Home » Cyber Policy Development and Artificial Intelligence Applications for Defense 2024
Cyber Policy Development and Artificial Intelligence Applications for Defense 2024
course-masthead-202407-CYBERAI

The CYBER/AI course is a two-week virtual, two-week in-residence course aimed at deepening participants' understanding of cyber-based defense and security threats to information and communication systems, critical infrastructure, social media, and convergent accelerated exponential technologies. Based on the evolution of the overall cybersecurity strategy of the United Sates and technological evolution, the program is designed to identify common risk areas in cybersecurity and cyber defense areas and their relationship to other domains for strategic policy analysis and further develop a common understanding of cyber lexicon, best practices, regional initiatives, and collaborative efforts to address common regional security challenges in cyberspace. The ambition is to develop participants’ strategic awareness of cyber threats, abilities to develop relevant policy responses, and take advantage of emerging technologies to better protect government agencies, critical infrastructure, and citizenries from cyberattacks.

Main topics include:

  • Examining the policy and strategy development impacts of the development of artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies.
  • Understanding the nature and magnitude of the threat in cybersecurity in the Americas.
  • The role of civilian, military, and police forces to combat cybercrime and hacktivism in the Americas and the importance of public-private partnerships in cybersecurity.
  • Designing comprehensive strategies to address cybersecurity for critical infrastructure, Big Data, cyber-physical systems and the Internet of Things, the role of the military institutions, legal framework for cyberspace, and threats by external actors in the Americas cyberspace.
  • Fostering confidence security measures to reinforce common approaches for cooperation in combatting cybercrime and hacktivism in the Americas.

IMPORTANT DATES

DOCUMENTS / LINKS

Application Period:
20 Feb 2024 -
12 Apr 2024
Online Preparatory Phase:
24 Jun 2024 -
05 Jul 2024
In-Person Phase:
08 Jul 2024 -
19 Jul 2024

COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

The objective of this course is to deepen the participants' understanding and ability to analyze the landscape of threats and other challenges that arise from a growing dependence on cyberspace. Graduates will be able to conduct preliminary cybersecurity political and strategic assessments and will be able to identify the main areas of risk and vulnerabilities within the operations of their own organization or country. They will then use the following skills to develop effective institutional and national policies and strategies to improve cybersecurity.

  • To comprehend fundamental concepts to aid in the understanding and evaluation of cybersecurity problems.
  • To understand cyberspace in terms of the accelerating exponential convergent technology, vulnerabilities, challenges, and opportunities.
  • To identify the types of accelerating exponential convergent technology threats and challenges that could create insecurity for a cybersecurity system.
  • To identify the structures and actors that play a role in strategy and policy decision-making for cybersecurity.
  • To understand the basics of cyber-physical systems technology and its effects on cybersecurity affairs.
  • To understand the role of the military and the State in responding to cybersecurity threats.
  • To identify the risks and implications of the right to privacy, international law, and human rights in cyber operations.

COURSE STRUCTURE

Participants will engage in an intensive program of readings, conferences, lectures, discussions, case studies, and preparation for a simulation exercise. Civilian and military participants will become aware of and apply concepts critical to cybersecurity and other transnational threats like drug trafficking, money laundering, hacktivism, and terrorism using the cyber domain. Participants will understand and evaluate the decision-making process in designing policy and strategies to combat cybercrime and hacktivism.

  • Completion of analysis of required reading assignments prior the course in-residence phase (requirement to attend the in-residence phase) to have a deeper comprehension of master lectures and conferences provided by subject matter experts.
  • Attendance of topical lectures and panels by a Perry Center professor or invited experts.
  • Review in discussion groups of implications on a national or regional scale of the material presented in the master lecture.
  • Develop a cybersecurity policy paper with the proposed strategy for their home country. The policy paper represents 50% of course evaluation.
  • Participate in a simulation exercise to understand through practice the complexity of an attack situation and the decision-making process at a political and strategic level.

ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

This course is tailored for senior officials responsible for developing or influencing cyber legislation, policies, or practices. Ideally, participants should be from one of the following communities:

  • Career officials from the ministries/secretaries of Security and Defense (civilians and military officers).
  • Officials from other ministries/secretaries, such as Interior, Justice, Banking and/or Finance, Foreign Affairs, Communications and/or Information, and Security.
  • Officials from the legislative and judicial branches that interact with security and defense (planning, control and oversight).
  • NGO and think-tank staffs involved in security/defense matters, educators, academic researchers, journalists and members of political parties.
  • Police and active-duty military officers with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and above, and senior non-commissioned officers.

Individuals are limited to receiving two (2) scholarships to attend in-residence courses per ten-year period, but are free to apply to additional in-residence courses in a fully self-funded status (the 18-month waiting period between attending in-residence courses still applies).

In accordance with Department of Defense policy, citizens of “high income” countries (as established by the World Bank) are not eligible for scholarships. As of 01 July 2023, this restriction applies to the following Western Hemisphere nations and territories:

  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Aruba
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Bermuda
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Canada
  • Cayman Islands
  • Chile
  • Curaçao
  • Guyana
  • Panama
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Martin
  • Sint Maarten
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Turks and Caicos
  • Uruguay

Citizens of these countries may still apply to courses, but in a fully self-funded status. Self-funded candidates must meet all eligibility standards and comply with all application requirements, including application deadlines, as well as being able to cover the expenses of their own travel, lodging, meals, and incidentals. US citizens cannot (by law) receive scholarships, but may also apply to attend in a self-funded status. US citizens and other self-funded candidates should contact the Registrar’s Office for additional guidance.

Candidates must possess a university degree or, in cases where a candidate does not hold a degree, equivalent practical experience. Military and police personnel must have completed a command and staff course or equivalent. Exceptions are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

The CYBER/AI course is conducted in Spanish. There is simultaneous interpretation from English during some plenary sessions. Minimum professional reading skills in English are desired for candidates to read theoretical and conceptual materials. English speaking skills are not required.

COURSE FACULTY

Celina Realuyo
Prof. Celina Realuyo
Course Deputy Director