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.
A hands-on cyber operations environment where cadets conduct offensive and defensive operations against real city infrastructure — traffic systems, water, power, and more. Cyber City is a hub for ICS/SCADA security education, digital forensics, and cyber operations training, and serves as a focal point for research collaboration and academic partnerships.
Developing curriculum, pedagogy, and learning environments for the next generation of cyber professionals, with an emphasis on hands-on technical training in military and undergraduate contexts.
Exploring how artificial intelligence reshapes both offensive and defensive security — including AI-driven threat detection, neural network-based authentication, and the implications of AI for cyber education.
Key derivation functions, session key protocols for low-power devices, PRNG-based cryptographic methods, and lightweight encryption for resource-constrained environments.
Authentication, secure node design, and transmission security for Internet of Things devices, with applications to industrial control systems and critical infrastructure — increasingly intersecting with AI and cryptographic methods.
I teach courses across the computer science and cybersecurity curriculum at USAFA, with a current emphasis on cyber warfare and cryptography.