Forging a cadre of cyber warriors and leaders of consequence.
LEADERS OF CONSEQUENCE
Forging a cadre of cyber warriors and leaders of consequence.
Join the nation's next generation of leaders and problem solvers.
Hone your craft through hands-on experience in lab settings.
Sit in on weekly lectures presented by the best in the industry.
Use your skills to develop real technology used in the industry.
The ACE military research seminars demonstrate the value of cyber leaders through exploration and analysis of real-world case studies with experienced Air Force officers. Interns also travel to Gettysburg, PA to study leadership links between the historic conflict in Gettysburg and today. By the end of the 10 weeks, interns exemplify the principles of leading upward.
Beyond academic engagement, interns learn leadership skills through the weekly 8-mile run, labs, and research projects. ACE interns gain insights into planning and decision-making processes, and possess outstanding self-reflection and critical analysis skills.
Because physical fitness is an integral part of the ACE program, interns participate in a weekly 8-mile run through the Griffiss Air Force Base. Though running is a highly individual sport, interns motivate themselves and their peers through high fives and encouraging words. The weekly ACE run promotes not only physical fitness but team building through shared adversity.
"Running, like ACE, is an intrinsically individual activity, but along the way, our peers give a shout of encouragement, a high five, or simply presence when we have difficulty, so that we can achieve things we thought impossible."
ACE interns engage in weekly mission operations and work as teams to solve open-ended, Air Force-relevant problems. Interns learn how to develop exploits and tools to gain access, escalate privileges, and communicate covertly in a contested cyber battlespace.
These operations culminate in the Capstone event, where interns apply their knowledge to achieve mission objectives in a simulated cyber-warfare scenario.
Weekly ACE lectures prepare interns for the Capstone exercise and develop them into the next generation of cybersecurity leaders. The lectures begin with the basics of the cyber domain before expanding into more technically challenging computer security concepts.
In addition to attending lectures, interns are also responsible for writing comprehensive technical solutions to open-ended problems, as well as explaining these technical concepts in time-constrained oral presentations. This dynamic skill set is instrumental to the final Capstone operations, as well as the interns’ future endeavors and careers.
Interns spend the summer working on intensive, in-depth research projects in research groups. These projects encourage interns to experiment with new concepts and techniques to advance and execute a research plan.
Interns attempt to solve research problems they encounter with the aid of research mentors, which consist of academic professionals and technical leaders. Each mentor provides a unique set of skills to assist the ACE interns through the course of their project.
Since the ACE’s founding in 2003, over 400 interns have graduated from the program, adding them to the growing ranks of technically excellent cyber leaders. ACE alumni apply their incomparable skill sets to their research projects, publications, career pursuits, and positions in the USAF.
- Raphael Mudge, ACE 2003
- Marc Jabbour, ACE 2006
ACE graduates inspire trust and confidence by demonstrating technical excellence in all they do. An ACE graduate leads by example and requires no exception.
ACE graduates honor their commitments to deliver working solutions on time. An ACE graduate is always responsible and expects no extension.
ACE graduates demonstrate absolute integrity by having the courage to do the right thing. An ACE graduate makes no excuse.
ACE graduates earn respect and loyalty by leading with compassion. An ACE graduate is a servant leader who takes care of their people.