National Cyber Security Awareness Month is celebrated nationally every October. In recognition of the month-long observance, The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), and LogiCore Corporation will co-host CYBER NIGHT on Wednesday, Oct. 1.
The event features a keynote presentation by Robin "Montana" Williams, a cyber security education expert in the Department of Homeland Security. CYBER NIGHT is open to the public, and will be held in the UAH Exhibit Hall. To register for CYBER NIGHT, please visit: http://inspireandachieve.net/cyber-night/#event-2.
CYBER NIGHT program highlights include a welcome reception at 6 p.m. At 6:15 p.m., Dr. Ray Vaughn, UAH Vice President for Research, will introduce keynote speaker, Robin "Montana" Williams. Dr. Vaughn will also introduce seven UAH students, who were the first to be awarded cyber security scholarships from a new $4.2 million National Science Foundation scholarship program. A question and answer session will follow Williams' address. Additionally, professionals in the cyber industry will give brief talks on topics such as cyber safety in the work place, common cyber security threats and practices, and habits to develop to move toward a secure cyber space.
The Grissom High School CyberPatriot team will also demonstrate their innovative technology skills, which placed them among the top ten in a national competition earlier this year.
Williams is the chief of the National Cyber Security Education and Awareness Branch, of the Department of Homeland Security in Washington, D.C. His office is responsible for coordinating and developing national cyber security awareness, education, training, professional development, policy, standards, and assessment requirements to broaden, cultivate, and maintain an unrivaled, globally competitive cyber security workforce for the United States.
Williams previously served as a senior technical program manager for the national executive directing cyber counterintelligence training and threat analysis. He spent 24 years in government service including 21 years in the United States Air Force (USAF), retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. During his military career, he held numerous flying, intelligence, training, and cyberspace assignments, including commanding the USAF Cyber Red Team.
He is a combat veteran with flight and information operations duties in Afghanistan and Iraq, including serving as the lead air-campaign planner for Operation Anaconda and Chief, Electronic Warfare in the Iraqi Theater of Operations. Williams earned a bachelor's degree from Minnesota State University-Moorhead, and a master's degree from Louisiana Tech University. He is currently completing a doctorate program.
CYBER NIGHT is sponsored in part by the UAH Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Inspire and Achieve, a non-profit educational organization founded by Miranda Bouldin, President and CEO of LogiCore, Corporation.
"Inspire And Achieve is excited to support and provide Cyber Security Awareness to our community by helping to educate the public and private sector through these types of events and other various initiatives," said Miranda Bouldin, Founder and Executive Director of Inspire and Achieve. "Our goal is to raise awareness of the importance of protecting critical infrastructure and properly securing all devices, including household items, that are connected to the Internet, Bouldin added. "I believe that we can decrease our vulnerability and risk through protective measures while increasing the resiliency of our community in the event of a cyber-incident."
National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) was established in 2004, under the leadership of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Cyber Security Alliance. NCSAM was created as a collaborative effort between government and industry to ensure every American has the resources needed to stay safe and more secure online.
For questions about CYBER NIGHT, please call 256.694.3454, or contact: info@inspireandachieve.net.