My research sits at the intersection of cybersecurity, cryptography, and artificial intelligence — with a focus on securing resource-constrained systems, understanding how AI reshapes the threat landscape, and developing the next generation of cyber professionals. After 20 years as a U.S. Air Force officer, I retired in August 2024 and transitioned to civilian faculty at USAFA, where I continue to pursue these questions through research, teaching, and cadet mentorship.
Cyber City is a hands-on cyber operations environment at USAFA where cadets conduct offensive and defensive operations against real city infrastructure — traffic systems, water, power, and more. As program director, I oversee the personnel and programs that bring Cyber City to life as a hub for ICS/SCADA security education, digital forensics, and cyber operations training.
I welcome partnerships with academic researchers working in ICS/SCADA security, cyber operations, digital forensics, and cybersecurity education. Cyber City offers a unique environment for joint research, curriculum development, and shared exercises.
Cyber City is an active venue for industry and government partners seeking to engage with the next generation of cyber professionals. Opportunities include sponsored research, red/blue team exercises, and collaborative threat scenario development.
Each year, teams of 3–5 cadets spend a full academic year on a sponsor-proposed project, tackling real-world challenges in cybersecurity and computer science. It's a direct way for outside organizations to engage motivated, technically sharp students while giving cadets hands-on experience with external partners.
I teach courses across the computer science and cybersecurity curriculum at USAFA, with a current emphasis on cyber warfare and cryptography.