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USNA Hosts Cyber Lecture in Alumni Hall

  POSTED ON: Wednesday, October 12, 2022 12:33 PM by mediarelations@usna.edu

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Nicole Perlroth, a New York Times bestselling author and current member of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) advisory board, delivered a lecture on cyber security to midshipmen, faculty, and staff in Alumni Hall at the U.S. Naval Academy, Oct. 5.

During her lecture, Perlroth discussed her experiences reporting on cyber espionage and cyber deception. She offered students unique insights and perspectives on the outcome and impact of several well-known cyberspace operations and used that context as a springboard to advocate for the importance of improving America’s cyber defenses. 

“Cybersecurity is national security,” she said.

After stating this, she then went on to explain to students and faculty the requirement and importance of having a diverse cybersecurity workforce. She highlighted the need for a workforce with backgrounds outside of computer science and implored students of all majors to keep an open mind about entering the cybersecurity workforce. Additionally, she used a personal anecdote of an imprisoned colleague to show how different actors are using the Internet to control populations and achieve their nefarious objectives.

The audience found her energy and enthusiasm for cybersecurity motivating and infectious.

"It was an incredible opportunity to get to hear a truly fresh perspective on the work that is being done in cyberspace, as well as the work that should be done,” said Midshipman 1st Class (senior) Jack Metcalf, president of USNA’s Cyber Security Team. “I am reinvigorated in the cyber mission, and thank Ms. Perlroth for her time and dedication to the field."

As a member of CISA’s advisory board, Perlroth is dedicated to growing the nation’s cybersecurity workforce and continuing to find ways to strengthen public and private cybersecurity relationships.

You can follow the USNA cyber security program on Instagram @usna_cyber_center. For more information about the Naval Academy, please visit www.usna.edu or our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/USNavalAcademy.

USNA

Category: General Interest, People