Alaska Guardsman headed to South Africa to talk cyber strategy

Photo By 1st Lt. Marisa Lindsay | First Lt. Christopher Brill works as a communications platoon leader for the 297th Long Range Surveillance Squadron in the Alaska Army National Guard on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Thanks in part to funding by the Alaska National Guard Officer's Association, he departs for the 10th annual International Conference on Cyber Warfare and Security on March 20 in order to present his academic paper on cyber strategy. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Marisa Lindsay)  

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, AK, UNITED STATES

02.06.2015

Story by Sgt. Marisa Lindsay 

Alaska National Guard Public Affairs   

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – An Alaska Army National Guardsman is headed to South Africa next month to speak about cyberspace strategy at an international conference that will dive into cyber warfare issues.

First Lt. Christopher Brill, a communications platoon leader for the 297th Long Range Surveillance Squadron, Alaska Army National Guard, will present his academically-published paper, “Clausewitz, Air Power, and the Cold War: A Strategy for Cyberspace,” at the 10th annual International Conference on Cyber Warfare and Security in South Africa, March 23.

Brill, who wrote this paper while working toward his master’s degree in Military Studies and Strategic Leadership at American Military University, was invited to present at the conference after submitting his work. However, the conference was unable to fund his travel from Alaska.

“When I realized I wouldn’t be able to fund this trip, I reached out to the Alaska National Guard Officers Association to see if they would be willing to help,” Brill said. “They said, yes to my request right away … their enthusiasm in my success has been awesome.”

ANGOA has offered to pay for Brill’s airfare and accommodations for the two-day conference and is also keeping its members updated regarding the success of his presentation through its website.

“We sponsored 1st Lt. Brill because of his potential, his past successes and his desire to continue pursuing excellence,” said Col. Edie Grunwald, president of ANGOA. “His paper on cyber strategy could shape future decisions and strengthen the National Guard’s role within the cyber realm.”

Brill’s paper studies the theory of cyber warfare and the weaknesses and strengths of technology.

“Every technology has its limitations,” Brill said. “The challenge with determining outcomes and developments in cyber is that there is no cyber equivalent. We know how bad nuclear weapons are because we have Hiroshima. But we have no cyber Pearl Harbor. The best we can do is theorize an outcome.”

Following his presentation in South Africa, Brill, who is also a member of ANGOA, has been asked to speak at the organization’s annual conference in May.

“I am incredibly grateful to the Alaska National Guards Officer Association and Alaska Army National Guard,” Brill said. “I will make sure that while presenting my work that I do right by these organizations and represent them in the best way that I can.”

• Date Taken: 02.06.2015
• Date Posted: 02.06.2015 19:04
• Story ID: 153868
• Location: JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, AK, US