Updates

American Military University and Rutgers University CCICADA Center to Co-Sponsor First National Maritime Cybersecurity Symposium

Charles Town, W. Va., and New Brunswick, N.J. - American Military University (AMU), part of American Public University System (APUS), and the Command, Control and Interoperability Center for Advanced Data Analysis (CCICADA) at Rutgers University recently announced they will co-sponsor the first national conference to address cybersecurity issues for the nation’s maritime operations. 

The Maritime Cybersecurity Learning Seminar and Symposium will examine the cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities combined with the unique aspects of the maritime industry to reveal important new national security issues.  It is designed for both military and non-military personnel who have an interest in emerging cybersecurity issues and how they might apply to the international maritime industry. Industry leaders and academics are also expected to attend and add to discussions about implications for the shipping industry, container industry, port entry security, and the proliferation risks arising from dependence on complex computer networks in all aspects of the maritime transportation system. 

The event will be held at CCICADA at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, on March 2-3. CCICADA is a US Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence that uses advanced data analysis and systems to address natural and manmade threats to the safety and security of the American people. The keynote address will be provided by VADM Charles Michel, U.S. Coast Guard. Other key presenters include:

Dr. Mark Hagerott, Deputy Director and Distinguished Professor of Cyber Security, U.S. Naval Academy

  • Dr. Christopher Rodriguez, Director, NJ Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness

  • RADM Marshall Lytle, U.S. Coast Guard

  • Dr. Stephen Flynn, Co-Director of the George J. Kostas Research Institute for Homeland Security

  • Dr. Douglas Maughan, Director, Cyber Security Division, Dept. of Homeland Security S&T

“For modern ships there has been a developing dependence on the proliferation of sophisticated technology that is subject to cyberattack through intentional, unintentional, or by natural causes,” said Dr. Fred Roberts, CCICADA director and Distinguished Professor of Mathematics at Rutgers. “Cyber threats to the complex maritime domain, including ports, cargo, and offshore energy sectors, are similarly serious. Unfortunately, these threats are not well-known to the stakeholders who must maintain their critical operations.” 

“The dangers are real and all sectors—including commercial, government, and academic--need to collaborate to address them effectively,” said Dr. Clay Wilson, program director for Cybersecurity Studies at AMU. AMU's degree programs include the BS and MS in Cybersecurity Studies, which provide students with interdisciplinary skills to strategically plan, design and implement countermeasures for effective cybersecurity defense. 

Registration for on-site attendees, along with a developing list of experts who will share information about the latest threats and best practices for combatting them, is available at the symposium website. Information for how to participate remotely via podcast will be posted at a later date. The program also includes a symposium book to be edited by Dr. Joe DiRenzo, U.S. Coast Guard and AMU faculty member, Dr. Nicole Drumhiller, AMU faculty member, and Dr. Fred Roberts, CCICADA. A call for papers has been issued for interested expert contributors. 

About American Public University System American Public University System, winner of the Online Learning Consortium's (OLC) Ralph E. Gomory Award for Quality Online Education and first four-time recipient of OLC's Effective Practice Award, offers more than 90 online degree programs through American Public University and American Military University. APUS's relevant curriculum, affordability, and flexibility help more than 100,000 working adults worldwide pursue degrees in a diverse variety of subjects. 

About the Command, Control and Interoperability Center for Advanced Data Analysis (CCICADA) at Rutgers University CCICADA—The Command, Control and Interoperability Center for Advanced Data Analysis—is a U.S. Department of Homeland Security University Center of Excellence that uses advanced data analysis to address an array of issues ranging such as cybercrime, biosurveillance, inspection procedures at ports of entry and large gathering places, and human trafficking. CCICADA’s work is carried out by researchers and students with 17 partner institutions. The lead university in the partnership is Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.