DHS and under civilian control, according to applicable laws, and with careful consideration of privacy and civil liberties. 

This image features Dylan M. Goodrich, SAIC, Strategic Communications Analyst (Far left)
and Mr. Michael R. Raker, Senior Software Engineer, SAIC (Far right) assisting a customer
at the SAIC exhibition during AFA's CyberFutures Conference at the Gaylord National Resort.  

This picture features Dylan M. Goodrich, SAIC, Strategic Communications Analyst (Far left)
and Mr. Michael R. Raker, Senior Software Engineer, SAIC (Far right) providing me
with a demonstration of their command and control software.

This picture features Dylan M. Goodrich, SAIC, Strategic Communications Analyst (Far left)
and Mr. Michael R. Raker, Senior Software Engineer, SAIC (Far right)
providing me with a demonstration of their command and control software.

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!]

CyberFutures Conference!

AFA's newest conference is now only three weeks away!

The CyberFutures Conference and Technology Exposition is to be held march 31 - April 1, at the Gaylord National Hotel in National Harbor, Maryland -- just minutes from downtown D.C.

We have a great line-up, with an acclaimed author, the Google VP, former presidential advisers, and military leadership all going to be present.

AFA’s CyberFutures Conference boasts some of the nation’s top IT and cyber leaders from industry, government and the military. Speakers will share their thoughts and strategies for managing the pronounced new challenges the cyber domain presents to every organization. Attendees will learn about the risks and vulnerabilities associated with operating in a cyber world full of hackers and technological complexities, as well as how to mitigate those risks.

Here's a sneak peek at some of our speakers:
Richard A. Clarke, author of a #1 New York Times bestseller and the 2010 novel Cyber War, will be among the conference’s speakers. Having served the last three presidents as a senior White House advisor, Clarke is an internationally-recognized expert on security, including homeland security, national security, cyber security and counterterrorism.

Melissa Hathaway, a senior advisor at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center, served as Director of the Joint Interagency Cyber Task Force in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence under the Bush Administration. Under the Obama Administration, Hathaway was named the Acting Senior Director for Cyberspace in the National Security Council.

Vinton Cerf is the vice president and Chief Internet Evangelist for Google. Widely known as a "Father of the Internet," he is the co-designer with Robert Kahn of the basic architecture of the Internet.

Gordon Snow is the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Cyber-crime Division. As part of the FBI’s top cyber division, Snow is on the front lines of federal efforts to prevent cyber crime, espionage and potential online terrorist activity.
In a panel discussion, military leadership from different branches will discuss challenges associated with defending the military network.

For a full list of speakers, go here.

As part of CyberFutures, AFA has teamed up with RecruitMilitary to produce a career fair on April 1, where leading aerospace/defense firms will recruit for cyber tech openings. The career fair will be free, and open to all - veterans and non-veterans - who are interested in careers in cyber technology and related fields.

In conjunction with the conference, CyberPatriot III, AFA’s national high school cyber defense competition, will be conducting its championship round for this year’s challenge. After six exciting months of preliminary rounds, the competition will culminate on April 1 with an award banquet for top winners in each division.

Register now at http://registration.afa.org/events/cb2011reghome.aspx!