The Charger Blog

UniversityӰԭs Connecticut Institute of Technology Hosts Cutting-Edge Cybersecurity Training for the Connecticut National Guard

Project IRONCLAD, a National Security Agency- and Department of Defense-funded program, offers members of the Connecticut National Guard a unique hands-on opportunity to develop the critical skills that will enable them to respond to cyberattacks.

Aug 9, 2021

By Renee Chmiel, Office of Marketing and Communications

Liberty Page welcomes trainees
Liberty Page '91 M.S. welcomes trainees to Project IRONCLAD.

Jean Philippe studied computer science in college and now works in the field of information technology. A member of the Connecticut National Guard, he recently took the opportunity to further his education in cybersecurity.

Philippe was part of "cybersecurIty tRaining for the cOnNeCticut nationaL guArD" (Project IRONCLAD), a cutting-edge cybersecurity training program, held at the University earlier this summer for members of the Connecticut National Guard.

ӰԭThe training has been excellent,Ӱԭ said Philippe. ӰԭThere was so much material IӰԭve been wanting to learn, and weӰԭre doing a lot at this training. ItӰԭs really interesting.Ӱԭ

The UniversityӰԭs Connecticut Institute of Technology received a grant for nearly $200,000 from the and the to support the training. The University hosted the first two training sessions this summer, focusing on cyber operations Ӱԭ specifically, defensive and incidence response operations. Trainees engage in hands-on learning, taking part in laboratory exercises that enable them to solve cases similar to what they might face in the real world.

ӰԭWeӰԭre going to be prepared to respondӰԭ

As part of the opening of the program, the Connecticut Institute of Technology hosted Gerald E. McDonald, brigadier general of the Connecticut National Guard, who spoke to the inaugural cohort of trainees.

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Clifton Miller.
Chief Warrant Officer 5 Clifton Miller addresses trainees.

ӰԭWeӰԭve been tested in Connecticut over the past couple years already, supporting the state through some challenges in cyberattacks, said General McDonald, who serves as the key military adviser for matters to the Adjutant General and as the principal representative of the senior leadership on the Adjutant General's joint Army/Air National Guard state headquarters staff. ӰԭWe are the response force. WeӰԭre going to train, weӰԭre going to learn, and then weӰԭre going to be prepared to respond.Ӱԭ

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Clifton Miller was a guest during the first session, and he welcomed the second cohort of trainees. Discussing several recent cyberattacks at the national level, he emphasized the importance of the training program, which he says is timely and critical.

ӰԭWeӰԭre living in interesting times, and this is the time to be in cybersecurity,Ӱԭ he told the trainees. ӰԭThis is the season for cyber awareness and training. YouӰԭre in the right place at the right time to learn about this. ItӰԭll open your minds and I trust that it will be exciting. The instructor is excellent, and my experience last time was great."

ӰԭThis is our way of giving backӰԭ

Led by Jeremy Blackthorne, co-founder and president of the , the training enabled members of the Connecticut National Guard to train in the UniversityӰԭs state-of-the-art facilities, including the Samuel S. Bergami Jr. Cybersecurity Center. Blackthorne has trained service members from multiple branches of the military in cybersecurity.

Ibrahim ӰԭAbeӰԭ Baggili, Ph.D., an internationally recognized expert in cybersecurity and founding director of the Connecticut Institute of Technology, serves as the principal investigator of Project IRONCLAD, overseeing the curriculum development.

ӰԭWe love what we do at the University, and weӰԭre passionate about it,Ӱԭ he said. ӰԭWeӰԭre also passionate about helping secure the state of Connecticut and beyond. ItӰԭs very important for us to give back to the community, and this is our way of giving back. This is our way of working with the and with the state to ensure cybersecurity resilience, and weӰԭre very proud to offer this important training.Ӱԭ

Jeremy Blackthorne leads a training session as part of Project IRONCLAD.
Jeremy Blackthorne leads a training session as part of Project IRONCLAD.
ӰԭThe training was an asset for servicemembersӰԭ

One of fewer than two dozen universities in the Unites States Ӱԭ and one of only two in New England Ӱԭ that have been designated as a by the National Security Agency, the University of New Haven is well positioned to offer trainees a unique opportunity to build their skills in areas such as cyber forensics, reverse engineering, and cyber defense.

ӰԭIt is an honor to support our state and country by training the Connecticut National Guard in reverse engineering and memory forensics as part of IRONCLAD this summer,Ӱԭ said Liberty Page '91 M.S., program coordinator for the UniversityӰԭs undergraduate program in cybersecurity and networks. ӰԭTalent in this area is very scarce, and we were able to start 50 worthy men and women on a path to work in these areas.Ӱԭ

After the training, the University evaluates the success of the program with tools such as surveys and an after-action review (AAR) to explore individual perspectives, to ensure the highest quality training, and to continue to improve the program. Major Ryan Miller, team chief of the Defensive Cyber Operations Element at the Connecticut National Guard, conducts the AAR.

The UniversityӰԭs grant proposal for 2022 IRONCLAD has been accepted for training Army and Air Force National Guard members from New England at , a training exercise. The University is already planning to welcome the next cohort of members of the Connecticut National Guard to campus for training next year.

For Project IRONCLAD trainee Pascual Del Rosario, the program was a meaningful way for him to develop his skills while collaborating with fellow members of the Connecticut National Guard.

ӰԭThis training was an asset for servicemembers,Ӱԭ he said. ӰԭIt was also a great opportunity for me to connect with my counterparts. The training is good.Ӱԭ