McCrary Institute to host top experts for virtual roundtable on securing space

The McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security at Auburn University will host a virtual symposium and release a report at 9 a.m. CDT on April 14 to discuss the importance of prioritizing U.S. space systems as critical infrastructure at a time when threats to these assets are growing.

The event will be convened with the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, or CSC, 2.0 and the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, or FDD, and feature the following:

• Mike Rogers – former Congressman (Michigan) and chair, U.S. House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

• Sue Gordon – former principal deputy director of National Intelligence

• Lt. Gen. Steven L. Kwast, USAF (Ret.) – CEO, Skycorp Inc.

• RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery – executive director, CSC 2.0 and Senior Director, Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation, FDD

• Frank Cilluffo, director of the McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security

“Fostering the security and resilience of U.S. space systems should be a top priority, but our current posture comes up short,” said Cilluffo, who will moderate the discussion. “Space systems are fundamental to U.S. national and economic security and need to be treated accordingly.”

Space systems, which support telecommunications; positioning, navigation and timing, or PNT; GPS; and military operations, are essential to modern society.

“Cybersecurity challenges to space systems are unique and require truly shared (public-private) risk management solutions,” said Montgomery, the report’s co-author.

Registration for this online event is strongly encouraged.