{"id":28452,"date":"2025-08-07T11:37:40","date_gmt":"2025-08-07T15:37:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/news\/?p=28452"},"modified":"2025-08-08T13:44:14","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T17:44:14","slug":"marshall-university-institute-for-cyber-security-ics-partners-with-dronetrace-to-advance-drone-security-and-expands-aviation-cyber-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/news\/2025\/08\/marshall-university-institute-for-cyber-security-ics-partners-with-dronetrace-to-advance-drone-security-and-expands-aviation-cyber-training\/","title":{"rendered":"Marshall University Institute for Cyber Security (ICS) partners with DroneTrace to advance drone security and expands aviation cyber training"},"content":{"rendered":"
The Marshall University Institute for Cyber Security (ICS) is proud to announce a strategic partnership with DroneTrace, LLC, a trailblazer in drone forensics.<\/p>\n

Small drones are an emerging national security threat, and turning captured hardware into actionable intelligence is key to outpacing adversaries and strengthening national security. This collaboration will catalyze innovation in autonomous systems\/unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) forensic research, workforce development and real-world operational cybersecurity, reinforcing Marshall\u2019s position as a hub for cyber defense and innovation.<\/p>\n

As part of this initiative, ICS will also partner closely with Marshall\u2019s Aviation Program to integrate cybersecurity into the training of tomorrow\u2019s pilots and aircraft mechanics. This cross-disciplinary effort will ensure the aviation workforce is prepared to operate and secure the increasingly connected and automated systems that power both commercial and defense aviation.<\/p>\n

“This partnership represents exactly what Marshall stands for \u2014 innovation, collaboration and service,\u201d said Alex Donathan, executive director of ICS. \u201cTogether with DroneTrace and our aviation program, we\u2019re empowering a workforce that understands both the throttle and the threat vector.\u201d<\/p>\n

The partnership unlocks opportunities for students, researchers and industry alike including:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Joint UAV security and forensics research projects
\n\u2022 Hands-on drone cybersecurity exercises utilizing ICS labs
\n\u2022 Training modules on cyber hygiene for flight operations
\n\u2022 Internship and field training pipelines with DroneTrace
\n\u2022 Research focused on counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and secure drone operations<\/p>\n

\u201cDroneTrace is honored to partner with the Institute for Cyber Security,\u201d said Liam Bowers, CEO at DroneTrace. \u201cMarshall\u2019s academic excellence in digital forensics and their incredible laboratory infrastructure, paired with our operational experience, will produce both the technology and the workforce that the mission demands.\u201d<\/p>\n

This partnership creates a powerful two-way bridge between DroneTrace and Marshall University.<\/p>\n

DroneTrace gains access to ICS\u2019s advanced facilities, student talent pipeline, and a trusted network of DoD, state and industry collaborators. In turn, ICS and Marshall students benefit from real-world research, mentorship and innovation opportunities at the forefront of UAV and cybersecurity development, fueling both workforce readiness and national impact.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe aviation industry isn\u2019t just about engines and wings anymore, it\u2019s about data, networks, and resilience,\u201d said Nancy Ritter, chief of Aviation Operations. \u201cWith ICS at the table, we\u2019re giving our students a competitive edge that few aviation programs in the country can offer.\u201d<\/p>\n

For answers to questions about this dynamic new partnership, access this webpage<\/a>.<\/p>\n

ICS, DroneTrace, and Marshall\u2019s aviation programs will launch joint pilot training modules and lab-based research in the 2025\u20132026 academic year. Internship and training applications will open in Spring 2026.<\/p>\n

For more information or to get involved, visit:
\nhttps:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cyber\/<\/a><\/p>\n

To learn more about DroneTrace, LLC, visit:<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.dronetrace.com<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Marshall University Institute for Cyber Security (ICS) is proud to announce a strategic partnership with DroneTrace, LLC, a trailblazer in drone forensics. Small drones are an emerging national security threat, and turning captured hardware into actionable intelligence is key to outpacing adversaries and strengthening national security. This collaboration will catalyze innovation in autonomous systems\/unmanned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":239,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[81,82,26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28452","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-aviation","category-institute-for-cyber-security","category-news-releases"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28452","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/239"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28452"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28452\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28472,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28452\/revisions\/28472"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28452"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28452"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28452"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}