“Working together, sharing ideas and learning from each other is essential to achieving scientific breakthroughs,” Martinsen said.

“So far, the two main aspects of our collaborative research at the Naval Postgraduate School have been one, the study of certain classes of mathematical functions which are among the most fundamental ingredients in the construction of cryptosystems, and two , the study of ways to use artificial intelligence, particularly machine learning, to analyze the security of algorithms and ciphers,” Omland said.

According to Martinsen, their investigation of the security properties and vulnerabilities associated with Boolean functions expands their knowledge of cryptographic primitives and will help cryptographers design more secure systems in the future.

The capabilities of artificial intelligence and machine learning have made them invaluable tools for cryptographers, cryptanalysts, and signal intelligence operators.

“Machine learning shows great promise and is being rapidly adopted in a multitude of applications and industries,” Martinsen said. “Our adversarial machine learning research focuses on investigating machine learning vulnerabilities and developing safeguards that must be in place before the Department of the Navy can integrate this promising technology into its platforms. forms, systems and networks.

Omland noted the cyclical nature of this search, specifically pointing out the lack of a finish line. Instead, it’s a continuous and constant race between making and breaking cybersecurity systems.

While Omland’s arrival at the NPS marked the first time that NSM has sent a research scientist to the institution, the NPS’s partnership with Norway has a solid foundation.

“The Norwegian Navy (Special Forces) has been involved in the NPS defense analysis program for a long time, which is great,” said Martinsen, who added that he hopes to see this expand into other disciplines, especially cybersecurity and network security, in the future. .

“For Norway, being a small country with relatively few researchers, it is particularly important to collaborate with our allies, both in terms of research but also networking,” added Omland.

Martinsen is making its own history by expanding the university’s partnerships and collaborations with Norway. In March 2021, Martinsen was the first NPS PMP to receive a Fulbright US Scholar award to attend the Selmer Center for Secure Communications at the University of Bergen in Norway for the 2021-2022 academic year.

“I am joining with Norwegian research colleagues to undertake important research in cryptographic and secure communications,” Martinsen said.

Through academic and professional advancement and cross-cultural dialogue, the prestigious Fulbright scholarship fosters connections with 140 countries around the world. Program participants pursue higher education, conduct research or teach English abroad. Martinsen will travel to Norway for 90 days during the fellowship to focus on research in the field of cryptology.

“I hope that my operational experience as a former Navy cryptological warfare officer, as well as my academic and research skills as a tenured military professor for the NPS, will prove useful in the ongoing research at the ‘University of Bergen,’ he said. “I look forward to teaming up with Norwegian colleagues on cryptography and machine learning research of mutual interest.”

Omland mentioned that in all areas of research, it is essential to collaborate with new people, explore new ideas and problems, and seek new experiences.

Martinsen believes that exchange programs like these also allow us to connect on a human level by experiencing the peoples and culture of other countries, so that we can better understand and appreciate the points of view and the concerns of others, which, in turn, brings us closer together.