Cybersecurity Program for the United States Academic Research Fleet

This project provides funding for the Cybersecurity Program for the United States Academic Research Fleet (ARFSEC), which aims to enhance the cybersecurity infrastructure of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet (ARF). The ARF, operated by academic institutions within the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS), supports critical scientific research in the oceans, Great Lakes, and polar regions. ARFSEC will help protect sensitive scientific data and support compliance with evolving cybersecurity regulations. By fostering collaboration among ship operators, providing training opportunities, and establishing standardized cybersecurity practices, the program will astrengthen the security and reliability of research operations that inform environmental stewardship, economic resilience, and national security. The ARFSEC program is designed to address the unique cybersecurity challenges faced by the U.S. Academic Research Fleet. It focuses on three core areas: Cybersecurity Operations & Technical Support, Cybersecurity Awareness and Organizational Resilience, and Cybersecurity Governance, Risk, and Compliance. The program will deploy advanced tools including vulnerability management systems, and fleet-wide log monitoring to detect and mitigate cybersecurity threats. It will also provide ship operators with training in cyber-incident response, tabletop exercises, and compliance with regulatory requirements. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria. NSF Award ID: 2602167 | Program: 01003031DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT,01002930DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT,01002829DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT,01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT,01002728DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT | Principal Investigator: Michael Simpson | Institution: Indiana University, BLOOMINGTON, IN | Award Amount: $993,656 View on NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award/?AWD_ID=2602167 View on Research.gov: https://www.research.gov/awardapi-service/v1/awards/2602167.html