< Previous50 UNIVERSITY NEWS AUBURNTIGERS.COM From electronic devices, vehicles, food and electric substations to decisions made in voting booths, Auburn University researchers are on the front lines to pre- vent potential cyberattacks. “I cannot understate the importance of Auburn’s growing cyber research ca- pacity and cyber educational opportuni- ties made available to our students,” said Steve Taylor, vice president for research and economic development. “Our fac- ulty continues to push the boundaries of cyber defense thought and practice. We also recognize the need for a cyber-ed- ucated workforce and are working dili- gently through new degree programs to provide new pathways to boost the na- tion’s cyber defense network.” In its playbook, the Samuel Ginn Col- lege of Engineering’s Department of Computer Science and Software Engi- neering provides students with the cy- ber defense training necessary to serve organizations beyond Auburn. It offers a Master of Science in cybersecurity engi- neering, a graduate certificate in cyberse- curity engineering and an undergraduate certificate in cyber defense. For its efforts, Auburn was recognized as one of 10 nationally earning National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cy- bersecurity designations for cyber oper- ations, cyber defense and cyber research by the National Security Agency’s De- partment of Homeland Security. Among Auburn’s notable players in cyber defense is the McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security. Established in 2015 and housed within Engineering and Washington, D.C., Di- rector Frank Cilluffo said its goal “is to combine empirical science with strategy to create actionable roadmaps for policy- makers, emphasizing the need for a uni- fied approach that incorporates policy, research and education to enhance our security at both national and state levels.” The institute recently secured a $10 million grant from the Oak Ridge Nation- al Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energy to create a collaboration cen- ter, bringing experts together to develop real-world solutions for protecting the power grid and other sectors. Speaking of other sectors, you prob- ably used GPS today, but even that is susceptible to interference. Scott Mar- tin, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering, works in Auburn’s GPS and Vehicle Dynamics Lab, where researchers are sourcing means to improve the accu- racy of navigational solutions by combin- ing GPS with additional sensors, cameras, lidar and radar commonly found on pro- duction vehicles. Quantum engineering is the next line of defense in securing telecommuni- cations. However, U.S. researchers are playing catchup to nations like China. To counter, the Department of Defense is supporting wide-ranging research initia- tives, including projects led by Professor Mark Adams, director of the Alabama Mi- cro/Nano Science and Technology Cen- ter at Auburn. Auburn researchers are also diligently sourcing avenues to secure elections. To better understand the U.S. election sys- tem, a complex network of regulations that requires specific skills to operate, faculty in the College of Liberal Arts’ De- partment of Political Science offer poll administrators an education through a partnership with The Election Center. Expert faculty travel the nation and deliver training to equip election ad- ministrators with the necessary knowl- edge to manage fair elections. Since its inception, multiple state associations have created their own Auburn-inspired training programs. Experts with the McCrary Institute are working with researchers in engi- neering, agriculture forestry, veterinary medicine and liberal arts to address food safety and security. The food and agriculture sector is not only increasingly susceptible to cyber-at- tacks with the use of new technologies but also biological threats from adversaries or naturally occurring threats such as disease outbreaks in livestock, poultry, aquacul- ture and agriculture are of great concern. Auburn has developed a system of layered sensors to identify disease agents in air, water and soil before they cause problems. The Auburn University Rural Part- nership Institute connects Auburn’s strengths in agriculture, advanced man- ufacturing and cybersecurity with the state’s poultry and forest products indus- tries. By leveraging modern technologies to advance these producers, Auburn also aims to reduce the risk of introducing new technologies by identifying vulnerabilities and developing security controls for rural Alabama’s forestry and poultry industries. To learn more about these strategies, find the full story online. UNIVERSITY NEWS BY: JOE MCADORY AND AMY WEAVER PLAYING PREVENTION DEFENSE EVERY DAY The Auburn University Rural Partnership Institute aims to reduce the risk of introducing new technologies by identifying vulnerabilities and developing security controls for Alabama’s forestry and poultry industries. Auburn is growing its cyber defense research and creating a cyber-educated work- force with student research opportunities and new degree programs.129 E. Glenn Ave. (Downtown) (334) 209-6390 1673 Shug Jordan Pkwy. Suite A (334) 209-1295 1684 S. College St. (334) 209-1140 Serving Auburn for over 40 years “Bertha!”52 ON THE PLAINS AUBURNTIGERS.COM The process of getting to the Plains has been a long one for senior offensive lineman Dillon Wade, full of adversity and challenges. But it has been a process that has taught him valuable life lessons. “Playing football has taught me how to handle adversity,” Wade said. “Every- one says that, but it’s so true. It’s a sport where you’re going to have battles every day, and you have to learn to just not give up – to keep fighting to get to where you want to be.” Wade’s progression of growth in the sport began in his hometown of Houston at the age of six. Starting out playing for fun at home with his uncle to get him moving, Wade worked his way up to running back and linebacker as he progressed in the sport in one of the country’s football hotbeds. He then moved on to tight end the more he grew. But eventually, his phys- ical growth made it obvious that he was meant for the trenches. “I got bigger and bigger as I grew up,” Wade said. “I took a year off from football once they moved me to the trenches be- cause, like most kids, I wanted to score touchdowns and make all the plays. I came back to the sport my sophomore year of high school and had no idea what I was doing on the offensive line.” However, an older player at his first high school stepped up and showed him the way. “Ladarius Carey was a big role model for me in high school,” Wade said. “He was an older player that introduced me to the O-line and saw the potential in me. We would go out and do drills to- gether when I was at Andy Dekaney High School.” Wade went on to finish his prep ca- reer at Cypress Falls High and started his collegiate career at Tulsa, playing 16 games over two seasons with the Gold- en Hurricanes before ultimately choos- ing to transfer. When it was time to make a change, Auburn was at the forefront of his mind. “Coach (Jake) Thornton was a big reason for me coming to Auburn,” Wade said. “For him being so young in the posi- tion that he’s in, he really had the vision I wanted to follow. It seemed like a perfect fit that the system in place was perfect for me to come here.” Aside from the coaches, what Auburn had to offer even further solidified his decision. “When I got to Auburn, I was able to gain weight and get stronger in all areas because of the resources we have here,” Wade said. “It’s a blessing. Now I see why people dream of coming to Auburn. If I grew up seeing all that Auburn had to offer, I wouldn’t have wanted to go any- where else. I’d pick Auburn any day over any other.” On top of the veterans with expe- rience returning for another season, Wade is looking forward to the fresh tal- ent coming in that completes the offen- sive line. “The people we’ve brought in are some extraordinary humans, so this year is going to be great,” Wade said. “And I’m excited for the future. These young kids they’ve recruited just love the game and they are willing to do anything to get on the field and be great. And that’s all you can ask for.” With all these new faces coming in and the lessons learned last season with this coaching staff, Wade thinks this Tiger team has what it takes to be successful. “We’ve got to take it one game at a time,” Wade added. “Things are elevated this year. We’ve improved on those import- ant things like brotherhood. We’re a col- lective unit. We’re not OK with being aver- age. This is Auburn. We want to be great.” Part of what makes Auburn great is Jordan-Hare Stadium, and Wade can’t wait to be back. “It’s the most electrifying stadium I’ve ever been in,” Wade said. “You can liter- ally feel the energy from the fans. It gives me goosebumps just thinking about playing in Jordan-Hare. I love it.” ON THE PLAINS WITH DILLON WADE BY: KENDRA WILLARD ‘A PERFECT FIT’ORANGE AND BLUE ©2024 BLUE MOON BREWING COMPANY, GOLDEN, CO • ALE54 2024 STADIUM MAP 2024 STADIUM MAP AUBURNTIGERS.COM (NS PASS) NORTH STADIUM LOT SOUTH DONAHUE DRIVE HEISMAN DRIVE SOUTH DONAHUE DRIVE HEISMAN DRIVE BILL & CONNIE NEVILLE LOBBY SUITE TICKET PICK-UP 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 20 0 EXIT GATE STUDENT GATE STUDENT GATE SOUTH SERVICE GATE AUBURN PLAYER GUEST STUDENT GATE BROADWAY CLUB & MEDIA CREDENTIALS TIGER WALK CLUB ENTRANCE HIGH SCHOOL COACHES 11 10 1U VISITING PLAYER GUEST & VISITING FAN TICKET PICK-UP NORTH SERVICE GATE VISITING TEAM LOCKER ROOM FOOTBALL RECRUITING OLYMPIC SPORT RECRUITING TIGER WALK CLUB 1 1 2 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 12 12 14 15 14 13 15 16 16 17 17 18 1819 19 20 20 21 46 46 45 44 44 434241 43424140 4039 39 38 38 37 37 36 35 35 34 34 33 33 32 32 31 31 30 30 2929 28 28 114 113 112 111 110 109 108 107 106 105 104 103 102 21 22 23 23 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 27 ADA SHUTTLE PICKUP ADA SHUTTLE PICKUP HRC ONLY BROADWAY CLUB ONLY TICKET OFFICE TICKET OFFICE TICKET OFFICE GAMEDAY TRANSIT & FANFEST NEVILLE ARENA TICKET OFFICE Sales & Pick-Up BROADWAY CLUB SUITESSUITES NELSON CLUB BECKWITH CLUB Entry Gate Water Station Cooling Station LEGEND Medical Bag Entry Special Access Statues Guest Services ADA Shuttle Elevator First Aid Tiger Babies Charging Station Student Section Seating bowl closed to non-students Team ShopCIVIL CONSTRUCTION, DONE RIGHT56 2024 AUBURN PARKING MAP 2024 AUBURN PARKING MAP AUBURNTIGERS.COM WOODFIELD LOT (ADA Reserved with Tailgating) SEE NEXT PAGE FOR LEGEND Auburn University is a smoke-free campus. 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