AFIT assistant professor of electrical engineering, Lt. Col. Wayne Henry, Ph.D., was invited to attend a Dagstuhl Seminar on cybersecurity for space systems at Schloss Dagstuhl in Germany. Pictured are seminar attendees. (Photo courtesy of Creative Commons.)
Lt. Col. Wayne Henry, Ph.D., AFIT assistant professor of electrical engineering, recently had the unique opportunity to participate in a Dagstuhl Seminar on cybersecurity for space systems at Schloss Dagstuhl in Germany. Attendance at Dagstuhl Seminars is by invitation only and this year’s prestigious event brought together more than 40 industry and academia professionals from Canada, the United States, the European Union, and Australia to discuss emerging challenges in securing space-based infrastructure.
Dagstuhl Seminars are known for their structured, yet open-ended discussions that foster cutting-edge research and new collaborative efforts. This event was no exception to previous seminars, and reinforced AFIT’s role in global cybersecurity thought leadership, and insured the Institute remains at the forefront of protecting space assets in an increasingly contested domain.
The seminar was titled “Guardians of the Galaxy: Protecting Space Systems from Cyber Threats,” and provided a collaborative environment for interdisciplinary discussions on critical cybersecurity threats to modern satellite systems. Participants explored attack vectors, defensive strategies, policy implications, and the role of artificial intelligence in space system security. Discussions were not only theoretical, but also included real-world case studies and technical research across multiple nations and organizations.
“As an AFIT faculty member, engaging in this forum was invaluable for both research and education. The seminar facilitated deep technical exchanges that align with AFIT’s mission to advance defense-focused education and innovation. The insights gained from this event will inform ongoing coursework, student research, and future collaborations with international partners,” Henry said.
The Air Force Institute of Technology has one of the leading cybersecurity programs in the nation offered through the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, AFIT/ENG, and supported by the Center for Cyberspace Research (CCR). The Center’s award-winning faculty, world-class facilities, and rigorous curriculum prepare students for successful cybersecurity careers in the Air Force, Space Force, and the Department of Defense.
In 2024 and 2025, AFIT faculty and graduate students were recognized with several impactful awards including first place out of 72 teams in the Hackers Choice Awards at DoD’s BRAVO 11 Hackathon in Hawaii, and first place out of 22 teams in the Hackers Choice Awards at BRAVO 101 Hackathon, which was hosted by the United States European Command. Most recently, Lt. Col. Henry and AFIT alumni Capt. Courtney Fleming (M.S. Cyber Operations, 2024) and Capt. John Thebarge (M.S. Cyber Operations, 2023) were recognized with the NASA Silver Group Achievement Award for their work in a cross-agency partnership with NASA, USSF and other Air Force partners to develop and assess new technologies to safeguard space systems.
AFIT/ENG offers doctoral and graduate degree programs in computer engineering, computer science and cyber operations. In the cyber operations graduate degree program, students are exposed to a wide variety of topics, including cyber warfare in military operations, cyber attack and defense, secure software design and reverse engineering, data security through cryptography, and cyber physical system security. Students in the computer engineering and computer science graduate programs, may also choose to pursue the cybersecurity or computer networks sequences within their respective programs, which expose them to a subset of the topics offered to the cyber operations program students.
The Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) located at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the Department of the Air Force’s leader for advanced, multi-disciplinary academic education, as well as its institution for initial technical and professional continuing education. AFIT is committed to providing defense-focused graduate education and related research, and operationally-relevant initial skills training and professional continuing education to sustain the technological supremacy of America's air, space, and cyber forces.
AFIT’s Graduate School of Engineering and Management (GSEM) provides in-residence and distance learning graduate degrees and certificates in engineering, applied science, mathematics and management. The Graduate School provides its students with several significant advantages, including a more personalized educational experience; academic programs with a defense-related focus; and research on high-priority defense problems. Degree and certificate programs are open to active-duty U.S. military members, DoD/government civilians and contractors, and international allies. For more information, please visit https://www.afit.edu/EN/.
For more information on AFIT’s computer science, computer engineering and cyber operations graduate degree programs, please visit https://www.afit.edu/ENG/.
