Eight USNA Midshipmen, ranging from first class to youngsters, had the opportunity to travel to Tallinn, Estonia for a Faculty-Led Language, Regional Expertise, and Culture (LREC) trip that was generously funded through donations to the USNA Cyber Center. The Midshipmen attended the 13th Annual NATO International Conference on Cyber Conflict (CyCON), which is an annual conference focusing on the intersection of cybersecurity, policy, and international partnerships hosted by the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence (CCDCOE). The conference opening keynote was provided by Estonian President Kersti Kaljulai, with many other senior speakers from across NATO speaking over the three days of the conference; each provided various outlooks from both military and private sector leaders on key cyber security issues NATO countries are facing, such as the challenge of attribution of a cyber attack and how to conduct effective exercises to prepare for potential attacks. Due to Estonia still practicing strict COVID-19 precautions, the conference was held in a hybrid fashion, with most of the 1,000 attendees participating virtually from across the globe joining speakers locally in Estonia; fortunately, the midshipmen were permitted to visit the live studio for one of the days to attend the conference in-person - the only external attendees from any nation to do so.
“My favorite part of the LREC was getting to attend the NATO Cyber Conflict conference,” commented MIDN 1/C McKenzie Eshleman. “The conference was very eye-opening on how much cyber is taking the forefront of many countries' strategic planning and efforts. It was great to not only attend the virtual aspects of the conference, but we were also given the opportunity to physically visit the conference and meet many of the keynote presenters. I am very fortunate to be given the opportunity to attend this training and I think LRECs are a valuable training that every midshipman should try to be a part of while at the Naval Academy.”
In between CyCon conference sessions, students had the opportunity to explore some of the historical aspects of Tallinn. They participated in a guided tour through the Old City Bastion Tunnels, once a fundamental part of the city’s defense system dating hundreds of years. The walls were constructed to defend the city against attacks and the tunnels allowed soldiers to transit, move ammunition and spy on the enemy. During World War II, the tunnels were even repurposed and used as a bomb shelter. The students also learned that the tunnels were further reconfigured and updated during the Soviet occupation era to add water, electricity and communication. Midshipmen also visited the infamous Bronze Soldier monument erected by the Soviet Union, most notable for its controversial relocation in 2007, which triggered a series of crippling cyber attacks against Estonia. It is widely accepted that Russians, angered by the statue’s movement from a rallying point in a park to a military cemetery conducted a series of cyber attacks against Estonia, prompting the country to bolster its cyber defense and encourage other NATO countries to do the same. In addition to visiting these significant places defining Estonia’s history, midshipmen also had the opportunity to explore Tallinn’s well-preserved Old Town, lined with markets, restaurants and shops.
During the second half of the trip, students attended an intensive Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Course run by the NATO CCDCOE, which focused on defining critical infrastructure, identifying potential vulnerabilities and prompt conversation on ways to mitigate attacks and construct preventative measures. Over 50 attendees from both the military and private sectors across a number of NATO countries attended and weighed in on the conversations, lectures, and workshops. The course culminated in break-out syndicate groups performing a tabletop exercise; the midshipmen were provided with a case study portraying two neighboring countries in disagreement and had to identify their top critical infrastructures and how they would protect them against attacks.
MIDN 1/C Colin Duffy remarked: “Travelling to Tallinn, Estonia on this LREC was an incredible experience academically and culturally. Attending NATO's CyCon and CIIP course completely changed my perspective on how cyber is utilized on a global stage, while also gaining exposure to information sharing between our allied partners. Getting to see first-hand the foreign relationships that our nation has forged was something that I won't forget and will carry with me throughout my career.”
Midshipmen were also able to take advantage of an Estonian version of a ropes confidence course, a challenging course set in a Baltic forest area high in the trees, with each stage more difficult than the previous one, forcing the students to work together as a team to finish safely. Continuing on the team-building aspect of this LEC, they also were able to visit a former Soviet KGB prison, now fashioned into a realistic “escape room” location for people to see what life was like in such a location, but to also work together to get everyone out safely, which proved challenging and rewarding.
“The Cyber LREC was an amazing opportunity for me”, said MIDN 2/C Seth Henderson. “It was my first time traveling outside of the country, and it was incredible to experience Estonian culture while also learning about our NATO partners and the cyber environment that exists in Europe right now. Besides the CYCON conference and the Critical Infrastructure Course, I think my favorite part of the trip was the confidence ropes course - it was exhilarating to work together to complete each challenge as a team”.
Between discussions at the NATO conferences and conversations with military leaders from our country and others, the Cyber Europe LREC provided a robust experience for midshipmen to see how cyber really plays out on the world stage. Challenges and norms described at the conferences allowed students to make real-world connections to the material learned in the classroom. Additionally, the opportunity to explore Estonia and immerse in its culture helped to shape the midshipmen’s worldview and appreciate the similarities and differences in a fellow NATO country.
Credits:
Photos Provided by USNA Cyber Center