New Cyber Industry Group Announced

New Cyber Division Established

The National Defense Industrial Association in February announced the establishment of a new Cyber Division.

The division will facilitate industry-government-academia interaction in policy, legislative, legal and technical areas directly related to protecting cyber-assets, maintaining access to the cyberdomain, and conducting information operations.

The goal is to promote the development of a secure, resilient and reliable cyberdomain for the United States and its allies.

NDIA divisions are the vehicles by which the association organizes and mobilizes its corporate member representatives into functional working groups to perform its  “Advocate – Promote – Provide” missions.

Divisions perform the bulk of NDIA’s policy and technical interface between industry and government, and develop the majority of the content behind its portfolio of conferences, symposia, seminars, workshops and other educational forums. NDIA corporate members may participate as desired in the work of one or more of the now 35 functionally oriented divisions.
Cyber will be a first-of-its-kind “hybrid” division composed of both NDIA and its affiliate, the Association for Enterprise Information, and co-led by the two organizations.

An organizing committee has drafted a charter, begun identifying initial focus areas, and started outlining general operating plans. Co-chairs have been appointed from NDIA and AFEI as reflected on the Division’s web page.  

The associations are inviting corporate members to identify representatives to participate in the new division.

For additional information, go to the web page or 703-247-2561.


Homeland Security Division Honors International Rescue Team

The National Defense Industrial Association’s Homeland Security Division presented its highest honor, the America Secure Award, to Virginia Task Force 1, the international search-and-rescue team of the Fairfax County, Va., Fire and Rescue Department. 

In selecting Virginia Task Force 1 for the America Secure Award, NDIA’s Homeland Security Division membership has for the first time recognized a local public safety organization with accomplishments and impact that far exceed the geographic boundaries of its home location.
Established in 1986 as a domestic and international disaster response resource, the task force has 200 specially trained career and volunteer personnel with expertise in the rescue of victims from collapsed structures following a natural or manmade catastrophic event.

Last year, it served in Haiti in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake. Along with dozens of domestic incidents, it has served in countries such as Bolivia, Iran,
Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia, and many others.

“To say we are fortunate to have them in our service is an understatement,” said Rich Cooper, division chair and a principal at Catalyst Partners LLC. “The men and women of this elite unit are more than just first responders on a world stage. They are also ambassadors of compassion of the first order.”  

In breaking with the traditional formal luncheon or dinner awards presentation, the division brought a catered lunch to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Academy. The award was presented to Chief Ronald Mastin of the Fairfax County, Fire and Rescue Department, with some 100 members of the task force on hand.


Tennessee Valley Chapter Supports Project Lead the Way

In response to the National Defense Industrial Association’s emphasis on promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics in educational settings, the Tennessee Valley Chapter has become a platinum benefactor for Project Lead the Way, in the Huntsville City School System Academy of Applied Math and Science. For the past 10 years the chapter has supported programs covering elementary school through postgraduate studies.

This program initiated at Virgil I. Grissom High School is a pilot for Project Lead the Way in North Alabama. The chapter’s $25,000 donation is expected to help Project Lead the Way become a standard throughout the many high schools in the Tennessee Valley area. 

The program encourages hands-on problem solving activities. Studies indicate that participants have significantly increased interest and abilities in STEM related programs at the college level.

Topics: Cybersecurity