The CNY Hackathon is an annual, beginner-friendly event hosted at Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) for cybersecurity and computer science students.

Earlier this month, I had the privilege of representing Assured Information Security (AIS) at a three-day Naval Surface Technology and Innovation Consortium (NSTIC) collaboration event in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

The highlight of the event was being one of 10 companies to present, allowing me to share the AIS story with more than 200 attendees, including an audience with senior Naval flag officers, large and small defense industry businesses and warfighters: the end users of our products and services contributing to the national security apparatus. Participants heard from numerous program managers who provided an overview of NSWCDD and the command’s technical approach. The published pre-event statement of needs provided industry partners an opportunity to explore new business with the U.S. Navy, where I was able to meet with government representatives and discuss the advanced research and development capabilities of AIS and how our teams of technical experts, engineers and scientists can meet the 21st century challenges facing the Navy. NSTIC 2024 contained a few light moments as well, with multiple networking events held throughout the three days and a social hour mixer with industry partners to establish new relationships and identify potential leads for new business opportunities in the coming months and years.

Attending the NSTIC collaboration event was a great experience and demonstration of how vital public-private partnerships are in national security. AIS continues moving forward in establishing a strong presence in the U.S. Navy and becoming the small business of choice for cyber operations, mission solutions and advanced research and development.

The UAS Hack, a hands-on event dedicated to exploring the intersection of cybersecurity and drone technology was held from August 19 to 23, 2024, at the ORION NTROPEE hangar and concluded with resounding success.

This weeklong challenge brought together 15 talented university-aged participants to tackle real-world cybersecurity challenges in the realm of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and provided a unique platform for these emerging tech enthusiasts to learn, demonstrate their skills and push the boundaries of innovation.

“UAS Hack has truly exceeded our expectations,” said Eric Thayer, Chief Engineer at AIS and UAS Hack instructor. “The 15 students demonstrated remarkable ingenuity and technical expertise, tackling complex UAS cybersecurity challenges head-on. Their ability to produce innovative solutions showcases the promising future of our industry. We are already looking forward to planning next year’s challenge.”

The event provided a unique opportunity for participants to immerse themselves in the practical application of cybersecurity principles within the rapidly evolving UAS landscape. By leveraging ORION’s hangar space and New York’s 50-mile UAS corridor as well as expert mentors and instructors, UAS Hack offered participants a collaborative and challenging environment to learn, innovate and develop crucial technical skills.

“UAS Hack was an incredible learning opportunity,” said Zack Kornreich, UAS Hack participant and current master’s student at Binghamton University. “The hands-on experience with UAS cybersecurity gave me practical skills that will undoubtedly add value to my career. The event pushed me to think critically and creatively, and I’m excited to apply what I’ve learned in my future endeavors.”

As the industry continues to evolve, events like UAS Hack play a critical role in ensuring that emerging talent is well-equipped to meet the cybersecurity challenges of tomorrow. The collaborative efforts between the 15 students, industry experts and sponsors have laid the groundwork for continued innovation and progress in the field of UAS cybersecurity.

On May 21 and 22, I attended the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science & Technology Silicon Valley Innovation Program (SVIP) Demo Week in Alexandria, VA.

I, along with my colleague Brandon, represented AIS at this annual showcase of nearly 40 SVIP-funded startup companies and their innovative technologies addressing DHS missions. AIS’s role is to support various SVIP portfolio companies in creating robust products and demonstrating the products’ efficacy in meeting DHS and/or broader customer needs.

Topics for which portfolio companies presented demos of their products included:

The first ever UAS Hack, a hands-on event dedicated to exploring the intersection of cybersecurity and drone technology, will take place from August 19 to 23, 2024, in Rome, New York.

Over the course of five days, university-aged students and industry experts will revolutionize the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) landscape by fostering collaboration, creativity and critical thinking while addressing pressing cybersecurity challenges. AIS subject matter experts will be providing instruction and curriculum for this event.

“UAS Hack is designed to put students in front of industry professionals and industry-relevant platforms to give them an opportunity to grow their skills and learn more about what a security-related career would be like,” said Eric Thayer, Chief Engineer at AIS. “During the event, students will be mentored and trained on how to evaluate the security of UAS, identify potential threats and provide feedback to vendors and manufacturers.”

Yesterday I attended the Project Fibonacci Women & STEAM Symposium, and it was an incredible event filled with inspiration and empowerment.

AIS is proud to announce its CEO, Charles Green, will be participating in an upcoming roundtable discussion on artificial intelligence (AI). The free event, hosted by New York State Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-C-Rome, and Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr., will take place on February 28 from 6:30pm to 8pm at Mohawk Valley Community College’s Rome Campus.

The roundtable will bring together elected officials, industry experts and thought leaders to explore the benefits and challenges associated with AI technology.

“The use of artificial intelligence is becoming more and more common,” said Sen. Joseph Griffo. “Given its widespread emergence, many people have questions and/or concerns and want to learn more about this technology.”

Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. highlighted the importance of addressing both the potential benefits and risks associated with AI.

“AI has the potential to significantly improve many areas of our lives,” said Picente. “But we must tread carefully as we explore its capabilities and the negative aspects that could arise.”

At AIS, every day is dedicated to ensuring the security of our nation. However, we recognize the importance of spending time together and celebrating our achievements. Our annual holiday party is a well-deserved opportunity to express gratitude for our employees’ unwavering commitment.

This year, we held our headquarters event at The Gig at Turning Stone Resort & Casino. Employees and guests traveled in from as far as Nebraska and enjoyed outstanding hors d’oeuvres and dinner, endless drink options and plenty of sweets. We also treated them to live entertainment and a raffle for 24 different amazing giveaways including gift cards, a Yeti cooler, a VR headset, an Airbnb stay and an all-expenses paid night in the AIS Suite at a Utica Comets game.

I recently attended the 2023 ISC2 Security Congress in Nashville, Tennessee, and was surrounded by 4,000+ professionals in the cybersecurity industry. This four-day conference focused on the latest trends, threats and emerging technologies in the field. I learned of this conference back in the spring after having passed my CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) exam in December 2022 and becoming an endorsed member of ISC2 in January this year.

AIS will be attending DEF CON on August 10-13 in Las Vegas, Nevada. DEF CON is the world’s largest and most legendary hacker conference and has been the epicenter of cybersecurity expertise and innovation for more than three decades.