USNA Faculty to Attend Inaugural Cyber Security Conference

A faculty member from the U.S. Naval Academy’s Center for Cyber Security Studies will attend the inaugural Maryland Cyber Challenge and Conference (MDC3) Oct. 21-22.

The conference is designed to bring together students and cyber security professionals to develop the skills needed to protect information systems.

For academy professor Rita Doerr, it’s an opportunity to enhance educational opportunities for the midshipmen by networking with organizations that offer internships and other learning experiences, such as “conferences or specific classes at universities or anything to enhance the cyber security awareness of the midshipmen.

“There may be people at these companies who would want to come to work in the cyber center here and help increase our mission,” she added.

That mission, according to the center’s website, is to “provide the support necessary for the proposed curricular and professional reforms across the Naval Academy, and for advancing the quality of education of Naval Academy graduates in all areas of cyber warfare.”

The academy hopes to raise awareness of the USNA cyber center within the industry “to start a good partnering relationship so next year we can have a team from the Naval Academy compete,” said Doerr. “It seems like everyone is doing cyber at some point these days so we’re just trying to figure out what exactly that means and how ultimately that can benefit the midshipmen.”

Sponsored by the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and companies in the cyber security industry, the conference will feature exhibitor booths, speeches and workshops led by nationally-recognized leaders in the cyber industry.

According to a recent press release, students and professionals will have an opportunity to network with cyber security leaders while learning about careers in cyber technology. The conference agenda will be oriented toward students, parents, and professionals from academia, industry and government.