Learning, connecting, preparing: Minnesota Experts Assemble at Cyber Symposium
To better protect and defend these critical cyber systems, a super team of academics, law enforcement professionals, and Airmen and Soldiers of the Minnesota National Guard huddled in a dimly lit college auditorium at Metro State University in St. Paul, Sept. 19, for the third annual Minnesota Military Cyber Symposium.
Be they in camouflage fatigues and combat boots, or wing tips and a blazer, the attendees shared the same goal: protecting and strengthening Minnesota’s critical cyber-based infrastructure systems against those who may do it harm.
“We’re here to strengthen the state’s military cyber community against evolving threats to national security,” said Air Force 1st Lt. Nicolette Weis, deputy director of the J3 Cyber Coordination Cell. “This is the capstone professional development event for Minnesota cyber-branch forces; this symposium advances information sharing and expands the professional knowledge of our Airmen and Soldiers.”
Hosted by the Minnesota National Guard Cyber Coordination Cell (C3), the event featured experts from state and federal interagency partners and law enforcement personnel from the FBI, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Minnesota IT Services (MNIT), and the Association of Minnesota Counties’ Cyber Response Team.
Throughout the day, presentations and the panel discussion highlighted recent regional security incidents, including cyber threats targeting municipal utility networks and public-sector databases. Metropolitan State University faculty and students briefed attendees on ongoing research and technical projects, while representatives from the Association of Minnesota Counties detailed local incident-response operations. Additionally, MNIT’s Cyber Task Force presented briefings on state operational authorities, resources, and technical support capabilities.
Weis emphasized the critical importance of partnerships as agencies battle with nefarious cyber actors.
“No single unit or agency can address cyber threats alone,” Weis said. “The threats do not stop at organizational boundaries. We’re all here today so we can learn from one another and know how to work together before something goes wrong.
Weis, who also serves as a traditional drill-status airman, is a project engineer with the 210th Engineering Installation Squadron at the 133rd Airlift Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard, summarized the intent of the interagency gathering.
“Today, we are learning, connecting, and preparing,” she said.
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