Cybersecurity and Assured Systems Engineering Center

The Cybersecurity and Assured Systems Engineering (CyBASE) Center hosts a group of faculty members with diverse interests in cybersecurity, such as IT/OT security, aviation security and HW/SW security. CyBASE is the designated cybersecurity center for the Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach Campus, Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) program.

Dr. Laxima Niure Kandel serves as POC for the CAE-CD and as CyBASE director.

The B.S. in Computer Science with a Cybersecurity Engineering Area of Concentration is the validated Program of Study (PoS) for the ERAU-DB CAE-CD program.

The validated PoS program is housed in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS). CAE-CD and CyBASE conduct their activities under the guidance of the EECS Industry Advisory Board.

CyBASE provides direction for cybersecurity education and research programs associated with critical infrastructures and assured systems, such as aviation and aerospace systems. CyBASE also aims to be the focal point for student cybersecurity activities collaboration within Embry-Riddle and outside the university by providing outreach opportunities for students and faculty members.

Current or prospective students at the Daytona Beach Campus can pursue several cybersecurity majors and minors:

• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (with Cybersecurity Engineering Area of Concentration)
• Minor in Cybersecurity Engineering
• Master of Science in Computer Science (with Cybersecurity Engineering Area of Concentration)
• Minor in Cybersecurity Application and Management
• Bachelor of Science in Aviation Maintenance Science (with Avionics Cybertechnology Area of Concentration)

Faculty and students carry out their CyBASE projects in the Cybersecurity Engineering Lab (CybEL) or the Digital Systems Laboratory, depending on the needs of the projects. Projects needing specific avionics equipment are carried out in the university-wide Center for Aerospace Resilience. CyBASE researchers are currently involved in projects in the following areas:

• Aviation and Aerospace Cybersecurity
• Embedded and Cyber-Physical Systems Security
• Safety and Security Analysis for End-to-End System Assurance
• Hardware Security for Wireless Communication Systems
• Machine Learning Applications to Systems Security Assurance
• Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) Control, Safety Assurance and Security

Current CyBASE faculty members include:

• Dr. Laxima Niure Kandel, CyBASE director and assistant professor of Computer Science
• Dr. M. Ilhan Akbas, assistant professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Dr. David Bethelmy, associate professor of Computer Science
• Dr. Keith Garfield, professor of Computer Science
• Dr. Omar Ochoa, assistant professor of Software Engineering
• Dr. Eduardo Rojas, associate professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Dr. Shafika Showkat Moni, assistant professor of Cybersecurity Engineering
• Dr. Kenji Yoshigoe, professor of Computer Science

CyBASE offers a variety of student cybersecurity activities conducted within the university and beyond. Students can join one or both of the following cybersecurity clubs:

• White Hat Eagles Cybersecurity Club (WHEC), Advisor: Dr. Laxima Niure Kandel
• Cryptocurrency Club (CCC), Advisor: Dr. Laxima Niure Kandel

WHEC members are among the outstanding students selected for the highly competitive NSF CyberCorps Scholarship for Service program at Embry-Riddle.

CyBASE students organize Capture The Flag (CTF) boot camps and participate in CTF competitions, such as the Southeast Regional NCAE Cyber Games. In the last years, the center students have also designed and delivered CTF competitions at large international events such as Aviation-ISAC, AIAA SCITECH and the RSA Conference.

CyBASE faculty organize an annual cybersecurity summer camp through Embry-Riddle Summer Programs.

The CyBASE center follows the policies and procedures set forth by Embry-Riddle IT Security Services, the institutional security unit that protects the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the university's information assets. For more information, please visit the Embry-Riddle Information Technology webpage