A team composed mostly of current and former Cal State San Marcos students is one of only four groups nationwide to win contract funding from the National Security Innovation Network, which helps solve problems for the U.S. Department of Defense.
The team from CSUSM received an award of $15,000 based on its pitch during the NSIN virtual hackathon “Mad Hacks: Fury Code,” which took place Feb. 5-26. The hackathon challenged more than 500 registered participants to develop technologies or systems to help human-controlled and autonomous vehicles operate through cyber attacks or other instances of electronic warfare.
Team Synergy included three current CSUSM students – Jael Acuna, an electrical engineering major; Briana Cordova, business management; and Lemuel Johnson, applied physics – and a 2020 alumnus, Chris Morales, who founded an online menswear retailer after graduating with a degree in entrepreneurial management. The team also featured Dr. Samuel Clarke, an assistant professor of management at CSUSM, and was led by Dan Hendricks, a retired Navy captain who now runs Open Source Maker Labs in Vista.
Team Synergy’s winning concept is Syn6, an encrypted, compartmentalized and intelligent three-tier cybersecurity architecture that maintains operational resilience for human-controlled and autonomous vehicles.
The group came together through a CSUSM Innovation Hub program called I3T, which stands for Intercollege, Industry, Innovation Team. It’s an entrepreneurial team of students that connects colleges across campus with businesses, solving critical issues and developing a strategic business plan to implement the idea. The I3T program is funded by CSUSM donors Mr. and Mrs. Joe Bear.
“This was a wonderful example of the CSUSM Innovation Hub connecting students, faculty and our community partners to solve societal needs through innovation and entrepreneurship,” Innovation Hub Director Jill Litschewski said.
“We are so proud of the team and are excited for future collaborations.”
The $25,000 grand prize in the Mad Hacks event went to Team Distributed Spectrum, composed of three seniors at Harvard University, for a solution that will detect cyber attacks in the radio spectrum in real time.
The NSIN is a Department of Defense program office that seeks to create new communities of innovators to solve national security problems. It partners with national research universities and the venture community to reinvigorate collaboration between civil and military technology.
About California State University San Marcos
Building on an innovative 30-year history, California State University San Marcos is a forward-focused institution, dedicated to preparing future leaders, building great communities and solving critical issues. Located on a 306-acre hillside overlooking the City of San Marcos, it is the only public four-year comprehensive university serving North San Diego, Southwest Riverside and South Orange counties.
The university enrolls more than 16,000 students. With approximately 2,000 employees, the institution is a Great College to Work For® (The Chronicle of Higher Education). As a recipient of the annual HEED Award since 2014—a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion—CSUSM is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment. For more information visit csusm.edu.
