Embry-Riddle's Dan Diessner Appointed Voting Member of FAA's Civil Aviation Cybersecurity Aviation Rulemaking Committee
Dan Diessner, executive director for the Center for Aerospace Resilient Systems (CARS) at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, has been appointed as a voting member of the Federal Aviation Authority’s newly established Civil Aviation Cybersecurity Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC).
The Civil Aviation Cybersecurity ARC is one of many required outcomes of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, a key section of which outlines the focused actions on improving cybersecurity within the aviation sector. The committee is tasked with reviewing and recommending cybersecurity standards for civil aircraft, airports, air traffic control systems and related aeronautical products. Comprised of representatives from diverse aviation backgrounds and experience, the committee will address emerging cybersecurity risks and propose harmonized policies. Projects that are related to the ARC’s recommendations may be eligible for funding under the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program.
Diessner’s 24-month appointment to the committee reflects his extensive contributions to aviation cybersecurity and innovation. He brings decades of aerospace cybersecurity expertise to the pivotal aviation rulemaking body.
Diessner will act as a member of the committee under the guidance of FAA co-chair Philip Windust, as well as Boeing Associate Technical Fellow Siobyan Nyikos and Airlines for America Managing Director of Cybersecurity Marty Reynolds, who will serve as committee co-chairs.
Diessner’s Contributions at Embry-Riddle and to Cybersecurity Across the Globe
Diessner joined Embry-Riddle in 2020, and under his leadership, Embry-Riddle’s CARS has become a hub of innovation, addressing the cyber resilience of safety-critical aviation and aerospace systems and cultivating new areas of research and development through innovative applications of technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science and analytics to enhance cybersecurity, cyber safety and cyber resilience of the aerospace ecosystem.
As a Center of Excellence at Embry-Riddle, CARS integrates cybersecurity and data analytics research and development for aviation and aerospace, while providing multidisciplinary expertise to the aerospace industry through collaborations with industry, government and academia. This work facilitates technology commercialization, helps to maintain a centralized knowledge base for sharing research findings and provides comprehensive workforce development and training using both physical and virtual tools.
Diessner has driven nearly $5 million in aviation cybersecurity research grants for CARS. This includes his leadership of the center’s multi-year research project for the FAA’s Cyber Security Data Science (CSDS) program — the initial phase of which was awarded in October 2021 — to conduct research that will assist the aviation industry in the use of cutting-edge data science, AI and machine learning for the enhancement of aviation cybersecurity. The award was granted as CARS has led the way in coordinating with aviation manufacturers, aviation standards bodies, technology companies, aviation operators, federally funded research and development centers, and government agencies to improve the aviation sector’s cyber-resiliency.
Diessner also brings extensive experience from his 34 years at Boeing, where he held roles that included chief engineer for airplane systems product and technology development and senior manager of product cybersecurity for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. His contributions to global aviation cybersecurity initiatives — which include roles with the UN International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the FAA Research Engineering & Development Advisory Committee, along with the FAA 2025 VECTOR Cybersecurity Task Force — underscore his qualifications for this vital role.
“In an increasingly interconnected aerospace ecosystem, it is imperative that we address growing cybersecurity challenges by cultivating new areas of development through innovative applications like AI and data science and analysis, and integrate those into our aero systems,” said Diessner. “I’m honored to have the opportunity to use the excellent work of CARS while tapping into the esteemed faculty and student population at Embry-Riddle to help solve emergent cybersecurity risks to our air traffic control and aircraft systems while implementing policies that will make our skies and our country safer.”
A Shared Objective to Safeguard Aviation Systems
The FAA establishes Aviation Rulemaking Committees to obtain information and insight from those parties most affected by existing and proposed regulations and solicits recommendations from committee members to improve the development of the FAA’s regulations and guidance. Congress directed the FAA to establish an ARC on civil aviation cybersecurity to conduct reviews and develop findings and recommendations on cybersecurity standards for civil aircraft, aircraft ground support information systems, airports, air traffic control mission systems and aeronautical products and articles.
ARC members, which include experts from industry, academia and other civil aviation authorities, are selected based on their expertise in aviation cybersecurity, and their familiarity with the FAA’s authorities, existing regulations and guidance related to aviation cybersecurity.
Windust, FAA co-chair of the Aviation Cybersecurity ARC, said: “The inclusion of Embry-Riddle as part of the membership of this ARC is considered essential to ensuring the most innovative perspectives on aviation cybersecurity, cyber safety and resilience are incorporated into the recommendations that will be developed by the committee, and we are thrilled to welcome Mr. Diessner as part of the committee. His extensive experience and expertise, developed over an extremely impressive career in multiple areas of the aviation ecosystem, will be critical to enabling the ARC to achieve its objectives, ultimately resulting in enhanced aviation safety and security through harmonized standards and forward-thinking policies.”
The Civil Aviation Cybersecurity ARC will determine if new cybersecurity rules, policies and guidelines are needed, especially for designing, producing and maintaining aviation products. The committee will also look at current airworthiness regulations and safety assessments, as well as suggest cybersecurity measures for systems and networks. To that end, the ARC aims to strengthen aviation safety and security with clear, forward-thinking policies and unified standards.
“We deeply appreciate the FAA’s leadership and commitment to addressing the complex challenges of aviation cybersecurity, along with Professor Diessner’s willingness to contribute to this worthy initiative,” said Embry-Riddle President P. Barry Butler, Ph.D. “The dedication on the part of the FAA to fostering collaboration between academia, industry and government is pivotal to enhancing the safety and resilience of the aerospace sector. This critical work not only safeguards the aviation industry but also strengthens national security, ensuring a safer future for our global skies.”