SECCDCSoutheast Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition

Executive Vice President and Provost, Office of the President
Executive Director, L3Harris Institute for Assured Information
L3Harris Chair for Assured Information
Florida Institute of Technology

Marco M. Carvalho is a Professor in Computer Sciences at the Florida Institute of Technology, in Melbourne, FL/USA. He graduated in Mechanical Engineering from the Federal University of Brasilia, where he also completed his M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering with specialization in dynamic systems. Dr. Carvalho also holds a M.Sc. in Computer Science from the University of West Florida and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Tulane University, with specialization in Machine Learning and Data Mining. Before joining Florida Tech, Dr. Carvalho served as a Research Scientist at the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC), where he led research teams in areas including knowledge elicitation and modeling, distributed intelligent systems, tactical communication systems, and human-automation teamwork for cyber operations and defense. During his tenure at IHMC Dr. Carvalho has also led research efforts sponsored by the DoE and DoD on the security of smart buildings, and environmental sensor networks.

At Florida Tech, Dr. Carvalho serves as the Executive Director of the Harris Institute for Assured Information (HIAI), where he leads a number of research efforts on the interactions of humans and autonomous systems for missions critical and cyber operations. He also leads a number of efforts sponsored by the DoD and DHS S&T on Cyber Command and Control, and Federated cybersecurity. Dr. Carvalho currently servers Dean of the College of Engineering and Science, at Florida Tech, leading the academic and research initiatives of and Engineering and Science programs at the Florida Institute of Technology.

Dr. O’Connor’s research has centered on computer security, emphasizing cybersecurity education, the security and privacy of IoT devices, wireless protocols, software-defined networking, and machine learning approaches for security. He has authored a book in the area and published his research in the proceedings of several academic conferences. Dr. O’Connor served 20 years as a US Army Officer, retiring in 2019 as a Lieutenant Colonel. His service included an academic appointment to the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department at the US Military Academy and four assignments supporting the Special Forces from the tactical level in Afghanistan and culminating as the Chief Information Officer for the 1st Special Forces Command Headquarters. Dr. O’Connor is active in cyber security competitions, is the current coach for the 2x NCL Champion FITSec Cybersecurity Team, and previously coached the US Cyber Games Team.

Christopher is a cyber security researcher and military officer passionate about cybersecurity education. He currently works as a cybersecurity supervisor at an engineering division of a Fortune 500 company. Christopher has worked in helpdesk, systems administration, incident response, and cybersecurity engineering roles. His involvement in CCDC includes competing to become a two-time national champion and participating in the CCDC national red team. He leads the black team, engages in infrastructure design, and develops challenges. In Spring 2024, he will join Florida Tech as a Ph.D. student in Computer Science.

Madeleine Collins is a dedicated cybersecurity student currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, with an expected graduation date in Summer 2024. With a background as a former air traffic controller in the US Navy, she brings a wealth of experience in handling complex systems and ensuring security in high-stakes environments. Motivated by her passion for technology and security, she is deeply interested in creating applications that contribute positively to society. Alongside her academic pursuits, Madeleine actively participates in cyber competitions, continuously improving her skills and staying at the forefront of cybersecurity developments.