Justin M. Pelletier, PhD
Professor of Practice and
Director of the Cyber Range and Training Center
ESL Global Cybersecurity Institute
Rochester Institute of Technology
12:00 noon–1pm
Friday, February 28, 2025
Remotely via WebEx: https://umbc.webex.com/meet/sherman
Abstract
The resurgence of great power competition, underpinned by rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), necessitates
a reevaluation of strategic doctrines akin to the urgency and innovation of the original Manhattan Project. This talk delves
into the transformative integration of AI with autonomous combat units, examining historical analogs such as the impact
of gunpowder in the Napoleonic Wars and the introduction of tanks and close air support during World War I, and
juxtaposing these with the contemporary role of AI in warfare.
We begin by exploring the dual-use nature of AI technologies, emphasizing their role in both enhancing combat
effectiveness and posing significant ethical and security risks, as illustrated by recent developments in narrative warfare
and the militarization of marketing strategies. Drawing parallels with the disruptive impacts of past technological
advances, the presentation invites an evaluation of the strategic implications of autonomous warfare systems, discussing
the potential consequences on global security dynamics.
Furthermore, the discussion extends to safeguarding democratic processes in the age of AI, where the integrity of
elections is increasingly susceptible to AI-driven information warfare. The presentation outlines the development of
virtual voting infrastructures and their vulnerabilities, highlighting the ongoing challenges in protecting electoral systems
from manipulation.
This examination advocates for robust ethical frameworks and international cooperation to harness AI’s potential
while mitigating its risks. By reflecting on historical technology shifts and forecasting future developments, the talk aims
to widen the dialogue on the strategic, ethical, and policy dimensions necessary to navigate this new era of warfare and
surveillance.
About the Speaker
Justin M. Pelletier (jxpics@rit.edu) is a Professor of Practice and Director of the Cyber Range at the Rochester Institute of
Technology (RIT). Dr. Pelletier teaches at the undergraduate and graduate levels in the Department of Cyber Security
within RIT’s Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences. He also orchestrates security assessments for
partner organizations and is the founding director for the NSA-funded National Consortium for Cyber Governance, Risk
and Compliance, which is housed within RIT’s ESL Global Cybersecurity Institute. He holds a PhD in Information
Assurance and Security, an MBA in Entrepreneurship, and a BS in Computer Science. Prior to joining academia, Dr.
Pelletier was a civil servant in the intelligence community and a member of the modeling and simulations working group
within the U.S. National Security Council. He is a combat veteran and currently serves as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S.
Army Reserve. Dr. Pelletier has authored more than three dozen scholarly articles, book chapters, and patents focused on
security and information economics.
Host:
Alan T. Sherman, sherman@umbc.edu
Support for this event was provided in part by the National Science Foundation under SFS grant DGE-1753681.
The UMBC Cyber Defense Lab meets biweekly Fridays 12-1pm. All meetings are open to the public.
Upcoming CDL meetings:
Mar 14, TBA
(Mar 17-21 spring break)
Mar 28, Christian Badolato, 2025 UMBC SFS Research Study
Apr 11, Keke Chen (UMBC), Adaptive Domain Inference Attack
(May 2 – CSEE Research Day)
May 9, TBA