Improving Technologically Savvy (T-SAVVY) Soldiers’ Cybersecurity Skills and Competencies Through Human Guided Generative AI

Principal Investigator/Project Director

Yair Levy

Colleges / Centers

College of Computing and Engineering

Funder

U.S. DOD - U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Army Research Laboratory

Start Date

1-2024

Abstract

Technologically savvy (T-SAVVY) soldiers are the cornerstone of modern military for mission readiness. T-SAVVY soldiers are fluent in the use of complex systems to meet strategic mission requirements. Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been developed over the past few decades and is an emerging technology where recent development of the Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) AI is a powerful platform using neural network machine learning technology for human-like Natural Language Processing (NLP). Intelligence gathering and problem-solving is one of the key dimensions of technological fluency, while GPT AI has shown promise in improving human guided decision-making. Additionally, cybersecurity is another key dimension of technological fluency enabling soldiers to protect digital assets and data from cyber threats. T-SAVVY soldiers are better equipped to identify potential cyber threats and take the necessary precautions to mitigate them. Army personnel must demonstrate adequate levels of foundational cybersecurity knowledge, skills, and successful completion of tasks (competencies) when operating sophisticated equipment and complex systems. Recently, in early 2023, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) outlined the 8140 Cyber Workforce Framework (https://dodcio.defense.gov/Cyber-Workforce/DCWF/) as a foundation for all critical cybersecurity related work roles. As part of the DoD 8140 Framework, specific Knowledge, Skills, and Tasks (KSTs) are outlined. However, these are related to specific cybersecurity work roles, and are not generalized as a foundational set of KSTs that all T-SAVVY soldiers should have or be able to demonstrate regardless of their role. Moreover, the role of GPT AI in human guided decision-making related to demonstrating cybersecurity skills and competencies is unknown. Thus, this proposed research project will seek to design, empirically validate, and develop a set of hands-on assessment metrics using a simulation platform to measure foundational cybersecurity skills and competencies with and without the use of GPT AI. Early detection of an individual’s successful cybersecurity skills and competencies with the ability to drive the GPT AI technology to assist in improving performances will enhance the identification of soldiers that better suited to operate and protect complex systems under cyber threats. Additionally, this proposed project is significant to the advancement of scientific knowledge as it will provide objective metrics to measure foundational cybersecurity skills and competencies, while allowing researchers to assess individuals who have a greater capability to demonstrate GPT AI fluency in their decision-making process. This work will be enhanced to assess the metrics in multi-human, multi-agent Human–Robot Interaction (HRI) systems.

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