Advanced Malware Academy Enhances Defense Cyberspace Capability

Malware analysts provide an important capability for national defense cyberspace operations. In this operational context, advanced skills and expertise are hard to acquire in part because the Department of Defense (DoD) does not have uniform definitions for an analysts’ job role. To enhance this competency in the U.S. armed services, the SEI piloted the Advanced Malware Academy and developed a malware analyst certification for the DoD.

Jeff Gennari and David Belasco, researchers from the SEI’s Malware Analysis team, created the academy’s curriculum for the Air Force 867th Cyberspace Operations Group (COG). They drew on the SEI’s decades of malware reverse engineering research and course creation for the government. The researchers mentored the first cohort academy interns in the summer of 2024.

There’s no shortcut to job experience, but this course jump-starts the student’s ability to tackle new challenges.

Jeff Gennari

Senior Engineer, SEI CERT Division

For four weeks at the SEI, enlisted service members received hands-on training on advanced malware topics such as artificial intelligence, malware repurposing, and threats facing emerging technologies. A two-week, intern-directed project on novel malware scenarios culminated in a presentation to leaders in the 867th COG and the SEI.

“There’s no shortcut to job experience, but this course jump-starts the student’s ability to tackle new challenges,” said Gennari.

The cadre of graduates is better prepared to tackle some of the most pressing and complex threats facing the DoD. But the academy also helped Gennari and Belasco define the DoD’s first certification for Cyber Mission Force malware analysts. The certification outlines a set of skills that cross-service organizations such as the USCYBERCOM Cyber National Mission Force (CNMF) can use to inform analyst hiring and training.

The second cadre of service-member malware analysts completed another delivery of the Advanced Malware Academy in early 2025. Those interested in future deliveries can contact info@sei.cmu.edu.

Photo: U.S. Air Force, J.M. Eddins Jr.