The Griffin | Volume 1, Issue 2

A Note from ELT

Introducing the second issue of the Griffiss Institute Employee Newsletter, The Griffin!

Spring is blooming, and so is the Griffiss Institute. While nature warms up, the Innovare community gears up, ready to welcome the busiest – and most rewarding –season of the year. Whether program-specific or a Jack/ Jill of all trades, each employee is vital to our success as we navigate the intricate and exciting network of STEM campers, visiting researchers, tech startups, cyber exercises, and more.

The Griffiss Institute has a unique purpose and formidable strengths – the light of summer allows all of them to shine. Collaboration, communication, and appreciation of our peers will carry us triumphantly toward the future. Together we work toward a shared purpose, driving our mission and creating synergy unlike any other.

Editor & Publisher: Pam Mustee

Content & Design: Ashley LaForce and Darian Deeley

Photo & Video Production: Daryn Boulerice

Graphic Design: Darian Deeley and Corrine Bush

Our core values – ownership, teamwork, curiosity, competence, and confidence – remain our guiding light as we continue to strive for excellence, navigate change, and rise to every challenge. It is imperative that we take a moment to reflect on all that has been accomplished and share a moment of gratitude with our fellow Griffiss Institute employees.

This issue of The Griffin provides insight into recent activities that have come and gone and encourages us to embrace the future of what’s forthcoming.

If you are interested in submitting a story, announcement, update, or other item to The Griffin, please submit your request to GI News found on the GI Corporate Dashboard. If you have any questions or would like addtional information, please contact marketing@griffissinstitute.org.

The Griffin is a publication of the Griffiss Institute MarCom Department. All information herein is reported to the best of our ability and knowledge. Should you have changes or corrections please direct them to Pam Mustee, Marketing and Communications Manager.

©2024 The Griffiss Institute

Tracy DiMeo

Todd Hummiston

Mike Feng

Seth Mulligan

Dr. John Salerno

Jennifer McCullough

Kelly Poynter

Pam Mustee

Jennifer Marshall

Ben Graniero

Wendy Carpenter

Makenzi Enos

Tom Kramer

Ashley Springer

Heather Hage President & CEO

Mike Wessing Chief Engineer

Todd Humiston Chief Talent Officer

Seth Mulligan Chief Operations Officer

Tracy DiMeo Executive Office Manager

Melissa Tallman Chief Brand Officer

David Semadeni Chief Financial Officer

03 Cover Story: VICEROY Symposium

On March 19-21, 2024, the third annual VICEROY Symposium occurred at the University of Texas at San Antonio in San Antonio, Texas. 12 Griffiss Institute employees traveled down to spend the week prepping and hosting the program’s largest event of the year, welcoming over 130 attendees over the course of three days.

VICEROY (Virtual Institutes for Cyber and Electromagnetic Spectrum and Employ) consists of 44 Virtual Institutes nationwide. Symposium is a great opportunity for students, professors, DoD personnel, and GI staff alike to come together and get excited about all of the great work being done throughout the year to advance VICEROY’s mission. The program is unique in that its primary goal is to increase the quality and quantity of students who possess job-ready DoD cybersecurity and spectrum skills by augmenting traditional college curricula through hands-on, experiential learning that ultimately boosts the cyber workforce.

Symposium kicked off on day 1 with an energizing welcome message from Dr. Daniel “Rags” Ragsdale formally known as Deputy Assistant National Cyber Director and fondly known as “the Godfather of VICEROY.” Connected via Zoom and displayed on the big screen, Dr. Ragsdale lacked no excitement as he fired up the in-person crowd, setting the stage for an engaging week ahead.

Perhaps the most serendipitous portion of the symposium occurred in the afternoon when an impromptu Q&A session encouraged 6 brave students to get on stage and answer questions directly from CJ and the crowd. These students, all alumni of the MAVEN internship, exemplified the core values and learned skills that result from participation in VICEROY. Fearlessly they made their way to the front of the theater, passing the microphone back and forth among peers and confidently sharing their experiences. One of those courageous alumni will be coming back to Rome, NY this summer as an ACE intern, further expanding the talent pipeline here at the GI.

Day 2, students from participating universities had the opportunity to present their research to attendees through a poster session. Over 20 students presented 27 posters,

eager to connect with the professionals in attendance. Mr. Chester “CJ” Maciag, Director of Cyber Technologies and Academic Outreach at the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD (R&E)), was an especially desirable visitor, actively seeking each and every poster in the session. Some students even waited after the event was scheduled to end, eagerly awaiting his presence and feedback.

Holding VICEROY symposium in San Antonio, Texas opened doors for further DoD engagement, acting as a connector to new opportunities. Members of the GI VICEROY team, OUSD (R&E), and AFRL went to the 16th Air Force (Air Force Cyber headquarters) at Joint Base San Antonio, touring the facility and engaging stakeholders. They also had the opportunity to visit the 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing – Det 1 (Wavelength), which hosted a number of VICEROY interns in the summer of 2023.

As summer approaches, a new wave of interns will soon be walking through the doors, reinvigorating the passion that drives VICEROY to new heights. In just four years, the program has grown to include approximately 1,000 students nationwide across 44 Virtual Institutes, acting as a catalyst connecting future cyber leaders to great opportunities. The team looks forward to welcoming the next generation of students and engaging them in new ways, driving the DoD cyber workforce of the future.

Inspiring Future Leaders in STEM

STEM education thrived this winter with multiple new camps contributing to the flow of free resources for young students in grades K-12, inspiring them to get involved in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

Kicking off this season of STEM with the very first ORION (Open-Architecture, Resilient IoT for Operational Networks) camp titled, “Off in the Clouds,” invited 18 students in grades 9-12 to Innovare Saturday, February 17, to learn the basics of cloud computing.

The following week gave way to two exciting week-long camps; Girls in STEM, and JROTC Drones. Girls in STEM hosted over 20 4th grade girls, offering a new topic every day to spark interest among the young group including math, physics, robotics, engineering, and aerospace.

The JROTC Drone camp welcomed a group of students from local Air Force JROTC programs and included a visit to the 174th Attack Wing in Syracuse, MVCC in Rome, and Drone City’s manufacturing facility right here at Innovare.

The final STEM camp rounding out the lot was on Saturday, March 2, titled “Pi Day” with the ORION team. Pi Day introduced 16 students to single board computers and embedded computing technology, specifically the popular microcomputer known as a Raspberry Pi.

In addition to the in-person camps, the Griffiss Institute has hosted a Virtual Engineering Club which began on February 24 and will continue through April 21. The club, made for middle school students, teaches the basic principles of engineering with design challenges using recycled, inexpensive materials and simple electronics.

Educational STEM opportunities will continue throughout the summer months including the return of fan-favorites such as Arduino camp, and the addition of new ones including ORION’s Ring and Run.

Summer Program Excitement

With warmer months on the horizon, each program is prepping for the influx of students, startups, and professors who brighten up our lives each summer. Excited individuals arrive from all over the United States to Rome, some even traveling from outside the country, for a chance to spend the summer at Innovare Advancement Center, with us.

Griffiss Institute staff kindly participate in The Great Office Re-shuffle, opening up desks and spaces for each and every program to weave themselves into Innovare seamlessly, encouraging growth and collaboration to flourish within our walls.

Starting the first week in May, the Information Institute begins welcoming faculty and students, ushering in the first wave of energy and new faces. HUSTLE teams in the EMERGE track arrive on May 21, followed a week later by ACE interns on May 28. Kicking off June on the 3rd of the month is the RI Intern program, followed a week later on June 10 by the VICEROY MAVENS. Finally, HUSTLE teams in the ELEVATE track join us on June 18th.

It is going to be an exciting summer here at Innovare, so get ready to soak it all in!

“It’s looking to be another exciting one. Artificial Brain, one of our EMERGE teams, is developing quantum software to optimize the scheduling of Earth Observation Satellites (EOS). We are ready to Hustle again this year.”

- Dan Fayette, HUSTLE

“I get excited every year to meet the new cohort of interns and see what innovations and ideas they bring to our world class programs.”

- Wendy Carpenter, ACE and RI Intern

All the Happenings

Work Anniversaries

1 YEAR

Mike Feng - 3/1

Angela Beebe - 3/16

Dave Malsom - 3/16

Hannah Reece - 4/3

2 YEARS

Seth Mulligan - 4/25

3 YEARS

Lauren Fossel - 4/19

Kelly Poynter - 4/26

4 YEARS

Joseph Mancini - 4/29

6 YEARS

Dori Placito - 3/1

Birthdays

Ashley Springer - 3/11

Ben Graniero - 3/20

Joseph Falvo - 3/26

Kimberly Gasaway - 4/8

Ariana Belluscio - 4/27

Staff Spotlight

How long have you been working at the Griffiss Institute?

A little over 1one year.

Tell us a little about what you do here:

I work in the Innovation and Partnerships Division. I am a Subject Matter Expert in Technology Transfer agreements. My role is basically as a facilitator to get the agreements pulled together, edited, answer questions from the collaborators, and shepherd the agreement through the process until it is fully executed.

What is your favorite part of working at the GI? The people and the culture. Everyone is helpful and kind. Committed to the mission.

What are your hobbies outside of work?

I love to golf! I also like to go to the gym and keep in shape.

New Hireswelcome

Ciara Parrish, Events and Development Coordinator (Start 2/26/2024) Chris Jakubowski, MarCom Coordinator (Start 3/18/2024)

Amy

James, Sr. Guest Relations Specialist

Promotions congratulations

I have also been spending more time learning about my Catholic faith and being more involved in my local Church.

Do you have any pets? If not, what kind of pet would you like to have?

We have a Wheaton Terrier. ENERGY! Probably the most unique dog I’ve ever had. Lots of personality (like sleeping up against the wall with her feet in the air and on the couch when we aren’t looking). Fortunately for her she is too cute to get angry with.

What is your favorite song?

I love music! Back in the day I used to play guitar and sing. I like singer/song writer music. I think I was a millennial back before it was invented. Artist I currently listen to include: Ray Lamontagne, John Mayer, Amos Lee, Allen Stone, Chris Stapleton.

Recommend one of your favorite local businesses: Spresso’s Coffee shop!! The best coffee and bakery around.

Brian Abbe

Innovation & Partnership

Subject Matter Expert

TheGriffin Crossword Puzzle

For your enjoyment each issue of The Griffin will have an interactive game donning some of the best trivia around. Complete it on your own or with friends... But most important have fun with it!

across

3. The outermost part of the Sun’s atmosphere.

5. Who’s that girl? It’s Jess _____!

6. The best selling song in 2014 by Pharrell Williams.

7. The founder of Earth Day is a Senator from which state?

down

1. This month is in like a lion and out like a lamb.

2. What is the largest source of renewable energy?

3. Which US city has been dying its river green for St. Patricks Day since 1926?

4. These showers bring May flowers.

Upcoming STEM Camps

Sphero Camp: 9-11 July

Arduino Camp: 15-8 July

Quantum Innovation Camp: 22-26 July

Engineering Camp: 23-26 July

Ring + Run: 23-25 July

Flight 1: 29 July

Flight 2: 31 July

Drone Camp: 5-9 August

Cyber Camp: 12-16 August