A Strategy for Acquiring Secure and Reliable Electronic Components for Air Force Weapon Systems

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High-performance electronics are key to the U.S. Air Force's (USAF's) ability to deliver lethal effects at the time and location of their choosing. Additionally, these electronic systems must be able to withstand not only the rigors of the battlefield but be able to perform the needed mission while under cyber and electronic warfare (EW) attack. This requires a high degree of assurance that they are both physically reliable and resistant to adversary actions throughout their life cycle from design to sustainment.

In 2016, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a workshop titled Optimizing the Air Force Acquisition Strategy of Secure and Reliable Electronic Components, and released a summary of the workshop. This publication serves as a follow-on to provide recommendations to the USAF acquisition community.

Publication information

110 pages · 7 x 10 · paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-49390-0
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-49391-9
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/25475

Suggested citation

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. The Growing Threat to Air Force Mission-Critical Electronics: Lethality at Risk: Unclassified Summary. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

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Keith Hall

Keith R. Hall is a senior executive advisor for Booz Allen Hamilton, having retired as a senior vice president from the corporation in December 2009. He joined Booz Allen in 2002 following a distinguished career in the federal government. From February 1996 to December 2001, he served as director of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). In March 1997, he was also appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate as Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space. As NRO director, he was responsible for the acquisition and operation of all U.S. space-based reconnaissance and intelligence systems. Within the Air Force, he was responsible for the overall supervision of space matters, with primary emphasis on policy, strategy, and planning. Mr. Hall has worked in various capacities in U.S. intelligence since 1970, when he received his commission as an officer in the U.S. Army. He served 9 years in Army intelligence, including two tours during which he commanded overseas operational intelligence units. He left the Army in 1979 after being selected a Presidential Management Intern and appointed to the Office of Management and Budget, where he served as budget examiner for the Central Intelligence Agency. In 1983, Senator Barry Goldwater appointed him a member of the professional staff of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, on which he served until 1991. He had primary responsibility for supporting the committee in the annual intelligence budget authorization process and, as deputy staff director, supported all committee oversight activities as well as the formulation of intelligence-related legislation. From 1991 to 1995, Mr. Hall served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. In addition to his responsibilities for policy development, resource management, counterintelligence, and security oversight, he was chair of the National Counterintelligence Policy Board and co-chair of the Intelligence Systems Board. Prior to his presidential appointment, he served as executive director for Intelligence Community Affairs and director of the Community Management Staff from May 1995 to February 1996 at the Central Intelligence Agency. In this capacity he had responsibility for overall policy and resource management of national intelligence activities and was the principal architect and co-chair of the Intelligence Program Review process, he co-chaired the Security Policy Forum, and co-chaired the study group that created the National Imagery and Mapping Agency. Mr. Hall earned an M.A. in public administration from Clark University and an honorary doctorate from Alfred University in New York.

Robert H. Latiff

Robert H. Latiff President and Consultant R. Latiff Associates, retired from the U.S. Air Force as a Major General in 2006. He is a private consultant, providing advice on advanced technology matters to corporate and government clients and to universities. Dr. Latiff is an adjunct faculty member with the John J. Reilly Center for Science, Technology, and Values at the University of Notre Dame. He is also a research professor at George Mason University, where his interests are primarily in technologies to support the U.S. Intelligence Community. Immediately after his retirement from the Air Force, Dr. Latiff was chief technology officer for Science Applications International Corporation’s space and geospatial intelligence business. He is a member of the Air Force Studies Board of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. He has led and participated in numerous studies on such diverse topics as critical minerals, and intelligence and surveillance systems. Dr. Latiff is an active member of the Intelligence Committee of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA). Dr. Latiff’s last active duty assignment was at the National Reconnaissance Office where he was director, advanced systems and technology and deputy director for systems engineering. He has also served as the vice commander, USAF Electronic Systems Center and commander of the NORAD Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center. While in the U.S. Army, Dr. Latiff served both in the infantry branch and the ordnance corps, where he commanded an Army tactical nuclear weapons unit. He received his commission from the Army ROTC program at the University of Notre Dame. He entered active service in the U.S. Army and later transferred to the U.S. Air Force. He received his Ph.D. and his M.S. in materials science and his B.S. in physics from the University of Notre Dame and is a graduate of the National Security Fellows Program at Harvard’s JFK School of Government. Dr. Latiff is a recipient of the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal and the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal.

Michael Bear

Michael J. Bear is a technical director in BAE Systems’ Electronics System Sector with over 30 years of experience migrating advanced technologies to national air and space systems. He is currently a member of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board and led, or played major roles, in studies on mitigating cyber vulnerabilities in air and space embedded systems, data analytics for operational decision making, and improving the cyber hardness and reliability of the upcoming nuclear modernization platforms. He has co-authored a national space development standard for mission-critical electronics, and guidelines addressing cyber and physical threats to microelectronics throughout the supply chain. In addition to BAE Systems, Dr. Bear has worked at IBM, Loral and Lockheed Martin addressing all elements of microelectronics and electronic development from the underlying Physics of Failure to System-on-Chip (SoC) development through payload design, manufacturing and qualification. Additionally, Dr. Bear has taught seminars on the secure methods to develop microelectronics for mission-critical applications. He has led the development of many complex SoCs, including a multi-core Digital Signal Processor for space applications. He has been instrumental in creating programs to bring advanced analytics and machine learning to C4ISR platforms. Dr. Bear has worked on multiple DARPA programs, including thermal imaging and microelectronic reliability. He has authored multi-scale physical simulations to explore material processing techniques needed to produce advanced electronics and sensors. Dr. Bear is a standing member in the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), American Physical Society and IEEE, where he is a member of the IEEE Cyber-Physical Systems and Human-Systems Integration Technical Committees. He is a leader in the reliability and resilience of complex systems through cyber hardening and systems engineering with a range of publications and patents. He is an active member of National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicines’ Intelligence Science & Technology Expert Group (ISTEG). He received two BAE Systems Chairman’s Awards for work in microelectronics and systems development. Dr. Bear received his Ph.D. in Computational Physics and M.S in Applied Physics from George Mason University and a B.S. in Applied Physics from Purdue University, where he became a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

John C. Brock

John Brock is retired from Northrup Grumman Space Technology and is currently an independent aerospace technology consultant. At Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, he was chief technologist and director of technology strategy and planning. He has expertise in optoelectronics, high energy lasers, space technologies, and technology management. His time at Northrop Grumman was part of a 30-year career in research and development, during which he was also served as a TRW/NGC senior technical fellow. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. He has been a member of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board, the Defense Science Board Advisory Group on Electron Devices, the Air Force Tactical Applications Center Space Advisory Group, and the advisory boards of numerous university optoelectronic Centers of Excellence. He is an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and received the Air Force Exemplary Civilian Service Medal in 2008.

Brian Holmes

Dr. Brian Holmes is the Dean of the School of Science and Technology Intelligence at the National Intelligence University in Bethesda, MD. The School is the focus for science and technical analytic education, research and external engagement across the intelligence and national security communities. As a synthetic chemist, Dr. Holmes researched multidisciplinary areas of science including aspects of nanotechnology and crystal engineering. After serving two years as a Post-Doctoral Associate in the University of Minnesota’s Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science researching organic semiconductors, he accepted a two-year American Society for Engineering Education Fellowship with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC studying single electron nanotransistors. Dr. Holmes served as an all-source intelligence analyst and Branch Chief in the Defense Intelligence Agencies’ (DIA) Counterproliferation Support Office from 2006-2010 before accepting a managerial position in the Directorate for Analysis’ Staff Operations Division. He was a Direct Commission intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve, serving from 2007-2011 and reached the rank of Lieutenant (O-3). For three years he supported the Afghanistan-Pakistan Task Force as an all-source intelligence analyst in DIA’s Directorate for Intelligence (J2). From 2012-2016, Dr. Holmes chaired the Emerging and Disruptive Technology, Geostrategic Resources and Environment, and Weapons of Mass Destruction concentrations in the School. He serves as an executive representative to the Scientific and Technical Intelligence Committee (STIC) under the auspices of the National Intelligence Council, and directly supports Intelligence Community Directive 204 (National Intelligence Priorities Framework). He primarily focuses his research on dual use technologies, and the translation of emerging research and development into advanced materials for military systems. From 2016-2017, Dr. Holmes served as the Associate Dean of the School of Science and Technology Intelligence. He holds two patents with the U.S. Navy, has published numerous peer reviewed scientific papers, and received the Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Analysis Distinguished Analysis Award in addition to a National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citation. On August 07, 2017, Dr. Holmes qualified for the academic title of Professor of Intelligence. Dr. Holmes has a B.S. in Chemistry with a minor in History from the University of Delaware and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Clemson University.

Craig L. Keast

Craig L. Keast is the Associate Division Head of the Advanced Technology Division at MIT Lincoln Laboratory (MIT-LL), the principal advanced electronics technology research and development division at the laboratory, since 2009. The 400-person division’s focus is on the invention of new device concepts, the practical realization of those devices, and their integration into systems of importance to national security. In support of its work, the division operates and maintains a complete set of specialized microelectronic and optoelectronic fabrication facilities for both silicon and compound semiconductor devices, as well as advanced electronic and optoelectronic packaging laboratories. Program work has included slit-fab fabrication activities in support of the IARPA Trusted Integrated Circuit Program, the DARPA Trusted Integrated Circuit Program, and DARPA’s Integrity and Reliability of Integrated Circuits Program. From 1994–2013, he served as the director of the Microelectronics Laboratory (ML) where he managed operations of the laboratory's DoD-Trusted $200M silicon-based semiconductor research and advanced prototyping fabrication facility. Staffed by approximately 65 scientists, engineers, and technicians working in support of over 40 different technical programs at MIT-LL. ML activities included the fabrication of flight quality megapixel CCD imagers, photon-counting avalanche photodiode arrays, RF MEMS, Nb-based superconducting circuits, sub-0.90 nm low power FDSOI CMOS, and advanced packaging technologies. From 1996–2009, he was also the leader of the Advanced Silicon Technology Group, a 45-person research group carrying out work in deep-submicron, low-power, high-performance fully depleted silicon-on-insulator (FDSOI) CMOS process development, CCD/CMOS imaging, RF MEMS, Microfluidics, and 3-dimensional circuit integration technologies. From 1992–1994, he was a technical staff member in the Submicrometer Technology Group developing device and circuit fabrication technologies utilizing 193-nm lithography. Dr. Keast received a Ph.D. in electrical engineering and computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Randal W. Larson

Randal W. Larson is a systems engineer with the MITRE Corporation. He has served over 40 years in engineering development and new business startups in both commercial and government sectors spanning manufacturing engineering, electrical/electronic design engineering, and systems engineering. His accumulated engineering experience includes semiconductor fabrication, electro-optic prototype development in Department of Defense (DOD) weapon systems, and design of classified, large scale, mission-critical digital processing systems for U.S. government agencies. Additionally, he was selected as part of two technology transfer programs to launch business unit startups in enterprise-level mass storage and medical imaging systems. Mr. Larson’s positions included test director, director of engineering, director of strategic planning, and general manager during these periods at Texas Instruments, Hughes Aircraft, E-Systems and Raytheon. In 2004, Mr. Larson joined MITRE/San Antonio, and was assigned to the AFLCMC/HNC “Cryptologic and Cybersecurity Systems Division (CCSD)” at Lackland Air Force Base. During the last 12 years, roles and assignments included leading the Cryptologic Modernization Strategic Planning IPT for startup of DoD Acquisition ACAT III programs, team development of next generation of DoD Public Key Infrastructure, and Air Force research study into next generation network security protocols and implementation of Service Oriented Architectures. In 2009 -2010, Mr. Larson was a MITRE lead in the DoD CNCI SCRM Pilot Program for a team representing the Air Force. Follow on work for SAF/AQXA included development of SCRM roadmap and implementation for general AF acquisition guidance. Additionally, processes and practices were developed for implementing SCRM within the CCSD crypto acquisition programs as models for the greater Air Force. Innovative approaches included methods for evaluating DIA TAC threat reports, identifying appropriate risk mitigations, and developing a tracking database of critical components as part of establishing a TSN/SCRM office. In 2015, he assisted the Director on Enterprise GPS III system (AF SMC/GPE) in establishing TSN/SCRM processes in threat/risk assessments and Program Protection planning. Mr. Larson holds a B.S.E.E. from Texas Tech.

Terry P. Lewis

Terry P. Lewis is a former executive board member on the National Academies of Science Naval Studies Board (2011-2016), graduated from the University of Southern California with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering Systems. Dr. Lewis is currently a Senior Associate/ Technical program Manager, Senior for Booz Allen Hamilton in Los Angeles CA, and a former Senior Program Manager & Off-site Executive with Raytheon Company in Los Angeles CA for almost 20 years. Previously, he held the technical position of Principal Systems Engineer where his areas of expertise includes: Command, Control, Computers, Communications System, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems design, digitized battle-space systems design and implementation, communications and transmission security design and analysis for tactical communication systems, network and key management system design and analysis for secure systems implementation. Dr. Lewis developed anti-tampering technologies to prevent or reduce the ability of potential aggressors from reverse engineering critical U.S. technologies. He was a Raytheon engineering scholar and Fellow and received the Most Promising Engineer of the year award conferred at the 2002 Black Engineer of the Year Award Conference. Dr. Lewis was a member of multiple NRC Committees and workshops such as the NRC committee on the Examination of the Air Force ISR Capability, Planning and Analysis Process, the previous workshop on Optimizing the Air Force Acquisition Strategy of Secure and Reliable Electronic Components: A Workshop and multiple other relevant NRC committees.

Aaron K. Oki

Aaron Oki is a technical Fellow at Northrop Grumman in the Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems (NGAS), Microelectronics organization, the highest technical level in Northrop Grumman. The NGAS Microelectronics organization is a world leader in the development and production of advanced compound semiconductor technologies for military and commercial applications. Aaron holds 18 patents and has co-authored over 300 technical publications and conference papers on compound semiconductor technology. Aaron led the initial development of Gallium Arsenide HBT technology from 1985, leading to the insertion of the technology into many military and space systems for the U.S. government. In 1994 his group started working with a small 5-person start-up company, RF Micro Devices (RFMD) to use HBT technology for cellular telephone power amplifiers. HBT technology is used in over 90% of the world’s cellular handsets today. Since 2000 Aaron has expanded his role to support both microelectronics technology insertion of GaAs, InP, and GaN technologies as well as supporting major system programs on challenges with silicon and HgCdTe technologies. These programs include MILSTAR, AEHF, STSS, SBIRS, JWST, Triton, JPSS, NPOESS NPP, and even more U.S. Government National Systems. Over the 32 years at TRW/Northrop Grumman Aaron has been a strong proponent for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education doing volunteer university and high school lectures as well as judging science fair events. He has served as a publication reviewer for the IEEE for the past 25 years, and has served on several conference technical program committees.

Thomas E. Romesser

Thomas E. Romesser (NAE) is retired Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems until the start of 2012 and sector vice president of Aerospace Systems. In those roles, he provided senior leadership representation with customers, universities, industry, and the rest of the corporation. He also was responsible for technology development to support future programs while maintaining close linkage to legacy programs. Prior to his present assignment, Dr. Romesser was sector vice president and general manager of the Technology and Emerging Systems Division for Northrop Grumman’s former Space Technology sector. In this role, he was responsible for the development and execution of Space Technology’s strategy to support both near- and long-term business objectives, system enhancements and technology leverage for new business pursuits. He oversaw activities of the Directed Energy Systems and Advanced Concepts organizations as well as the Space Technology Research Laboratories. Previously, Dr. Romesser was vice president of technology development; responsible for the identification, development, and acquisition of Space Technology’s strategic technologies; and managed discretionary investments in technology and product development. He joined Northrop Grumman via the acquisition of TRW in 2002. A vice president since 1998, he previously served as vice president and deputy of the Space and Electronics Engineering organization. Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Prior to that, he was vice president and general manager of TRW’s Space and Technology Division; responsible for spacecraft hardware and software engineering; manufacturing, testing and space vehicle production; as well as chemical and solid-state laser design and development; sensor systems, space and tactical propulsion systems; and research in the physical, chemical and engineering sciences. Dr. Romesser earned a B.S. in physics from Manhattan College and an M.S. and a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. He is also a graduate of the USC Executive Management Program. Dr. Romesser was elected a fellow of the Directed Energy Professional Society in 2002 and a member of the National Academy of Engineering in 2003.

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A Strategy for Acquiring Secure and Reliable Electronic Components for Air Force Weapon Systems

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A Strategy for Acquiring Secure and Reliable Electronic Components for Air Force Weapon Systems

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The Growing Threat to Air Force Mission-Critical Electronics: Lethality at Risk: Unclassified Summary

Description

Contributors

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Sponsors

Staff

Major units and sub-units

Contact

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Provide feedback

Request materials

More like this

Review of the draft United by Nature assessment

Modernizing Mathematics Education for Grades 9-14

Health Care Financing to Improve Availability of Affordable Contraception: Identifying Promising Practices

Strengthening Southeast Asian Academia and Industry Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Safety and Security - A Workshop

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Agriculture, Food Systems and Climate Security: A Workshop

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