Space ISAC Holds Inaugural Board
Meeting at CyberSat Summit
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, November 14, 2019 – Conceived by the Science & Technology Partnership Forum in 2017 in response to recognized information-sharing gaps within the cybersecurity and space community, the Space Information Sharing and
Analysis Center (ISAC) was announced in April 2019 during a classified session at the 35th Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, CO.
On Thursday, November 8th while at CyberSat Summit 2019, the Space ISAC held its inaugural board meeting to formally establish the Space ISAC and its bylaws and begin the important work of the Space ISAC. The Space ISAC also held an interactive workshop for space industry leaders to share perspectives on how to maximize the value of this information sharing group at the Summit.
The Space ISAC is the only space-dedicated ISAC and is made possible through the investment by its board and founding members. Initial founding members of the Space ISAC, which include Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: KTOS), Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE: BAH), MITRE, SES, Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC), and Parsons Corporation (NYSE: PSN), are each granted a seat on the board of directors. Appointed by their respective organizations, each board member then has a role in fulfilling the mission of the ISAC: to facilitate collaboration across the global space industry to enhance our ability to prepare for and respond to vulnerabilities, incidents, and threats; to disseminate timely and actionable information among member firms; and to serve as the primary communications channel for the sector with respect to this information.
Founding board members include:
Frank Backes, Senior Vice President, Kratos Federal Space
Chris Bogdan, Senior Vice President of Aerospace, Booz Allen Hamilton
Sam Visner, Director, National Cybersecurity FFRDC, The MITRE Corporation Andre Adelsbach, Vice President of Group Information and Cyber Security, SES Clark VanBuskirk, Vice President of Advance Program Development, Lockheed Martin Space Mission Solutions
David Weissmiller, Director of Space Strategy and Development, Parsons Corporation
The Space ISAC board will develop the agenda and direction for the Space ISAC with the goal of ultimately increasing the space community’s ability to prepare for and respond to vulnerabilities, incidents, and threats; disseminate timely information; and serve as the primary communications channel for the sector with respect to this information.
Chairman of the Board and President of the Space ISAC, Frank Backes SVP at Kratos, the original founding industry company, said, “Establishing the board and holding our first board meeting is a major milestone in the effort to protect the space critical infrastructure for the U.S. and our international allies. Coordinating and combining the expertise and awareness capabilities of commercial, international, and national defense organizations with government agencies will allow the Space ISAC to achieve our mission to facilitate collaboration across the global space industry to enhance our ability to prepare for and respond to vulnerabilities, incidents, and threats and to disseminate timely and actionable information among member firms.”
Chris Bogdan, Senior Vice President of Aerospace at Booz Allen Hamilton, said, “We don’t build satellites or Mars rovers, but what Booz Allen does do is turn space data into information and then actionable decisions using open, scalable, modular, secure platforms. We believe this is a great opportunity which allows us to bring some of our expertise into the Space ISAC – how best to protect data, how to move data around, and how to identify relevant threats, and educate ourselves and others on the art and science of the integration of commercial, civil and military space data and capabilities. So, It’s a win-win for Booz Allen.”
Andre Adelsbach of SES said, “At SES, we view cybersecurity as a critical pillar in enabling seamless business delivery. We are glad to be part of the Space ISAC so that we can collectively drive the development of a strong and confident cybersecurity strategy that supports the space ecosystem and can benefit the industry.”
Clark VanBuskirk, Vice President for Advanced Program Development for Lockheed Martin Space Mission Solutions, said, “Software now defines the bulk of mission-critical capabilities and it’s under constant attack. The U.S.’s ability to track, defend, and fight adversaries increasingly depends on how well we can field the best secure software and hardware. The Space ISAC builds on Lockheed Martin’s legacy of partnership with government on cybersecurity, which is increasingly important with new commercial and international space operators; it’s vital we work together to defend a strategic domain for our national security.”
David Weissmiller, Director of Space Strategy and Development, Parsons Corporation, said, “Parsons is very happy to be participating as a founding member of the Space ISAC. This high-impact effort brings much needed security and protection support to the space enterprise. Parsons’ has rich history of providing commercial, international, DoD and IC partners, the capabilities in full spectrum cyber, Space Situational Awareness, Missile Defense, launch support, and space infrastructure. Personally, I have spent much of my adult life committed to protecting and securing our national freedoms in the space and cyber domains This is a great honor to participate with such great people and organizations represented here.”
ISACs are sector-specific, member-driven organizations stood up by the commercial sector with support from the federal government to collect, analyze, and disseminate cyber and physical security threats and risk mitigation information to critical infrastructure owners, operators, and members to increase resiliency. To facilitate the Space ISAC’s origination and organization as the founding member, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. coordinated the organizational planning and federal government charter, funded the ISAC startup costs, and developed the operational plan for the Space ISAC.
The National Cybersecurity Center (NCC) is recognized as a leader in cybersecurity and serves as the operational arm of the Space ISAC. Locating the Space ISAC at the NCC means Space ISAC members will have access to Colorado’s space and cybersecurity ecosystems within the commercial and defense sectors and to the talents of the premier higher education institutions developing cybersecurity engineers.
Together, NCC and the Space ISAC serve cyber influencers from the commercial sector, academia, government, and military and empower people to secure commercial, international, and military space communications from attacks on our global space assets. They are jointly building a research and development capability, cybersecurity training curriculum, and an analysis portal. With the addition of the Space ISAC, NCC is offering training on secure GPS and hosts a dialogue on the importance of international and commercial satellites on military communication at the annual Cyber Symposium.
Erin Miller, VP of Operations for Space ISAC at National Cybersecurity Center, said, “We’re at a critical juncture for cybersecurity and threats to space to be addressed in a cohesive manner through commercial, academia and government in this public-private partnership. Although we’ve just begun, this platform is for the space community to come together since truly no one can do this alone.”
From the outset, the Space ISAC has received support from a broad range of other space stakeholders, including government, academia, and industry.
White House National Security Council Spokesman Garrett Marquis said of the Space ISAC’s formation, “This Administration strongly supports the formation of private-sector driven information sharing and analysis centers. The new Space ISAC aims to help gather, analyze, and disseminate critical cyber threat information related to space among the Federal, commercial, and international community and advances the 2018 National Cyber Strategy’s priority to enhance space cybersecurity.”
The White House’s National Cyber Strategy, published September 23, 2018, states that “the Administration will enhance efforts to protect our space assets and support infrastructure from evolving cyber threats,” while working “with industry and international partners to strengthen the cyber resilience of existing and future space systems.”
Dr. Michael G. Ryschkewitsch, Head of Space Exploration Sector at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, said, “We are very excited by the creation of the new Space ISAC. Ensuring the health of space systems and that of our space reliant economy and national security becomes more challenging every year and this ISAC will be an essential tool for enterprises.”
Dr. Dan DeLaurentis, Professor at the Purdue University School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, said, “We are gratified that the Space-ISAC charter recognizes the critical role that academia must play in sustaining the security of our nation’s most critical infrastructure. The Space-ISAC is positioned at the nexus of three of Purdue’s highest- priorities and core strengths: space, cybersecurity, and strategic research partnerships with the private sector. Considering our ever-expanding contributions in space (24 NASA astronauts, new cislunar initiative), long-standing cybersecurity leadership in academia, and nearly 30% of our sponsored work funded by the private sector, the Space-ISAC is a perfect fit for Purdue.”
About Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.
Kratos develops and fields transformative, affordable technology, platforms and systems for United States National Security related customers, allies and commercial enterprises.
Kratos is changing the way breakthrough technology for these industries are rapidly brought to market through proven commercial and venture capital backed approaches, including proactive research and streamlined development processes. Kratos specializes in unmanned systems, satellite communications, cyber security/warfare, microwave electronics, missile defense, hypersonic systems, training, and combat systems. For more information go to www.KratosDefense.com.
About Booz Allen Hamilton
For more than 100 years, military, government, and business leaders have turned to Booz Allen Hamilton to solve their most complex problems. As a consulting firm with experts in analytics, digital, engineering, and cyber, we help organizations transform. We are a key partner on some of the most innovative programs for governments worldwide and trusted by their most sensitive agencies. We work shoulder to shoulder with clients, using a mission-first approach to choose the right strategy and technology to help them realize their vision. With global headquarters in McLean, Virginia and more than 80 offices worldwide, our firm employs more than 26,100 people and had revenue of $6.7 billion for the 12 months ending March 31, 2019. To learn more, visit www.BoozAllen.com. (NYSE: BAH)
About MITRE
MITRE’s mission-driven teams are dedicated to solving problems for a safer world. Through public-private partnerships and our federally funded R&D centers, we work across government to tackle challenges to the safety, stability, and well-being of our nation. For more information about MITRE, please visit www.MITRE.org.
About SES
SES is the world’s leading satellite operator with over 70 satellites in two different orbits, Geostationary Orbit (GEO) and Medium Earth Orbit (MEO). It provides a diverse range of customers with global video distribution and data connectivity services through two business units: SES Video and SES Networks. SES Video reaches over 355 million TV homes, through Direct-to-Home (DTH) platforms and cable, terrestrial, and IPTV networks globally. SES Video delivers a full suite of innovative end-to-end value-added services for both linear and digital distribution, and includes the ASTRA satellite system, which has the largest DTH television reach in Europe. SES Networks provides global managed data services, connecting people in a variety of sectors including telecommunications, maritime, aeronautical, and energy, as well as governments and institutions across the world. The SES Networks portfolio includes GovSat, a 50/50 public-private partnership between SES and the Luxembourg government, and O3b, the only non-geostationary system delivering fibre-like broadband services today. Further information is available at: www.ses.com.
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 105,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. For more information, visit www.lockheedmartin.com/cyber.
About Parsons
Parsons (NYSE: PSN) is a leading disruptive technology provider for the future of global defense, intelligence, and critical infrastructure, with capabilities across cybersecurity, missile defense, space, connected infrastructure, and smart cities. Please visit parsons.com, and follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook to learn how we’re making an impact.
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