The Detroit Arsenal, U.S. Army TARDEC, Merit Network, and the Michigan Defense Center Friday unveiled the TARDEC Cyber Hub, the latest addition to the Michigan Cyber Range, which is part of the Detroit Arsenal in Warren.
“We’re passionate about bringing to our warfighters the most adaptable, flexible, modular, and smart capabilities current technology can provide to their ground vehicles, and that includes protection of those vehicles and their components from cyber-attack,” says Jeff Jaczkowski, associate director for ground systems cyber engineering at TARDEC. “Opening up a hub in the Michigan Cyber Range right here at TARDEC allows us to accelerate our automotive cybersecurity efforts through enhanced training and virtual testing, and its dividends will pay off for years for the soldiers in the field.”
Cyber Range Hub sites host events, exercises, and training classes and operate as a physical extension of the Michigan Cyber Range, the nation’s largest unclassified cyber range. The hubs offer more than 40 industry-recognized certifications, exercises, and workshops aimed at qualifying individuals for positions and contracts in cybersecurity fields.
“The hub at TARDEC is a part of a key focus in the state of Michigan that creates an environment of increased cyber capabilities and learning,” says Major General Michael A. Stone, assistant adjutant general of the Michigan National Guard. “It is a culmination of years of strategic planning and a vision of creating a collaborative of hubs that will connect cyber resources across the state.”
The expansion of the range is a strategy included in the 2015 Michigan Cyber Initiative spearheaded by Gov. Rick Snyder.
“The Cyber Range Hub at TARDEC gives Department of Defense employees and contractors access to world-class, hands-on training in their backyard,” says Joe Adams, vice president for research and cyber security at Merit. “Not only can they continue their cybersecurity education with classes and seminars, but participating in the Cyber Range’s exercises allows employees to keep their skills finely honed by practicing against live, adapting adversaries. This partnership is a great opportunity for Merit, Michigan, and TARDEC, and I’m sure it will have an immediate positive impact on the area’s workforce.”
Since 2015, the Michigan Defense Center and Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) has provided funding for cyber ranges in Battle Creek, Macomb Oakland University Incubator in Sterling Heights, Pinckney Community High School, and Wayne State University. An expansion project is underway to bring new hubs to additional regions throughout Michigan.
“In Governor Snyder’s Protect and Grow initiative, the Michigan Defense Center is executing against one of the key objectives, which is to lead the nation in Department of Defense/state cyber operations integration,” says Sean Carlson, executive director of the Michigan Defense Center/MEDC. “The state of Michigan is without a doubt one of the leaders nationwide when it comes to integrating both the state and federal government in cyber operations. The opening of this fifth range at the Detroit Arsenal is just another example of Michigan leadership and dedication to making cybersecurity a priority.”
U.S. Army TARDEC is the U.S. Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command’s ground vehicle systems center. It is the Department of Defense’s foremost research, development, and engineering center for ground vehicle technology and develops technology independently and with its collaborative partners in the defense and automotive industries.
Merit Network is a nonprofit, member-owned organization governed by Michigan’s universities. It was founded in 1966 and owns and operates America’s longest-running regional research and education network in addition to the Michigan Cyber Range.
