1. What is DroneTrace, and why is this partnership significant?
DroneTrace specializes in drone forensics and autonomous systems security research. Through this partnership, DroneTrace gains access to ICS facilities, research expertise, and a talent pipeline of students. The collaboration supports the development of advanced drone exploitation tools and methods, especially important as drones’ threats become increasingly prevalent in defense, intelligence and law enforcement operations.
2. What does this mean for students at ICS and Marshall?
Students across disciplines, including cybersecurity, aviation, and engineering, will have opportunities to:
• Conduct joint R&D projects in UAV security and forensics
• Participate in internships and field-testing scenarios with DroneTrace
• Train in real-world environments through ICS labs and ranges
• Explore careers at the intersection of aviation and cyber
3. How is the aviation school involved?
ICS will embed cyber training into existing pilot and aircraft mechanical curricula. This includes:
• Cyber safety protocols for unmanned and manned aviation systems
• Hands-on modules in drone risk assessment and threat detection
• Simulated attacks on UAV command-and-control systems
• Cyber hygiene practices for modern avionics systems
4. Why is this important?
As cybersecurity and aviation industries evolve, so do the threats. From spoofing to ransomware to data breaches, today’s aviation professionals must understand the cybersecurity implications of their roles. Through this partnership, Marshall cybersecurity students will gain exposure to emerging drone forensics techniques—learning how to analyze flight logs, recover data from downed systems, and support investigations into aerial incidents. This ensures Marshall’s aviation graduates are not only FAA-certified but also trained to identify and respond to cyber threats, while cybersecurity students gain real-world experience in drone forensics and emerging challenges in cyber-physical systems.
5. What kinds of research or capabilities will be developed?
The partnership opens doors for:
• Development of secure-by-design UAV frameworks
• Testing and validation of counter-UAS technologies
• Drone forensics labs with live packet capture and telemetry analysis
• Applied research for DoD and public safety drone missions
6. Will this collaboration impact the broader Huntington IDEA District?
Absolutely. This is a model for how academic-industry partnerships can drive workforce development and national security in Appalachia. By aligning aviation, cybersecurity, and UAS research, the ICS and DroneTrace are strengthening Marshall’s impact regionally and nationally.