Organizers and Participants

Dr. Krishna Sampigethaya is currently the Chair for the Department of Cyber Intelligence and Security at the Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, AZ, a DHS/NSA designated Center of Academic Excellence for Cyber Defense; offering one of the world's few ABET accredited cybersecurity degree programs; a member of the US CYBERCOM Academic Engagement Network and the RSA®C Security Scholar Program; a DoD Cyber Scholarship Program site; and the only NSF CyberCorps Scholarship for Service (SFS) institution for aviation and aerospace cybersecurity. 

 

Krishna received his Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Washington (2007) and was the first to defend a thesis on connected vehicle privacy and aircraft cyber security. He then joined The Boeing Company and was selected early as the first Associate Technical Fellow for aviation cyber-physical security. He was also the first Associate Director for cyber security at the United Technologies Corporation (UTC) Research Center.

 

Krishna founded the first aviation cyber security technical committee, sponsored by the SAE in 2008, and has organized cyber security tracks at AIAA, IEEE, and SAE aerospace conferences. He has served on the RTCA SC-216 standard committee. He co-edited the first special issue on cyber-physical systems, published in the first centennial year issue of the Proceedings of the IEEE journal. With over 65 papers, 24 keynotes/plenaries, and 24 patents in aviation CPS security, he has received awards such as the ASEI Engineer of the Year Award handed to him by the Honorable Charles Bolden and ASEI Corporate Engineering Excellence Award. At Embry‑Riddle, he has led several projects in aviation and aerospace cyber security including the world's first student-led aviation cyber-physical security competition. He has taught the world’s only and award-winning ICAO course on aviation cyber security to professionals from over 24 countries. His pioneering work has been recognized by prestigious awards such as the 2025 AIAA Information Systems Award. He’s an AIAA Associate Fellow and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Mark Muha is a Senior Systems Security Engineer supporting NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD), where he leads the integration of cybersecurity into systems engineering for advanced aeronautics research and flight demonstration programs. His work focuses on developing aviation cybersecurity capabilities and applying security engineering principles to mission-driven research and development, enabling the design of secure and resilient technologies.

Mark currently supports the Flight Demonstrations and Capabilities (FDC) portfolio, including work on the Open EvTOL (OeV) RAVEN subproject over the past two years. In this role, he applies threat modeling, protection needs analysis, and incident response planning within a systems engineering framework to support next-generation and remotely piloted aircraft systems. Prior to this, he served as the cybersecurity technical lead for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) initiatives.
Mark brings over 25 years of experience across information systems and operational technology security, security engineering, data analytics, and digital forensics, including the past ten years focused on aviation cybersecurity. He is a strong advocate for integrating security early in the system lifecycle, applying systems security engineering approaches informed by frameworks such as NIST SP 800-160, STPA-SEC, and Cyber-Informed Engineering to address cyber-physical risks in safety-critical aerospace systems.

Dr. Li Yang has been serving since 2019 as program director for the NSF CyberCorps and Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace programs, which seek to advance and bolster the U.S. cybersecurity education and workforce development. Prior to her tenure at NSF, Dr. Yang was a Guerry Professor and Director of the Information Security (InfoSec) Center at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC).

Dr. Yang's research encompasses network and information security, mobile security, big data analytics, massive data mining, bioinformatics, cybersecurity education, and engineering techniques for complex software system design.

Dr. Aldrin is and Associate Professor and the Program Chair and Executive Director, Space Programs Founder of the Master of Science in Space Systems and the Masters of Space Operations graduate degree programs at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.  Previously he was the Founder and Director of the ISU Center for Space Entrepreneurship at Florida Tech and an Associate Professor of Engineering Management at Florida Tech. Before moving into academia, Dr. Aldrin had a distinguished career in industry and government research, including executive positions at Boeing, United Launch Alliance and Moon Express.

Dr. Andrew Aldrin is the CEO and President of the Aldrin Family Foundation, a charitable 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to harnessing the inspiration of space to ignite a passion for STEAM education in students of all ages and backgrounds. He has served in leadership roles in this organization since 2014, during which time he has overseen the extension of educational programs to over 300 elementary schools and universities.

Dr. Aldrin was previously a member of the research staff at the RAND Corporation and the Institute for Defense Analyses. He serves on the board of several charitable organizations, including The Secure World Foundation, Sea Space Symposium, and the Tau Zero Foundation. He holds a Ph.D. from UCLA in Political Science, an MBA from TRIUM (NYU, LSE, HEC), and an MA from George Washington University in Science, Technology and Public Policy.

Jim Anderson spearheads Commercial Aviation Embedded Products Cybersecurity team towards the aim of safeguarding the future of flight. As a Senior Product Cybersecurity Engineering Manager, he not only champions the incorporation of rigorous Secure Systems Development Life Cycle standards into the diverse product portfolio at Collins Aerospace to protect them from emerging digital threats, but also mentors and builds the talent pipeline for the future.

Jim holds a Bachelor’s in Computer Science degree and being a lifelong student, is advancing his expertise through a Master’s in Avionics Cybersecurity at Embry-Riddle. Jim started his engineering journey as a basement hacker and  script-kiddie and now manages a team of strong and passionate cybersecurity experts and would-be experts, who architect the frameworks that keep commercial aviation safe and secure.

Hosam Badreldin is the Head of Product Security at Thales Avionics Inc. and a cybersecurity practitioner in the aerospace industry. He holds a Ph.D. in Cyber Operations and a master’s degree in Computer Science.

He specializes in product security, secure software development, and cyber risk management for safety critical systems. His work focuses on integrating cybersecurity into engineering lifecycles and supporting compliance with aviation regulations and best practices.

Hosam is active in cybersecurity education and research, with interests in threat modeling, supply chain security, and emerging technologies in aviation systems. He has served as an adjunct faculty member in systems engineering and software engineering at institutions including Southern New Hampshire University and Western Governors University, supporting the development of future engineers and cybersecurity professionals.

Mr. Thomas Bailey is a Research Manager in the Secure and Resilient Systems group at Riverside Research. He earned his undergraduate degree in Computer Science from the University of Kentucky alongside the university's certificate in Cybersecurity. He has worked in the areas of language-theoretic security, software security, and vulnerability management and analysis. Mr. Bailey has worked as a principal investigator for multiple DoD programs including transition efforts for DARPA and the Navy to the Open Architecture community. He has led programs developing advanced secure parsing solutions applied directly to operational technologies in the hands of the warfighter. 

Prior to joining Riverside Research, he worked as a Cybersecurity Analyst for the University of Kentucky, where he responded to large scale incidents and led integrative teams in securing university systems. Mr. Bailey has experience leading teams of subject matter experts in addressing highly technical problems and has worked on previous DARPA research efforts (including HARDEN and multiple SafeDocs transition efforts). He has presented at venues such as the Aviation Cyber Initiative's Cyber Rodeos and DARPA's Resilient Software Systems Demo Day, showcasing technology transition across the DoD Valley-of-Death and from the lab to the field.

Mr. Bajekal is the Senior Technical Fellow, Research, at Collins Aerospace Interiors Advanced Technology and Excellence in Engineering organization. He is the holder of twenty-seven granted patents, author of numerous peer reviewed publications and an invited speaker on wireless and communications topics as applied to aerospace applications. Mr. Bajekal and his teams have been responsible for advanced communications and signal processing architectures ranging from consumer wireless products to broadband (10 GHz) active crosstalk cancellers for internet switch router backplanes.

He chaired the sub working group on co-existence and non-interference of RTCA’s sub-committee 236 that is working to develop the Minimum Operating Performance Standards (MOPS) for Wireless Avionics Intra-Communications (WAIC) systems. The work performed by this group resulted in DO-378 and DO-378A. He has also been active on the SAE Cabin Secure Media Independent Messaging (CSMIM) committee, whose work is scheduled to be published as ARINC 853.

Daniel Baker is the founder of FlightAware, the global aerospace data company, and served as CEO from 2005 until its sale to Raytheon Technologies in 2021. He has been in the Internet services business for over 30 years and the aviation industry for over 20 years.

Currently, Baker is a technology investor and philanthropist, including serving as a board member of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum and Aspen Public Radio. He is an aviation safety expert and advocate who serves on the Aspen Airport’s Safety Task Force, and was the chair of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association’s Safety and Accident Investigation Committee.

Baker is a pilot instructor and holds FAA Commercial Pilot and Flight Instructor certificates. 

Lillian Ash Baker is a Lead Product Security Engineer with The Boeing Company and Wisk Aero, pushing the boundaries of safe and secure autonomous flight. She has over 15 years of experience in the full lifecycle of commercial avionics development covering design, testing, manufacturing, and integration with a focus on navigation and inertial systems. They are also a participant in industry standards development RTCA/EUROCAE SC-216/WG-72.

Lily has spoken at multiple cybersecurity conferences, including DEF CON and multiple local BSides conferences. When not working on aircraft, they volunteer with the Aerospace Village as the CFP Organizer and leads their electronic badge design. Lily’s passion is providing educational outreach to inspire the next generation of aerospace cybersecurity professionals.

Mathew Barreras is the Director of Infrastructure and Cybersecurity at Mesa Airlines, a regional carrier operating Embraer E-175 aircraft for United Express. With over 20 years of experience in IT, he has held both individual contributor and leadership roles, specializing in infrastructure, cloud computing, mobility, and cybersecurity.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from Arizona State University and multiple IT and cybersecurity certifications. He is also a veteran of the Arizona Army National Guard where he served six years in the Signal Corps.

At Mesa Airlines, he has played a key role in designing and implementing the company’s cybersecurity program, aligning with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and TSA regulations. He has led initiatives to establish governance, develop policies, source staffing and tools to enhance the airline’s security posture, and secure critical infrastructure. In addition to his corporate role, he serves on the cybersecurity committee of a business association that advocates for regional airlines before federal regulators.

Anne Boettcher is the Assistant Dean of Research at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Prescott, Arizona and is a past-president of Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR). Prior to joining Embry-Riddle, she was a Professor of Biology and Undergraduate Research Program Director at the University of South Alabama. While at South Alabama, she served as co-principal investigator for NSF-REU and principal investigator for Merck-AAAS programs, mentored more than 60 undergraduate and graduate research students, and integrated research and ethics components into all her courses.

Doug Britton is EVP and Chief Strategy Officer of RunSafe Security and a member of its board of directors. As RunSafe’s CTO, Doug plays an essential role in showcasing how RunSafe’s technology changes the economics of cyber defense, and he has been instrumental in driving the RunSafe technology strategy and roadmap, the development of its patent portfolio and IP strategy, managing software development teams, and building a world-class security research team.

Prior to RunSafe Security, Doug founded Kaprica Security which sold its Tachyon business to Samsung. He has also managed large-scale security research, reverse engineering, and exploit development programs for Lockheed Martin and SAIC.

A trained computer scientist, Doug started his career in the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois, before serving as a Russian Linguist and Interrogator in the US Army. He has also earned an MBA from University of Maryland and mentors several entrepreneurs and students launching their business.

Glenn Burnett is a Product Security Staff Engineer at Bell Flight supporting Advanced Vertical Lift (AVL) programs.  Glenn has over 25 years of Information Technology security experience including commercial and military aerospace cybersecurity both with OEMs and suppliers.  He has also held leadership roles in diverse industries for software development, network infrastructure, data center including security and compliance audits in all areas.

Stephane Chopart embarked on his career in the French Air Force as a Cyber Security Officer and served for fifteen years as cyber security officer.  Mr. Chopart was hired by Airbus in 2006 and worked on A380, A400M and A350 security solutions as a PKI expert for the Aircraft Security Team in Toulouse.  Afterwards, Stephane transitioned to the role of Product Security Officer for Airbus Helicopters in 2016 and was nominated Senior Expert in Overall Aircraft Security.  Since 2023, Stephane has been in the US acting as civil CISO for Airbus North America. During his career, Stephane has authored a few patents dealing with onboarded cryptographic mechanisms.  He is married and has two children.

 

Don Christie is a Product Security Lead at Honeywell Aerospace, currently responsible for ensuring Aero Cyber Security Architectures are compliant with required Industry Standards and meet all internal Honeywell Cyber Security objectives.  Don has held multiple leadership and technical positions in the CNS, SATCOM and Aerospace businesses within Honeywell. He has been involved in multiple Industry committees, primarily regarding Secure Architectures for SATCOM systems.  Other prior experience includes various positions at EMS Satcom, Hewlett-Packard (Germany) and Nortel (Canada).

CyberBen has a double degree in Embedded Security and Avionics System Design with strong research background in collaboration with Airbus and BAE Systems. In his early career he consulted global airlines and other aviation organisations on information security aspect with safety implications, including security testing and risk assessments for connected and legacy aircraft. After traveling the world for a few years he went to Lilium, an eVTOL company based in Germany, to set up the airworthiness security processes and prepare the organisation for Part-IS (including: design, production, maintenance, operations). He grew the team to over five airworthiness security engineers and ensured that the airworthiness security aspects were aligned with regulator expectations. In addition he pushed the Information Security aspects within the organisation beyond the scope of the aircraft itself.

For nearly four years CyberBen is independently helping design organisations, operators and other stakeholders in the aviation industry on all aspects under the AISS domain and is actively engaged in the EUROCAE/RTCA standardisation activities. He is sharing his experience with the industry in supporting the EUROCAE training efforts on airworthiness security and aviation cybersecurity management (Part-IS), and through speaking engagements across the globe. He is a trusted advisor on current challenges and upcoming information security threats in the aviation domain. With the help of generative AI he recently won the CyberAviation Capture the Flag event in the group of individual industrial participants at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Jerry Davis is a seasoned cybersecurity leader with extensive experience as a five-time senior executive-level CISO/CSO and a former CIO. He currently serves as a Senior Executive Advisor at Microsoft and was previously the Senior Vice President of Cyber Operations and Technology at Truist Bank.

Appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Jerry served as an advisor and board member on the Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB) within CISA. He also contributed to the 2023 publication Securing the Nation’s Critical Infrastructure: A Guide for the 2021-2025 Administration, authoring a chapter on cybersecurity challenges and opportunities in space, air, and ground transportation. Additionally, he is a fellow at the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology, a nonpartisan think tank in Washington, D.C.

Jerry’s previous roles include Vice President and CISO at PG&E, founder of Gryphon X, LLC, and the first Vice President and Global CSO for a Silicon Valley semiconductor equipment manufacturer. He also held key government positions, serving as CIO of NASA Ames Research Center, NASA’s Global CISO, CISO for the U.S. Department of Education, and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity and Privacy (CISO) at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Pamela Davis is a member of Southwest Airlines’ newly-formed Cybersecurity Aircraft Team, where she helps lead the team’s Intelligence and Incident Response unit. With 25+ years in aviation Security and Safety leadership across major US airlines, she has used her wealth of experience and expertise to vigilantly help protect organizations from threats impacting aviation as well as providing guidance to the industry. Pamela has successfully built multiple teams throughout her long career with oversight across multiple domains.

She credits her success to her faith, family, unwavering dedication, proactive approach to building strong networks, and keen insight into both aviation cyber and physical security. While airline security is a huge passion for her, Pamela is also a multi engine-licensed commercial pilot. Outside of work, Pamela serves as Director of Community Services with a deep passion for helping the homeless, teaches kids each weekend, is a sports enthusiast, voracious reader, and enjoys spending time with family. She is based in beautiful Arizona.

 

Russell Davis is the Department Head and Professor of Aerospace Studies at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, Arizona. Professor Davis provides academic instruction on National Strategy, Military history, International Relations, and Leadership as he prepares future leaders for public service. His work experience is extensive, having served as the Director of the Strategy Directorate in the 618th Air Operations Center (Tanker Airlift Control Center), Headquarters Third Air Force, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Headquarters United States Transportation Command, and Headquarters United States Pacific Command. Additionally, he served as a military professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies as a U.S. Air Force Blue Horizons Fellow. Prior to arriving at Embry-Riddle, he served in the United States Embassy in Cairo, Egypt as the Air Attaché. Additionally, at the tactical level, he has served as an Instructor Minuteman III Launch Control Officer and a KC-135 Instructor and Evaluator Pilot. His education includes a Bachelor of Science in Systems Management, Summa Cum Laude, Colorado Technical Univ, Colorado Springs; Master of Business Administration, Graduate Honors, Regis University, Denver, Colorado; Master of Military Arts & Science, School of Advanced Military Studies, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; and a Master of Science, Airpower Strategy and Technology Integration, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.

Dan Diessner joined Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in late 2020, where he is currently the Executive Director for the Center for Aerospace Resilient Systems, which is the Embry-Riddle wide research center focused on aerospace cybersecurity.  Dan also serves the aviation community as a member of several organization and advisory boards, including: UN International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO): Secretary General appointed Technical Advisor to the ICAO Trust Framework Panel (TFP), and TFP leadership team member; FAA Research Engineering & Development Advisory Committee (REDAC) – Subcommittee on Aircraft Safety (SAS): Advisory committee member for Aircraft Cybersecurity and Aircraft Systems; Cyber Safety Commercial Aviation Team (CSCAT): Leadership team member, (formerly the founding Chairperson); Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) Civil Aviation Cybersecurity Subcommittee: Invited observing member, (formerly the founding Chairperson); Member of the Aviation Cybersecurity Initiative (ACI) N-Factor Industry Advisory Board on Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) Initiatives.

Prior to joining Embry-Riddle, Dan worked at The Boeing Company for over 34 years leading innovation in airplane systems, product cybersecurity, network systems, and mission communications & data systems, with a career focused on the implementation of new technology & product development for both commercial and military transport aircraft.  Two capstone positions Dan held prior to retiring from The Boeing Company included: Chief Engineer for Airplane Systems Product Development & New Technologies for Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA), and Senior Manager of the BCA Product Cybersecurity and Airplane Software Integration organization.  During this time, he was committed to the global community in many areas including as an ICCAIA Security Committee member and leadership team member of the ICAO Trust Framework Study Group as well as an early member of the ICAO Secretariate Study Group Cybersecurity. Dan was a founding member and Chairperson of the AIA Civil Aviation Cybersecurity Subcommittee, a founding member and Chairperson of the Cyber Safety Commercial Aviation Team, and a member of the Board of Directors (BoD) of the Aviation ISAC. 

Dr. Thomas Drape serves as the Dean of the College of Business, Security and Intelligence (CBSI) at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Prescott Campus. With over two decades of experience in military, academic, and administrative leadership, Dr. Drape brings a unique blend of expertise to CBSI, helping to guide the college’s focus on innovation, global engagement, and academic excellence in the intersecting fields of business, security, and intelligence.

A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Dr. Drape also holds an MBA from the Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh and earned his Ph.D. with honors from IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain. During his 20-year service in the U.S. Air Force, he worked as a program manager and procurement specialist, leading multi-million dollar aerospace projects and earning top-level certifications in program management. His academic roles have included leadership positions at the U.S. Air Force Academy, the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Germany, Azusa Pacific University, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Dr. Drape has spearheaded numerous international academic initiatives, leading study-abroad programs across more than fifteen countries including Turkey, China, Japan, and Italy. He is passionate about cultivating global perspectives in students and building government, industry, and academic relationships that enrich CBSI’s programs. Under his leadership, CBSI is strengthening its global reputation as a hub for preparing future leaders in aviation, aerospace, security, and intelligence.

Dr. Dowla, a research scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), has dedicated his career to advancing knowledge in signal processing, wireless communications, and radar systems since joining LLNL in 1984. His academic journey commenced at MIT, where he received his BS, MS, and PhD degrees in electrical engineering and computer science. His current research interests focus on secure communications, advanced radar systems, and sensor networks. Over his four-decade-long research career, he has contributed significantly to academia, teaching graduate courses in cyber security, wireless communications, radar technology, and machine learning at various University of California and ERAU campuses.

His publication record includes research journals and conferences, along with authored books and edited volumes in his field. Dr. Dowla holds numerous patents in areas such as secure communications, radio frequency identification (RFID) systems, and ultra-wideband (UWB) technology. His contributions have been recognized with prestigious awards like the R&D 100 Winner, LLNL Engineering Technologies Division Gold Award, and IEEE Best Paper Award, among others. Moreover, he has successfully secured substantial grant support for various research projects, showcasing his impact and influence in both academia and industry.

 

Dr. Gregory Falco is an Assistant Professor at the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and the Systems Engineering Program at Cornell University. He received his PhD from MIT, where NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory funded his doctoral research in Cybersecurity at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL). Prior to joining Cornell University, he was an Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University’s Institute for Assured Autonomy and completed postdoctoral research at Stanford University’s Freeman Spogli Institute and MIT CSAIL.

He is the director of the Aerospace ADVERSARY Laboratory, which designs and develops next-generation autonomous, secure and resilient space infrastructure. As a hacker, he exploits physics and modern computing systems to achieve missions previously thought to be infeasible. His space technology research is policy-relevant and advances standards and national security conversations relating to space supremacy and cybersecurity. DARPA, the US Space Force, AFRL, NIST and NASA have funded his lab.

He was listed in Forbes 30 Under 30 for Enterprise Technology, named a DARPA RISER, and received the DARPA Young Faculty Award for his disruptive security and space technology research. His research and patents have been spun out into startups that have achieved international impact and recognition, resulting in acquisition. He consults for a range of big technology companies, space systems and defense contractors including Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory. Prior to completing his PhD, he was an executive at Accenture.

Dr. Fernandez is an aviation cybersecurity expert and researcher.  Formerly a Full Professor at Polytechnique Montreal, he led research on cybercrime, cyber security of Cyber Physical Systems (CPS) in critical infrastructures, including in the aviation and maritime sectors.  He continues to be involved in cybersecurity, as a researcher and innovator.  Dr. Fernandez holds two B.Sc. in Mathematics and in Computer Engineering from MIT, a Master’s in Cryptography from the University of Toronto and a Ph.D. in Quantum Computing from the Université de Montréal.  An airline pilot with 2500 flight hours, type-rated on the Learjet 45, Challenger 604 and Embraer E2 195, he now works as First Officer at a Canadian airline.  He is also the proud co-owner of a Piper Turbo Arrow IV. 

Kenneth Freeman began his career at NASA Ames Research Center working in local and wide area networking, network research, and space communications, playing major roles in several engineering and research projects. He then led a team to implement NASA’s Security Operations Center (SOC), building a cyber security operations center that serves as the nerve center for detecting and monitoring information security incidents across NASA. Following this, he led the Air Traffic Management Exploration (ATM X) Urban Air Mobility (UAM) Secure Airspace Technology Group, which develops and demonstrates capabilities for secure data integrity, resiliency, and information privacy within national airspace environments.

Kenneth Freeman was also the initial Sub Project Manager for the NAS Exploratory Concepts and Technologies project, which focuses on fostering airspace integration for secure, diverse, and scalable cooperative extensible traffic management (xTM) operations. He now serves as the Deputy Project Manager for Formulation for the Air Traffic Management Exploration and Safety (ATMS) Project, which is working to transform today’s aviation system and prepare for tomorrow by enabling safe, efficient, and more resilient operations through automation.

Jon C. Haass was the founding faculty and served as department chair of the Cyber Intelligence and Security degree programs at the nation’s first College of Security and Intelligence at Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona. He served for more than two years as the interim Dean of the College, succeeding founding Dean Philip E. Jones.  His vision for the Cyber department is to build upon the success as both a NSA/DHS designated Center of Academic Excellence and ABET accredited program through outreach to improve the national and international reputation through excellence in our graduates, impactful publications and grants, expansion of offerings in its degree programs and increased partnerships with private and public organizations.

 

Dr. Haass was appointed by Governor Ducey to represent northern Arizona on the Arizona Cybersecurity Team. He also serves as advisory board member for the Arizona Cyber Threat Response Alliance (ACTRA), a regional information sharing and analysis organization that includes companies in 14 of the critical infrastructure sectors, including aviation. His areas of research interest include the security issues associated with connected cyber-physical systems that encompass airplanes, cars, industrial controls and more. This Internet of Things (IoT) is likely to open an even larger portion of societies systems to cyber based attacks requiring us to educate our students, developers and leaders to the importance of this relatively new domain using machine learning and AI methods.

 

Since 2017, he has promoted the concept of "The Center for the Future", an incubation, innovation and acceleration space for companies that would collaborate with the students and faculty of the campus, creating high quality jobs in the greater Prescott region. With former Chancellor Frank Ayers this was successfully presented in March 2019 to the Prescott City Council, in August 2020 the Council approved allocating funds to seed the concept. In partnership with fiscal sponsor Prescott Chamber Foundation and numerous other organizations Prescott Regional Opportunity Foundation and its Center project has operations in downtown Prescott, celebrating it's two year anniversary this past July 2023.

Gilena Monroe is an Aerospace Engineer at NASA Glenn Research Center, conducting System Security Engineering work for aeronautics research programs and projects. She has more than twenty years of experience advancing aeronautics research, cybersecurity, and complex technical program leadership at NASA. Her career spans future air traffic management research, enterprise cybersecurity strategy, and systems security engineering for next-generation aviation systems.

Over the course of her NASA career, she has worked as the Computer Security Official (CSO) for NASA Ames’ Center Operations, facilitating the implementation and oversight of information security within the organization and ensuring security of sUAS flight operations. She has also worked in the Agency’s Security Operations Center (SOC), leading data, program, and project management efforts within NASA’s Security Operations Center, helping to meet cyber security needs in the protection of NASA’s technologies and information. She began her NASA career in NASA Ames’ Aeronautics organization, where she conducted fundamental research to improve aviation system operations, safety, and capacity.

She is a proud HBCU alum, obtaining a Master of Science degree in Systems Engineering from North Carolina A&T State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Kentucky State University.

David Hopkins is an innovative leader who guides companies in highly regulated industries taking technology to the “next level” as their businesses expand and grow through merger and acquisition. He is known for transforming vague issues into effective strategies and roadmaps that fully leverage the potential of evolving technology. With a unique ability to make the mundane exciting, he gets others to see the possibilities. David is articulate, persuasive and has a sense of humor that builds credibility and support.

David currently serves as CIO Advisor and Advisory Board Member for OPTI, with a focus on aviation, cybersecurity, and complex regulated environments. Most recently, he served as Chief Information Officer for Mesa Airlines, where he led the standup of a major cybersecurity program exceeding TSA and emerging SEC cybersecurity requirements. Mesa Airlines operates a large fleet of regional jets and narrow body aircraft on behalf of our partners: United Express and DHL Express throughout the US, as well as Canada, Mexico, Cuba and the Bahamas. Previously David was the Vice President of IT Applications for CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA company, where David championed the firm’s technology and digital transformation.

Prior to that role, David rose through the ranks of American Airlines to division CIO/Managing Director of IT for Technical Operations (Tech Ops). At American Airlines David spearheaded the creation of the Project Management Office, effectively managing the integration of hundreds of Tech Ops systems through merger with US Airways. Earlier as an IT strategy expert, David championed a business-focused technology roadmap and overhauled the division’s governance structure.

David received a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Missouri and participated in the Director Education program of the Raj & Kamla Gupta Governance Institute, Drexel University. He holds two U.S. patents for RFID inventory management technology. Active in professional organizations and in the community, David is also an author, keynote speaker and Licensed Private Pilot.

Dr. Alefiya Hussainis a principal scientist and deputy director of USC Center for Research in Space Technologies. She has 20+ years of expertise in networked and distributed systems for security and performance including ground and space systems. She has led several DARPA, NSF, DHS projects in artificial intelligence and machine learning, focused on cybersecurity for large and complex distributed systems. The topics include data engineering with analytics, data fusion, digital twin modeling ranging from simulation to testbed emulation of large systems. She also teaches graduate and undergraduate classes on these topics.

Tom Jacky is the National Resource Specialist for Aircraft Systems in the Office of Aviation Safety, Aviation Engineering Division, National Transportation Safety Board, and has over 38 years’ experience in aircraft accident investigation. As part of his duties, Tom is designated as the NTSB’s subject matter expert for cyber security in aviation.

Tom has been an aircraft systems investigator since 2001, supporting the airworthiness aspects of investigations of all domestic civilian aviation accidents and incidents, as well as supporting the Safety Board’s response to major foreign aviation accidents. Tom is a 1985 graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he received a B.S. in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering. 

Kirupakar Janakiraman (JK) is a Lead Product Security Architect at Honeywell Aerospace with 16+ years of experience in avionics systems engineering, aerospace product security, and connected aircraft architectures. His work spans across research, design, development and security of next generation avionics platforms for commercial, business aviation and UAM systems. He has served as a Lead Systems Engineer for Flight Management Systems (FMS) and has worked extensively on integrated cockpit avionics platforms such as Honeywell Primus Epic, contributing to system architecture, avionics integration, and certification of complex flight deck environments. His experience spans both core avionics functionality and cybersecurity architecture, enabling a multidisciplinary perspective on safety-critical aerospace systems

Currently, JK focuses on developing the cybersecurity architectures for next-generation avionics suite and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) platforms, designing secure avionics connectivity frameworks and resilient cyber-physical protection mechanisms. His work includes development of quantum-resilient cybersecurity architectures, secure wireless avionics interfaces, and the application of aviation cybersecurity certification frameworks such as RTCA DO-326A and DO-356A.

JK is also a prolific inventor with over 160 U.S. patents and 93 international patents, with more than 75 patents granted worldwide, covering areas such as avionics cybersecurity, connected aircraft architectures, aviation IoT systems, and secure wireless avionics communication frameworks. His innovations have accumulated ~700 forward citations globally, reflecting strong impact within the aerospace innovation ecosystem.

JK holds dual master’s in avionics system security and is currently completing his PhD in quantum security for connected aircraft systems.

Aidan Jones is a software engineer at NASA Ames in California. His current work is in building software systems to supply Air Traffic Control and other key actors in the National Airspace System with supplementary real-time data to support operations, as well as developing air traffic management software for high altitude aircraft. Some areas he’s worked in in the past at Nasa Ames include research into trust, building data exchange systems for Advanced Air Mobility systems using blockchain, and helping to develop a distributed marketplace for aeronautics data and software services. Aidan attended San Jose State University, earning Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Software Engineering, with the latter having focus in networking and distributed systems.

Fred Jones is a Senior Technical Fellow with the RTX Technology Research Center. He has over 25 years of experience in developing, integrating, fielding, and securing systems for the US military. For the past decade, Fred has been leading cybersecurity R&D efforts with an emphasis on technical innovations supporting DevSecOps, Mission Engineering, Zero Trust Architectures, and Cyber-Physical-Social Systems. He has a bachelor’s in physics and master’s in teaching from the University of Virginia and a master’s in systems engineering from Johns Hopkins University.

Matthew Kosednar is a Senior Engineer at United Airlines on the Cyber Defense Red Team. He is an Electrical Engineer who specializes in offensive cyber security and has over eight years of experience working in Critical Infrastructure. Matthew is able to leverage his unique background in Operational Technology to work across many parts of the aviation industry. He is a member of the Aviation ISAC and regularly collaborates with other security researchers.

Kathleen A. Kramer is a Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of San Diego in California. She worked to develop new engineering programs as a founding member of the faculty and eventually became the chair of electrical engineering, then serving as Director of Engineering (2004-2013), providing academic leadership for all the university’s engineering programs. Her teaching interests are in the areas of signal processing, mechatronics and robotics, and communication systems.

She has also been a member of technical staff at several companies, including ViaSat, Hewlett Packard, and Bell Communications Research. She is a Distinguished Lecturer for the IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society (AESS) and is a past vice president of the society. She is a Fellow of ABET, and a leader in the development of accreditation criteria for cyber security, mechatronics, and robotics.

Kathleen served on the IEEE Board of Directors as IEEE Secretary and chair of Governance, IEEE Region 6 (Western USA) Director. As 2025 IEEE President & CEO, she had major initiatives advancing strategic investments and public imperative activities, including education, humanitarian technologies, and public policy efforts.

She received the B.S. degree in electrical engineering magna cum laude with a second major in physics from Loyola Marymount University, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the California Institute of Technology.

Major General (Ret.) Jeannie M. Leavitt is the Dean of the College of Aviation at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Prescott Campus, assuming the role in February 2026. A legendary figure in military aviation, she made history in 1993 as the U.S. Air Force’s first female fighter pilot and later became the first woman to command an Air Force combat fighter wing. Over her distinguished 31-year career, she logged more than 3,000 flight hours—including over 300 combat hours in the F-15E Strike Eagle—and served in senior leadership roles such as the Department of the Air Force Chief of Safety and Commander of the Air Force Recruiting Service. Dean Leavitt holds a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University, along with three additional master's degrees in business and national security. Today, she leverages her extensive operational and safety expertise to inspire and develop the next generation of safety-minded aviation professionals. 

Nikita Lettunich is an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies with the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona. In this role, she teaches and mentors college students preparing to become commissioned officers in the United States Air Force, providing instruction in leadership, national security, and the responsibilities of military service.

Nikita began her Air Force career in 2006 as an enlisted communications specialist supporting global network operations and mission-critical information systems for U.S. and allied forces. After more than a decade of technical and leadership experience, she earned her commission through Officer Training School in 2018 and transitioned into the Air Force cyber operations career field. She has served in communications and cyber leadership roles across the United States, Europe, the Pacific, and the Middle East, supporting joint and coalition operations and deploying in support of multiple overseas missions.

Prior to joining Embry-Riddle, Nikita served as the Director of Operations for the 319th Communications Squadron at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota, where she led communications and cyber support for base and global Air Force missions. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Information Systems Security and a master’s degree in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance. Her professional experience spans communications, cyber operations, intelligence support, and leadership development, which she now brings into the classroom as she prepares the next generation of Air Force officers.

Terrence Lewis is a project manager and IT Specialist at NASA Ames Research Center in Northern California. As a project manager he leads a project in partnership with the DoD looking to enable routine UAS operations for the military. He also focuses on cybersecurity and cybersecurity research in Advanced Air Mobility. He is an experienced systems administrator in the information technology and services industry with a decade of experience. His experience extends throughout the computing environment. With previous work as a High-Performance Computing Engineer - designing, developing, and maintaining multiple supercomputing environments as well as aiding with the administration of overall research cyberinfrastructure for university use. His experience further extends to working as end user support, computer security compliance, systems analysis, and facilitating digital operations for corporate systems. Terrence’s greatest passion is learning as well as exploring the different areas of computing and their intersection within cybersecurity. Outside of work he is a member of the AIAA Aerospace Cybersecurity Working Group (ACWG) as well as previously serving as the deputy technical disciple chair for cybersecurity for Aviation 2024 & 2025. Terrence received a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science with a focus in Computer Security and a Master’s of Science degree in Cybersecurity in Computer Science both from The George Washington University.

Steve Luczynski is a corporate pilot who retired from the US Air Force in 2017 after a 24-year career as a fighter pilot. Since then he has held a number of cybersecurity roles in the private sector, government, and as a consultant while also volunteering for the Aerospace Village since its inception in 2019. He now serves as the Chair for the Village's Board of Directors supporting the team’s mission to build, inspire, and promote an inclusive community of next-generation aerospace cybersecurity expertise and leaders.

Ron Madler has been on the Aerospace Engineering faculty in the College of Engineering, at Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, AZ since 1994.  He served as dean from 2010 until 2023. He has teaching responsibilities in the Aerospace Engineering Department. His primary professional interests are in Engineering Education, Orbital Debris, Astrodynamics, Spacecraft Design, and Space Exploration.

 

Rob is a Senior Staff Cyber Security Researcher with over 10 years of experience specializing in threat hunting, malware analysis, cyber threat intelligence, and incident response. He leads an enterprise threat hunting program focused on proactively identifying and disrupting advanced adversaries, while partnering closely with security operations and incident response teams to strengthen organizational resilience.

Rob's work centers on developing and refining scalable hunting methodologies, automations, and analytical workflows that increase both the speed and effectiveness of detection and investigation. He is particularly interested in bridging the gap between research and operations by turning complex tradecraft into practical capabilities that security teams can apply every day.

Outside of work, Rob enjoys experimenting with new ways to make hunting and analysis more efficient and is an avid sailor who appreciates the parallels between navigating uncertain waters and defending complex environments.

Dr. Kaela Martin is an Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Prescott Campus. She holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Purdue University, along with dual B.S. degrees in Aerospace Engineering and Mathematics from Iowa State University. Since joining Embry-Riddle in 2015, she has taught courses in Astronautics, specializing in space mechanics and satellite dynamics. Her innovative teaching methods have earned her recognition, including the 2018 Embry-Riddle Prescott Campus Teaching Innovation Award and the 2019 Distinguished Faculty Member Award.

Dr. Martin’s research focuses on astrodynamics, satellite dynamics and aerospace education. She has collaborated with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory on trajectory design and led a NASA-funded initiative to develop online modules on trajectory design and mission analysis. These efforts aim to make complex space exploration topics more accessible to students worldwide. Her contributions to aerospace education and research were recognized in 2024 when she was named an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

Beyond research and teaching, Dr. Martin is passionate about mentoring undergraduate students. She has guided students in publishing research on interplanetary space mission design, helping them gain valuable experience in the field. Her dedication to education and student success continues to inspire future aerospace engineers and space explorers.

Matt enjoys bridging the realms of aviation and technology. Currently an airline pilot, he brings expertise from avionics engineering and EFB development, alongside valuable experience in both government and industry.

Beyond his cockpit duties, Matt serves as Deputy Director for the Aerospace Village, where he champions collaboration between the aerospace industry and cybersecurity researchers. Now in its 6th year, the Aerospace Village is one of the most popular areas at the yearly DEF CON hacker conference.

Scott McCrea is the Chief Engineer for Product Security at Honeywell Aerospace.  Scott has 35 years of space, aerospace and flight test experience working alongside engineering, management and executive teams of commercial and defense companies. Scott specializes in deploying advanced security technology and is responsible for educating other employees on using secure processes to design, test and validate avionics, support equipment, data processing and experimental/prototype products. Scott is a powerful force in the workplace and uses his positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed. Scott is inspired daily by his wife, their two adult children and his exceptional coworkers. Scott holds a bachelors in Business Management, a master’s degree in Information Systems and Computer Security In his free time, Scott likes to Restore antique telephones, restore air cooled Volkswagens, restore Victor Talking Machines, restore antique British cars and motorcycles, fiddle with a guitar from time to time, and fly small aircraft when time and budgets permit.

Riley Montgomery is a Supervisory Special Agent over FBI Phoenix’s cyber-criminal squad. Mr. Montgomery has worked in several FBI field offices investigating national security and cyber threats. Specifically, Mr. Montgomery led several high-profile cyber investigations, including the 2020 hack of Twitter and the ransomware attack against Colonial Pipeline. Immediately prior to his arrival in Phoenix, Mr. Montgomery served as a Supervisory Special Agent and Unit Chief within the FBI's Cyber Division, covering criminal and national security cyber threats. 

Tyler Morris is a senior researcher in cybersecurity at Sandia National Laboratories, where he specializes in developing testbed and data generation technologies, as well as real-world, threat-based cybersecurity solutions, including Tracer FIRE. He has been instrumental in establishing Sandia’s Cyber Residency Program, which has significantly strengthened the organization’s talent pipeline. In addition to his programmatic contributions, Tyler supports Sandia’s enterprise phishing initiative and works on various open-source tools, such as Logging Made Easy and the Secure Cloud Business Application (SCuBA) project. He holds both a B.S. and an M.S. in cybersecurity.

Ryan Murray joined the Arizona Department of Homeland Security in July 2021 and currently serves as the Deputy Director for Arizona Cyber Command and Chief Information Security Officer for the State of Arizona. He also previously served as the Chief Information Security Officer for the Arizona Department of Revenue.

In his current role, Deputy Director Murray provides tactical and operational leadership for Cyber Command, and strategic advice to key executive stakeholders throughout the State. Prior to joining the State in 2018, Ryan held several public sector positions throughout Arizona including in Maricopa County and the Crane School District.

He has nearly 20 years of experience in IT and Information Security, is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) and holds a Bachelor’s in Cyber Security and Information Assurance from Western Governors University.

This year Mr. Murray looks forward to accomplishing several key initiatives, including a significant expansion of the Department’s Cyber Readiness Program for local cities and counties, and increased collaboration for cyber information sharing across the State.

Mr. Murray is an assistant director at Southwest Research Institute and is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). He has over 20 years of experience leading the development and testing of embedded systems. He has performed penetration tests and risk assessments, developed secure systems, and performed cybersecurity related research. He has supported projects across multiple industries including critical infrastructure, commercial automotive, transportation, aerospace, and defense. Mr. Murray has led many projects including penetration testing, applying zero trust principles to embedded systems, and developing intrusion detection systems.

Ms. Sherry Neher is an Information Technology Specialist with the Space Cyber Resiliency Team at the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate.
Her research focuses on space vehicle cybersecurity and developing on-board cyber response capabilities and protections for space vehicles.

Ms. Neher joined AFRL in 2023 after completing a MS Cyber Defense degree at Dakota State University as a DoD SMART Scholarship-for-Service recipient.

Brandon Nepute is a Product Security Engineer at Boeing specializing in secure aeronautical communication, navigation, and surveillance technology. He is currently supporting several global aviation standards bodies related to secure aeronautical communication, including RTCA SC-223, EUROCAE WG-108, ICAO Data Communications Infrastructure Working Group WG-I, the AEEC Internet Protocol Suite Subcommittee, and the AEEC Hybrid Communication Network (HYCON) Subcommittee. He holds the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Security+ certifications and has a B.S. degree in Cyber Intelligence & Security.

Brian A. North is a seasoned Cyber Survivability Architect with over two decades of experience in the aerospace and defense industry, specializing in mission systems, cyber engineering and avionics architecture. Throughout his career, he has held pivotal roles at leading organizations such as Lockheed Martin, Bell Helicopter, BAE Systems and Sikorsky Aircraft, where he has driven innovative architecture development and system integration strategies. With a strong focus on aerospace cybersecurity, Brian has led the design of secure cyber architectures, conducted Cyber Kill Chain analyses and authored System Security Plans, notably for programs including the V-280 FLRAA and F-35. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from the University of Phoenix and holds a CISSP from ISC2.

Jennah Perry is an Associate Professor of Air Traffic Management in the College of Aviation at ERAU. Professor Perry currently holds a Ph. D. in Educational Leadership, a M.A.S degree in Aeronautical Science with specializations in Human Factors in Aviation Systems and Education Technology, and a B.S. in Air Traffic Management. Additionally, she holds a Private Pilot Certificate as well as an Instrument Rating. Prior to her career with ERAU, Professor Perry spent 8 years working for Lockheed Martin Corporation as a certified Air Traffic Control Specialist where she earned FAA Certificates of Authority for Pilot Weather Briefing and En-Route Flight Advisory Services, after becoming a Full Performance Level Air Traffic Control Specialist and certified Training Instructor.

In 2013 Professor Perry began her career with Embry-Riddle, and in her eleven-year tenure with the College of Aviation, Professor Perry has served as an Associate Professor, Chair of the Air Traffic Management Program, Department Chair of Applied Aviation Sciences and most recently as the Interim Dean of the College of Aviation. In recent years, Professor Perry’s research areas have included aviation stress management, unmanned traffic management, UAS, flight training, teaching, and learning.

Dr. Ashok Prajapati is an acclaimed aerospace technology leader with over 20 years of experience driving innovations in flight software, autonomous robotics, and cutting-edge space computing architectures. As Program Manager at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center for the Core Flight System (cFS), NASA’s premier flight software framework, Dr. Prajapati oversaw multi-million dollars in program safety and cybersecurity initiatives while pioneering advancements to extend mission capabilities for next-generation space exploration.

Dr. Prajapati holds a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering specializing in AI/ML, and has earned widespread recognition for blending technical expertise with visionary organizational leadership. His prior roles include serving as Software Area Manager for General Dynamics, where he led autonomous capability development, strategic cross-divisional collaborations, and key contributions to Department of Defense programs. He has also held leadership positions across global brands like General Motors, Fiat Chrysler, and FANUC, where he drove software innovations in electric vehicles, industrial robotics, and factory automation devices—resulting in multiple patents.

With 30+ peer-reviewed publications in prestigious journals and conferences, Dr. Prajapati has established himself as an innovation powerhouse. His patents include breakthroughs in intelligent messaging systems, variable change analysis, and dynamic factory automation solutions. A recognized leader in software architecture, he has contributed to groundbreaking efforts in object detection systems using camera, lidar, and radar sensors, as well as optimized perception systems for self-driving vehicles.

Dr. Prajapati is deeply committed to fostering cross-agency collaboration, training future technical leaders, and advancing systems that balance technological ambition with safety and performance. He has received numerous accolades, including NASA’s Special Act Awards, Robert H. Goddard Award of Merit, the Product Development Lead Award, the Center Director’s Award, and the Craig R. Tooley Award for Collaborative Excellence. He also received the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award from Oakland University, becoming the first engineer in the university’s history to earn this honor. As a Senior Member of IEEE and AIAA, his thought leadership shapes the current and future landscape of engineering disciplines worldwide.

Today, Dr. Prajapati stands as a transformational leader bridging the worlds of research, innovation, software systems, and aerospace technology—all with a steadfast commitment to advancing humanity’s frontiers in exploration and discovery.

Daniel Quiroz is a Product Security Leader at Honeywell Aerospace. He is focused on leading the introduction, implementation, and adoption of Secure Development Lifecycle processes, activities, and tooling. Specifically as a SME in the areas of security testing and security risk management. He is responsible for ensuring Honeywell Aerospace products in his portfolio are compliant with applicable industry and regulatory standards. He has a background in software engineering, penetration testing, and risk assessments of cross domain solutions in a DoD environment. He co-chaired a cross business group risk management team tasked with creation of a company-wide security risk management policy and standard as well as addressing security risk tooling challenges and improvements. Daniel holds a B.S. in Computer Science and multiple security certifications such as OSCP, OSCE, and CEH among others. He credits his success to his determination, family, and eagerness to take on new challenges. Outside of work Daniel enjoys sports, outdoor activities, and spending time with family.

Nayyar Rao is a Senior Chief Engineer for Connected Aircrafts and Services at Honeywell Aerospace. He has been at Honeywell for over two decades and prior to the Chief Engineering responsibilities, Nayyar has held multiple engineering and leadership positions in the Communication, Navigation and Surveillance business of Honeywell. He is responsible and the signatory approver for design and development of connectivity enablers like gateways, edges, edge nodes, etc., which enable connectivity between onboard and off-board systems. Nayyar’s responsibilities also include Connected Aircraft Service Offerings, Cloud Platform Architectures, end to end cybersecurity and connectivity solutions. Nayyar also drives Data Engineering, Data Strategies and Governance mechanisms at Honeywell. Prior to Honeywell, Nayyar worked with the Ministry of Defense in India developing Fuel Gauging Systems and Night Vision Imaging Systems for military platforms.

Nayyar holds multiple degrees (BS in electrical engineering, MS in computer science, and MBA) and is a member of Aeronautical Society of India, AOPA and the PMI. He is a Certified Six Sigma Green Belt and Certified Design Thinking Trainer. Nayyar is passionate about the STEM initiatives at Honeywell and is very actively involved with the Paradise Valley School District and the Mesa School District. Nayyar sits on the Advisory boards of a few Universities for regulating course content and mentoring. In his spare time, he enjoys tinkering with automobiles, performance upgrades, detailing, and competitive motorsports.

Kanwal Reen is a Principal Technical Fellow for Product Cybersecurity and the Discipline Lead for Safety, Cybersecurity & Integrity STEM Discipline at Collins Aerospace. In her current role, she is responsible for developing the strategy for the Product Cybersecurity Discipline encompassing technical processes, capabilities and talent pipeline. She led the effort for development and deployment of the Secure Systems Development Life Cycle (SSDLC) and developed the Product Cybersecurity Vulnerability and Incident Management process and integrated it with cross functional security processes. She regularly engages in various programs across Collins Aerospace and promotes awareness and education about Product Cybersecurity across the industry. 

Kanwal is an accomplished embedded controls engineer with over 20 years of service at RTX.  She has broad technical expertise that spans multiple disciplines: FPGA design, digital design, cybersecurity and systems engineering.  Over the course of her career, she has worked on and led successful programs in multiple product lines across Collins Aerospace.

Kanwal has a bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Electrical Engineering and two masters’ in Electrical Engineering and Systems Engineering. When asked, Kanwal would tell you that she wanted to be an engineer as long as she can remember, and attributes that to all the Lego she played as a kid.  She believes that engineering is more of a thought process than a career, and enjoys the different mindset and perspective she brings to every team she is a part of.

Shawn Ricketts is a Cybersecurity Engineer in Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s (PNNL) National Security Directorate, specializing in high-tech threats to critical infrastructure and sensitive operational environments.  A retired Naval Aviator, Shawn has served in numerous military aviation, intelligence, and information operations (IO) roles.  Additionally, he has over 30 years of experience leading programs for the Department of Defense (DoD), the Intelligence Community (IC), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Department of Energy (DoE) in the fields of technology analysis, cyber security, and full-spectrum network operations. Shawn currently supports PNNL’s Innovative Security Solutions Group developing and employing novel risk assessment and management practices and leading specialized cyber-physical assessments, with an emphasis on aviation, maritime, and other niche national security domains.  He holds an Intelligence Officer Subspecialty designation through a Master of Science program from the Defense Intelligence Agency’s Joint Military Intelligence College and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame. 

Derek Schatz has been working in cybersecurity for over 25 years, with much of that time in the aviation/aerospace sector at Boeing and in his currently role as head of information security for Virgin Galactic. At Boeing he was the technical lead for ground and airborne security for inflight Wi-Fi provider Connexion by Boeing, and later worked in the Commercial Airplanes division in Cabin and Network Systems. He represented Boeing in a number of international aviation cybersecurity standards committees, including as a founding member of both Eurocae Working Group 72 and RTCA Special Committee 216.  As part of that work, he performed the industry’s first cybersecurity safety analysis using SC-216’s DO-326A process for the SwiftBroadband Safety specification in ARINC 781. At Virgin Galactic, he is responsible for the overall information security program for the leading provider of commercial private space travel. He lives in Southern California, where he enjoys hiking and gourmet cooking with his wife.

Dr. Stefan Schwindt is a Senior Principal for Aerospace Cybersecurity at GE Aerospace, based in Cheltenham, United Kingdom. In this role, he supports organizational and product security strategies, ensuring that GE Aerospace’s businesses and product lines remain secure and resilient. With over 16 years of experience in the aerospace industry, Schwindt has worked on safety and reliability of systems, environmental testing, certification, and product security for both civil and military aviation. He holds a master’s in aerospace engineering, a doctorate in engineering science, and an executive MBA.

Dr. Schwindt is actively involved in international aviation cybersecurity initiatives, serving as the Chair of the Civil Aviation Cybersecurity Subcommittee of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA). He has played a key role in developing industry reports and recommendations, including those focused on secure software distribution and loading. Additionally, he contributes to RTCA Special Committee 216 and EUROCAE Working Group 72, shaping industry standards such as ED-201A. His work has been recognized with the RTCA Significant Contributor Award.

Dr. Schwindt is a recognized leader in aerospace cybersecurity, receiving the 2024 Aerospace Cybersecurity Excellence (ACE) Leadership Award from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. His global leadership in addressing cybersecurity threats in aviation and aerospace continues to influence industry standards and best practices. Beyond GE Aerospace, he is also the Director of Icarus Cybersecurity Consulting and Training, providing specialized expertise in cybersecurity for the aerospace sector.

Bruno Sinopoli is the Truet B. Thompson Professor and the Director of School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering at Arizona State University. Prior to that he was the Das Family Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Preston M. Green Department of Electrical & Systems Engineering at the McKelvey school of Engineering at Washington University in St Louis, from 2019 to 2025. Prior to joining Washington University, he was a professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Carnegie Mellon University from 2007 to 2019, with courtesy appointments in the Robotics Institute and the Mechanical Engineering Department and co-director of the Smart Infrastructure Institute. Previously, he was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Berkeley and Stanford University from 2005 to 2007. He received his M.S. and Ph.D in Electrical Engineering at the University of California at Berkeley, in 2003 and 2005 respectively and his Laurea from the University of Padova in Italy. His research focuses on robust and resilient design of cyber-physical systems, networked and distributed control systems, distributed interference in networks, smart infrastructures, wireless sensor and actuator networks, cloud computing, adaptive video streaming applications, and energy systems.

Ryan Stichweh, PMP, CISSP is a systems security engineer and integrator with over ten years of experience supporting system security engineering in NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission and Mission Protection Services. Ryan’s roles have included the research and development of secure behaviors and integrating them with system securing engineering processes to the design and development of secure projects and secure technologies.  Most currently, Ryan served as a subject matter expert and technical lead in systems security engineering and developing security architectures for NASA’s Advanced Air Mobility projects.

Steve Taylor is the retired Chief Pilot of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Over the course of his 30 year career with Boeing, his favorite assignment was the eight years he spent as the President of Boeing Business Jets.

Taylor serves as a Trustee of the Museum of Flight in Seattle, where he recently served as Board Chair.  He is the past Board Chair of the General Aviation Manufacturer’s Association, has served on the boards of the Recreational Aviation Foundation and the Foundation of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

Taylor holds an Airline Transport Pilot’s license with twelve different turbojet type ratings, including all of the current Boeing models as well as the newest Gulfstream jets.  He is an avid seaplane pilot and Aircraft and Powerplant mechanic.

Alan Tomaszycki is a distinguished aerospace and cybersecurity professional bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to the industry. Having served in the United States Air Force for six years, Alan's commitment to national defense laid the groundwork for a remarkable career trajectory. A graduate with a double major in Aeronautics and Cyber Intelligence and Security from Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University, Alan's academic journey reflects his dedication to mastering both the physical and digital aspects of security. His passion for aviation extends beyond theory, as he is a practiced helicopter pilot, showcasing his hands-on experience in the aerospace domain.

Alan's professional journey took a significant turn when he joined The Boeing Company as an Analysis Specialist in Product Security. In this role, he played a vital part in ensuring the safety and security of commercial airplanes, showcasing his analytical prowess and dedication to excellence. Transitioning to Enterprise Cybersecurity, Alan continues to excel in safeguarding organizational safety with unwavering commitment. His role involves devising and implementing robust cybersecurity measures, safeguarding the integrity of the enterprise. Alan's unique blend of aeronautical expertise, cybersecurity acumen, and hands-on piloting experience positions him as a multifaceted leader in the constantly evolving fields of technology and security. In addition to his professional achievements, Alan has maintained an enduring relationship with Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University by engaging in numerous collaborative projects, he actively contributes to the ongoing development and innovation within the academic and professional spheres.

Bryan Torielli is a Specialist Leader at Deloitte. His primary area of expertise is Cyber Risk for Space, supporting large national satellite constellations with systems engineering and complex technical acquisitions ranging from computer systems to satellite parts and software. During his career supporting the government, he has worked with the United States Air Force and intelligence community programs. Bryan has secondary areas of expertise in Geospatial Intelligence, including Overhead Persistent Infrared technology analysis, design, and acquisition.

Nina Vajda is the Safety, Reliability and Cyber Security lead for Supernal’s aircraft platforms, which includes the development and presentation of Supernal’s certification documents to compliance regulators.  Nina has over 30 years of professional experience working for aviation OEMs and suppliers, including Bell Flight, where she was a Tech Fellow and Boeing Commercial Airplanes and Honeywell Aerospace where she was a Chief Engineer.

Nina holds patents specific to identifying anomalous network activities due to a cyber-attack in avionics systems, and she has a patent pending for PKI and Key Management Systems to protect airborne data in transit. She is a member of the Board of Advisors at Emory Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona where she will finish a MS in Cyber Security after completing her thesis.

 

Kyle Wilkerson currently serves as the Program Coordinator for the Air Traffic Management B.S. and A.S. Programs at the Prescott Arizona campus with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, working for the institution for over 9 years. Kyle holds a bachelor's degree in Air Traffic Management and a master's in Unmanned Systems, has a Private Pilot's License with an instrument rating and UAS Part 107 certification. He manages and maintains the Air Traffic Enhanced Collegiate Training Initiative for the ATC program at Embry-Riddle, in partnership with the FAA. Kyle also is actively involved in key research projects within the aviation industry such as human factors in flight deck communications and cybersecurity of ATC systems.

Dr. Yingling serves as NASA’s Senior Autonomy researcher inside of the Aeronautical Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) where is he focused on accelerating the development of trusted autonomy.

Previous to that, Adam led the Integration of Automated Systems for Advanced Air Mobility in the Aeronautical Research Mission Directorate where he and his team demonstrated the first autonomous cooperative control and deconfliction of aircraft carrying pilots in the National Air Space.

Dr. Yingling has over 23 years of aerospace experience in autonomy-related research and development, flight test, and operations of advanced aerospace systems for the Department of Defense (DoD) and NASA.

Andrew Zeliff is a Research Engineer at Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), in the CIPHER Lab, Embedded Cyber Techniques Branch. He is currently focused on space-cyber research and development. Additional areas of interest include system automation, building secure hardened systems and software, and unique approaches to attack surface reduction and secure-by-design concepts. Mr. Zeliff has performed cyber-focused technical assessments, R&D, and education across the air, space, maritime, and terrestrial domains. Having worked in everything from embedded systems to cloud systems, Mr. Zeliff has conducted portfolio-shaping state-of-the-art research for numerous sponsoring organizations. Mr. Zeliff possesses a MS in Computer Engineering from Syracuse University and a BS in Computer Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Prior to GTRI, Mr. Zeliff worked with the US Air Force in many capacities including as a civilian at the Air Force Research Laboratory, Information Directorate in Rome, NY and the Space Vehicles Directorate in Albuquerque NM.