Month: May 2022

Source: United States Navy

Source: United States Navy

So far in fiscal year 2022, the DON has lost 10 (five Navy, five Marine Corps) Sailors and Marines due to motorcycle mishaps. Del Toro stresses reinforced leadership involvement to ensure Navy and Marine Corps riders have the training, programs and support to operate safely on our nation’s roads.

“Losing one Sailor or Marine to a motorcycle fatality brings a significant loss to family, friends, and shipmates, but what is most tragic is that the majority of causal factors can be mitigated,” said Del Toro. “As we prepare to ramp up for spring and summer, we need to aggressively address motorcycle safety and protect our Sailors and Marines.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that in 2020, motorcycle-related deaths accounted for 14% of total highway fatalities. Other disturbing statistics note, motorcyclists were 28 times more likely than vehicle occupants to die in a motor vehicle accident and four times more likely to be injured. These figures show just how vital motorcycle safety is.

“Basic riding fundamentals, sound decision-making and individual responsibility are important for our riders to mitigate unnecessary risks every time they think about getting on a motorcycle,” said Del Toro. “While May is observed as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, I encourage all levels of the chain of command to get involved with their riders to ensure they are taking every precaution to ride safely.”

One resource available is a motor vehicle safety-focused public awareness campaign from the Department of Transportation (DOT) that includes four areas of focus: Motorist Awareness of Motorcycles, Ride Sober or Get Pulled Over, Rider Safety and Share the Road. The first focuses on helping motorists understand driving behaviors and learn how to drive safely around motorcycles on our roadways. The second focuses on impaired riding prevention. The third focuses on ways that motorcyclists can increase their riding safety, and the fourth promotes motorcyclist awareness and safety for both motorcycle riders and motor vehicle drivers.

For more information about the four major campaigns, visit https://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/get-materials/motorcycle-safety .  

Source: United States Navy

“Working together, sharing ideas, and learning from one another is crucial to realizing scientific advances,” said Martinsen.

“So far, the two main aspects of our collaborative research at the Naval Postgraduate School have been one, studying certain classes of mathematical functions that are among the most basic ingredients in the construction of cryptosystems, and two, studying ways of using artificial intelligence, in particular machine learning, to analyze the security of algorithms and ciphers,” said Omland.

According to Martinsen, their investigation into the security properties and vulnerabilities associated with Boolean functions is expanding their knowledge of cryptographic primitives and will help cryptographers design more secure systems in the future.

The capabilities of artificial intelligence and machine learning have made them valuable tools for cryptographers, cryptanalysts, and signal intelligence operators.

“Machine learning shows great promise and is quickly being adopted in a host of applications and industries,” said Martinsen. “Our adversarial machine learning research focuses on investigating machine learning vulnerabilities and developing safeguards which must be put in place before the Department of the Navy can incorporate this promising technology into its platforms, systems, and networks.”

Omland noted the cyclical nature of this research, pointing specifically to the lack of a finish line. Instead, it is a continuous and constant race between creating and breaking cyber security systems.

While Omland’s arrival at NPS marked the first time NSM has sent a research scientist to the institution, NPS’ partnership with Norway has a solid foundation.

“The Norwegian Navy (special forces) have a long history of attending the NPS Defense Analysis curriculum, which is great,” said Martinsen, who added that he hopes to see that expand in other disciplines, especially cyber and network security, in the future.

“For Norway, being a small country with relatively few research scientists, it is especially important to collaborate with our allies, both in terms of research, but also in networking,” added Omland.

Martinsen is making his own history in expanding the university’s partnerships and collaborations with Norway. In March 2021, Martinsen was the first NPS PMP to receive a Fulbright U.S. Scholar award to attend the Selmer Center for Secure Communications at the University of Bergen in Norway for the 2021-2022 academic year.

“I’m joining forces with Norwegian research colleagues to undertake important cryptographic and secure communications research,” said Martinsen.

Through academic and professional advancement and cross-cultural dialogue, the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship fosters connections with 140 countries worldwide. Program participants pursue graduate study, conduct research, or teach English abroad. Martinsen will be traveling to Norway for 90 days during the scholarship to focus on research within the cryptology field.

“I hope my operational experience as a former Navy cryptologic warfare officer, along with my academic and research skills as a Permanent Military Professor for NPS, prove useful in ongoing research taking place at the University of Bergen,” he said. “I am looking forward to teaming with Norwegian colleagues on cryptography and machine learning research of common interest.”

Omland mentioned that in all research fields, it is vital to collaborate with new people, explore new ideas and new problems, and seek new experiences.

Martinsen believes exchange programs like these also allow us to connect on a human level by experiencing the people and culture of other countries, so we can better understand and appreciate the viewpoints and concerns of others, which, in turn, bring us together.

Source: United States Navy

WASHINGTON (NNS) – U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday met with the Italian Chief of Defense Staff Adm. Giuseppe Cavo Dragone at the Pentagon, May 10.

Gilday and Cavo Dragone discussed the long-lasting and vital maritime partnership between Italy and the United States, as well as the importance of global security.   

“The very nature of our operating environment requires common values and a collective alliance,” said Gilday. “You have been a strong partner and gracious host to U.S. naval forces and our joint efforts in Europe.  Working together is critical to regional security and stability.”   

“We are ready to make further commitments in all domains, in what we consider an important portion of allied areas of responsibility, namely the wider Mediterranean region,” said Cavo Dragone.

Gilday and Cavo Dragone also spoke about strategic competition, China and Russia.

They both affirmed the close relationship of the U.S. and Italian navies and expressed appreciation for their partnership as NATO allies and as friends.

The U.S. and the Italian Navy regularly operate together around the globe. In addition to conducting real-world tri-carrier operations, earlier this year the two navies also participated in exercises and activities such as Neptune Strike 2022, Obangame Express, and assorted bilateral drills. These exercises highlight NATO’s ability to integrate high-end maritime warfare capabilities to support the defense of the alliance.

Italy hosts American Sailors at Naval Support Activity (NSA) Naples, Naval Air Station Sigonella, and NSA Naples Detachment Gaeta.

Gilday previously met with Cavo Dragone in February 2020 and October 2021, when he served as the Chief of the Italian Navy.