Frederick Jones, Participant

Fred Jones is a Senior Technical Fellow with the RTX Technology Research Center. He has over 25 years of experience in developing, integrating, fielding, and securing systems for the US military. For the past decade, Fred has been leading cybersecurity R&D efforts with an emphasis on technical innovations supporting DevSecOps, Mission Engineering, Zero Trust Architectures, and Cyber-Physical-Social Systems. He has a bachelor’s in physics and master’s in teaching from the University of Virginia and a master’s in systems engineering from Johns Hopkins University.https://commons.erau.edu/avcysecworkshop-bios-2025/1025/thumbnail.jp

Matthew Kosednar, Participant

Matthew Kosednar is a Senior Engineer at United Airlines on the Cyber Defense Red Team. He is an Electrical Engineer who specializes in offensive cyber security and has over eight years of experience working in Critical Infrastructure. Matthew is able to leverage his unique background in Operational Technology to work across many parts of the aviation industry. He is a member of the Aviation ISAC and regularly collaborates with other security researchers.https://commons.erau.edu/avcysecworkshop-bios-2025/1026/thumbnail.jp

Validating UAS-based NDVI Data with Satellite Landsat Imagery for Bald Eagle Habitat Prediction in the Del Rio Springs Ecosystem

Vegetation health is commonly assessed using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), which can be derived from multispectral sensors operating at different spatial resolutions. Validating NDVI products across sensor platforms is essential to determine their reliability for environmental monitoring and habitat assessment. This research compares NDVI derived from moderate-resolution satellite imagery and high-resolution unmanned aircraft system (UAS) imagery collected over the same study area. Landsat imagery, provided through the joint USGS–NASA mission, was used to represent satellite-based vegetation patterns, while high-resolution multispectral data were acquired using a MicaSense sensor mounted on a UAS to capture fine-scale vegetation detail. NDVI values from both datasets were evaluated for spatial correspondence using the coefficient of determination (R²) to quantify the proportion of satellite-derived NDVI variability explained by UAS-based observations. To further explore spatial vegetation structure at finer scales, a Getis-Ord Gi* hotspot analysis was applied to the MicaSense NDVI data to identify statistically significant vegetation clusters associated with potential bald eagle nesting and foraging habitats. This approach demonstrates the value of high-resolution UAS imagery for detecting localized vegetation patterns not fully resolved by satellite data. Future work will incorporate atmospherically corrected Level-2 Landsat products and coordinate additional UAS data collections with Landsat overpass times to minimize illumination and viewing inconsistencies. Multi-season UAS imagery will also be acquired to assess temporal vegetation stress and change. These enhancements will improve cross-platform NDVI validation and strengthen the application of multisensor geospatial data for habitat prediction, landscape analysis, and long-term ecological monitoring

Coffee Break

Enjoy the break

1967 5BFTS First Reunion Dinner. October 14. W/O Pullin

The First Reunion Dinner for RAF pilots who had trained at 5BFTS during WW2 was held on October 14, 1967, at the Royal Aero Club, London. This image is annotated “W/O Pullin presides”. W/O T Pullin (originally Sgt) was an Armament Instructor from July 1941 to May 13, 1943. The image shows Mr Pullin sitting on the top table in direct line of view. Hugo Trotter (Course 11) is sitting on his right.https://commons.erau.edu/bfts-1967-dinner-images/1010/thumbnail.jp

1967 5BFTS First Reunion Dinner. October 14.

The First Reunion Dinner for RAF pilots who had trained at 5BFTS during WW2 was held on October 14, 1967, at the Royal Aero Club, London. This image is annotated “Centre looking right”.https://commons.erau.edu/bfts-1967-dinner-images/1018/thumbnail.jp

Ryan Murray, Participant

Ryan Murray joined the Arizona Department of Homeland Security in July 2021 and currently serves as the Deputy Director for Arizona Cyber Command and Chief Information Security Officer for the State of Arizona. He also previously served as the Chief Information Security Officer for the Arizona Department of Revenue. In his current role, Deputy Director Murray provides tactical and operational leadership for Cyber Command, and strategic advice to key executive stakeholders throughout the State. Prior to joining the State in 2018, Ryan held several public sector positions throughout Arizona including in Maricopa County and the Crane School District. He has nearly 20 years of experience in IT and Information Security, is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) and holds a Bachelor’s in Cyber Security and Information Assurance from Western Governors University. This year Mr. Murray looks forward to accomplishing several key initiatives, including a significant expansion of the Department’s Cyber Readiness Program for local cities and counties, and increased collaboration for cyber information sharing across the State.https://commons.erau.edu/avcysecworkshop-bios-2025/1037/thumbnail.jp

Sivaraman Mani, Participant

Sivaraman Mani is the Senior Software Engineering Manager for Honeywell\u27s Anthem Integrated Network Server Unit (INSU) and Cyber Security. He has been with Honeywell for over 20 years, leading engineering teams to develop and manufacture cutting-edge aircraft control systems and gateway solutions. His focus is on making products cheaper and faster using real-time simulation, automation, reuse, lean processes and reapplication. He also ensures these products meet airworthy security standards for higher security assurance levels through optimal system and software architecture measures. With extensive global experience, he leverages talents and infrastructure worldwide. He assists with strategic planning, continuous improvement and promoting agility. He holds an Engineering degree and is a Certified Six Sigma Green Belt. He lives in Phoenix, and loves hiking and spending time with his wife and son.https://commons.erau.edu/avcysecworkshop-bios-2025/1028/thumbnail.jp

Dr. Thomas Drape, Participant

Dr. Thomas Drape serves as the Dean of the College of Business, Security and Intelligence (CBSI) at Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University’s Prescott Campus. With over two decades of experience in military, academic, and administrative leadership, Dr. Drape brings a unique blend of expertise to CBSI, helping to guide the college’s focus on innovation, global engagement, and academic excellence in the intersecting fields of business, security, and intelligence. A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Dr. Drape also holds an MBA from the Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh and earned his Ph.D. with honors from IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain. During his 20-year service in the U.S. Air Force, he worked as a program manager and procurement specialist, leading multi-million dollar aerospace projects and earning top-level certifications in program management. His academic roles have included leadership positions at the U.S. Air Force Academy, the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Germany, Azusa Pacific University, and Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University. Dr. Drape has spearheaded numerous international academic initiatives, leading study-abroad programs across more than fifteen countries including Turkey, China, Japan, and Italy. He is passionate about cultivating global perspectives in students and building government, industry, and academic relationships that enrich CBSI’s programs. Under his leadership, CBSI is strengthening its global reputation as a hub for preparing future leaders in aviation, aerospace, security, and intelligence.https://commons.erau.edu/avcysecworkshop-bios-2025/1014/thumbnail.jp

Bound and Becoming

This poetry collection explores the theme of bound and becoming through free-verse poems that examine boundaries, inheritance, responsibility, and transformation. The poems reflect moments of pause and tension, highlighting how personal growth often occurs within constraints rather than in their absence. Through imagery of thresholds, gravity, threads, and buried seeds, the collection traces the speaker’s evolving understanding of identity and change. Together, the poems present becoming as a gradual, intentional process shaped by both limitation and choice