Major Solomon Sonya earned a master’s of science degree in computer science from AFIT’s Graduate School of Engineering and Management in 2014. He is an avid programmer and researcher focusing on the analysis of malware and computer memory management.  “AFIT challenged me in many areas I did not know before and provided room for growth and devoted self-study that enriched my knowledge tremendously,” said Sonya.  “AFIT was a key part of strengthening my abilities to help me get to where I am today.”

Sonya assumed command of the 39th Information Operations Squadron, Detachment 1 in June 2020. Located at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, the 150 person organization provides initial qualification training to Airmen destined for offensive cyber operations work roles.  “We train all cyber attack Airmen who are outplaced to work at one of four squadrons within the 67th Cyberspace Operations Group and are expanding to train Airmen within the intelligence community and to our sister service branches as well,” said Sonya.  

Sonya’s goal for his new role is to grow his organization to be a lethal offensive cyber operations training unit to best prepare individuals to defend the U.S. from cyber attacks.  He is leaning on the education and experiences from his time at AFIT to be successful.  “I remember the stress of completing my thesis at AFIT.  I had a slightly elaborate thesis in which six or seven different laptops were used to run the project.  I also remember the confidence created by completing such a large undertaking,” recalls Sonya.  “This gives me confidence to know that it will be possible to succeed in this new position and lead the Air Force’s first offensive cyber operations formal training unit.” 

While a student at AFIT, Sonya’s thesis research on a new secured distributed-access protection system received the 2014 Association of Old Crows Academic Research Excellence Award in Information Superiority.  He credits the research process for expanding his knowledge and abilities.  “Every project I have done since AFIT starts with an appropriate research hypotheses and then tests to prove or disprove the hypotheses,” Sonya said.  “I used that approach to interface with our mission partner and change the way the DoD selects and trains its interactive cyber attack operators."

Sonya has published several papers and received invitations to speak about his research from organizations all over the world.  He believes his work with his advisor, Dr. Barry Mullins, was critical to that success and recalled one assignment in particular that changed his life.  “Dr. Mullins taught our cyber attack course.  There was an assignment to research a cyber tool and I asked Dr. Mullins if instead of researching other peoples’ tools, can I create a tool and demonstrate it and to my surprise, Dr. Mullins said yes,” Sonya said.  “I developed a tool called Splinter the RAT (Remote Administration Tool) which allowed me to better recognize how tools like these could be detected across enterprise networks.”  

The research to develop the Splinter the RAT was presented by Sonya and his research partner Nick Kulesza at cyber conferences across the U.S. and to international audiences in Norway, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Canada, and Sweden.  “Dr. Mullins was a godsend for me getting to where I am today.  He was an amazing advisor giving me flexibility to grow and explore,” said Sonya. 

 
Major Solomon Sonya earned a master’s of science degree in computer science from AFIT’s Graduate School of Engineering and Management in 2014. He is an avid programmer and researcher focusing on the analysis of malware and computer memory management.  His research has resulted in invitations to speak at conference across the U.S. and to international audiences. (Contributed photo).