As part of its education mission, AFCEA provides professional development courses throughout the year designed to address the needs of the communications, information systems, intelligence and defense communities. This year, the AFCEA professional development Center has added some new courses to its lineup, in addition to the regular offering. For a complete schedule, go to
PDC Courses. All courses are offered at AFCEA International Headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia. For information on onsite training, contact
PDC.
The upcoming new courses include:
Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP) Preparation, November 4-7, 2003. This 4-day unclassified course is an extensive preparation for the examination for certification as a Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP). Personalized instruction is provided on the details of and information in the current common body of knowledge. The course is an updated version of one successfully presented by the same instructor to the United States Strategic Command and the Nebraska Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT).The exam is offered exclusively by the International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC)² and must be scheduled through that group, at
www.isc2.orgTerrestrial and Wireless Communications Trends, November 3-7, 2003. This course first provides a broad introduction to the basic concepts of emerging wire and wireless networks designed for voice, data, graphic, and video applications. These discussions begin with voice networks and telephony sciences that include both wire and radio/wireless technologies and applications. These discussions then turn to data and computer networks of all sizes from the smallest pico- or personal wireless networks to the largest wide area WDM optical networks. Overlaid on these materials are the associated transport and application protocols and trends that begin with a thorough discussion of the classics such as IEEE 802.3, X.25, ISDN, Frame Relay, ATM, TCP/IP, SONET, and finishing with the emerging suites that include VoIP, label switching and streaming, DOCSIS, Ipv6, and xDSL. Discussions will also include the wireless classics of D-AMPS, GSM, and DS-CDMA and finishing with the emerging wireless technologies that include MC-CDMA, CI-CDMA, 802.11b, and Bluetooth.
Computer Forensics, November 18-20, 2003. This course provides a thorough exposition of all the threats to the confidentiality of data in individuals' computers, as well as a specific and detailed list of steps to take to ensure such confidentiality from an increasingly sophisticated set of adversaries and criminals. Also presented is a background on numerous applicable legal topics, such as what is illegal and what is not and where and why. The course is designed to stand alone and to provide practical and immediately usable information to responsible professionals on how to protect the ever increasing amount of sensitive data in their respective computers.
Principles of Communications with Applications to Satellite Systems and the GPS, November 18-20, 2003. This course provides a thorough presentation of the concepts and principles of wireless communication. Methods are illustrated by practical examples of satellite communications systems. In addition, the course provides a working familiarity of the signal architecture and techniques used by the Gobal Positioning System (GPS) for navigation. Topics include signals and spectra, modulation, coding, multiple access, the electromagnetic spectrum, antennas, the RF link, rain loss, mission analysis, and the GPS. Participants will learn how to determine the data rates supported by various methods of modulation and coding for a given bandwidth or power, how to determine the antenna size and power required for an earth station terminal, how to estimate the coverage area and access provided by a satellite in various types of orbits, how to construct or evaluate a link budget to meet a communications performance objective, how to determine the link margin, and much more. Concepts and qualitative relationships are emphasized. The course also involves the use of algebra and trigonometry at the systems engineering level as appropriate to permit a complete quantitative understanding of the basic concepts. However, all topics are developed from the beginning without assuming previous knowledge in the field.
Middle East Cultural Recognition, December 1 , 2003. This one-day course will familiarize intelligence and law enforcement professionals involved in homeland security and the fight against terrorism with the critical issue of understanding the Muslim culture.
Data Mining Technologies and Their Applications to Counter-Terrorism, December 9-11, 2003.The course will discuss data mining technologies in detail and then examine their applications to counter-terrorism. In particular, it will discuss how data mining could help with national security problems such as detecting and preventing terrorism, cyber security problems such as detecting malicious intrusions and other topics such as insider threat analysis and handling real-time threats such as credit card fraud detection.
Internet Technology, December 9-11, 2003. Many of our tactical and strategic networks are becoming IP-centric. This course builds a solid foundation of Internet knowledge from the ground up. This class is all Internet - networks, protocols and interfaces, TCP/IP, routing, addressing, servers, ICMP and network management, and a bit of troubleshooting. Routing details, for example, will include autonomous systems that run Interior Gateway Protocols and interconnecting via Exterior Gateway Protocols, specifically BGPv4. Congestion and traffic management will also be included in this class. Details about VPNs, QoS, and performance will be detailed including discussions of differentiated services and label switching such as MPLS. Finally, there will be a discussion of the Internet 2 events and status.
Automated High Frequency Radio, December 16-18, 200. In the 100 years since Marconi demonstrated trans-Atlantic communications, high-frequency (HF) radio has matured from a quirky, temperamental medium requiring highly trained operators to a reliable, low-cost, automated technology with global reach. This course was developed to satisfy the need of government and industry worldwide to understand and apply second- and third-generation HF automation technology.
Introduction to NetCentric Warfare, January 27-30, 2004. Network Centric Warfare is quickly becoming a fundamental consideration in acquiring and maintaining military and civil government communications networks. This course provides an in-depth view of networks, including how they should be protected, how they are attacked and what approaches the Services are taking to defend against these attacks. The class presents the essential components and characteristics of networks. It addresses how those components (LANs, RF cable, optical cable and radio/satellite) are defined, modeled and managed. It describes how the various systems are protected with policies and procedures as well as with hardware and software products such as firewalls and virtual private networks (VPNs). The course includes specific Army, Navy, Air Force and OSD (C3I) views of network centric warfare so the attendees will receive a DOD wide view of the challenges associated with this modern form of warfare. Course title and description may change as. the new NCW instructor, determines.
Introduction to Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC), Spring 2004. Due in part to the wireless revolution, electromagnetic interference is increasingly becoming a widespread concern. As more devices produce intentional and unintentional radio signals, they increasingly interfere with each other. These devices will not work together by accident. They must be designed and built that way. Anyone involved in military communications or electronics needs to know the basic terms and concepts. Electromagnetic Compatibility is no longer limited to "rocket science."
