Research on the Cyber Battlefield Abdul Hadi Khan (M.A.S. CYF ’26) discovered a passion for cybersecurity research while working side-by-side with Illinois Tech faculty and students, and how it can bolster the United States’s national security interests. “I have been actively involved in research, resulting in multiple publications, including ‘Designing SecureAI Curriculum for National Security Needs: The Illinois Tech Program of Study,’ which outlines a curriculum to secure artificial intelligence systems,” Khan says. “I also published work on cyber defense of space systems and AI-driven psychological operations in military journals of the Romanian Army and Finnish Defense Forces.” He has conducted and published the research alongside peers and Illinois Tech Associate Professor of Information Technology and Management Maurice Dawson, who also directs the C2SAFE cybersecurity research center. Khan’s research directly advances federal priorities in AI-driven cybersecurity and the protection of space as critical infrastructure. By developing technical frameworks to secure the intersection of space, cyberspace, and the cognitive domain, his research provides the strategic capabilities necessary to strengthen U.S. national security. His work ensures the nation’s competitive edge and protects essential national interests against sophisticated autonomous threats and psychological operations. Through his research on topics such as designating space as a critical infrastructure and advancing AI-driven cybersecurity, Khan aims to contribute to national security and global resilience. “These experiences significantly strengthened my confidence and technical depth,” Khan says. “Illinois Tech has prepared me through meaningful research opportunities and hands-on industry exposure, positioning me well for advanced research and future academic pursuits.” A paper that Khan wrote with Dawson and Cedric Nartey (ITM/M.A.S. CYF 4th Year), titled “Weaponising the Mind: AI, Cyberspace, and the Future of Psychological Warfare,” traces the shifts in psychological warfare from World War II to present-day disinformation campaigns, highlighting how adversaries exploit democratic transparency to undermine public