S.T.E.A.M. extra-curricular program for the cadets of Scuola Militare Nunziatella

This is a working document [ITALIANO]

The S.T.E.A.M. program, a partnership between the School Leadership Team and Alumni for the benefit of the cadets of Scuola Militare Nunziatella, covers leading edge science and technology topics within the broader framework of culture, art, moral education associated with the Humanities.
S. (Science) = AI
T. (Technology) = CYBERSEC
E. (Engineering) = DRONES
A. (Art) = HUMANITIES
M. (Maths) = MATEMATICS
LEADERSHIP: this, together with ENTREPRENEURSHIP, will be integrated across the tech themes.
Audience: year 1, 2 and 3, in sessions organized by year group (45-60 cadets per group)

Type of session: typically up to 3 hours (but in special cases also an “activity day”),  participative and engaging. Ideally broken down in two parts, one tactical with a domain expert delivering an interactive lecture at the School, one strategic with a sector-leader participating either in-person or remotely.

Tutors: Nunziatella Military School personnel and Nunziatella Alumni from the worlds of industry, entrepreneurship, University and the Armed Forces.
Year 1: 6 monthly sessions between Jan and May (CYBERSEC_1A, AI_1A, DRONI_1A / CYBERSEC_2A, AI_2A, DRONI_2A)
2a Cp: 6 monthly sessions between Jan and May (CYBERSEC_2A, AI_2A, DRONI_2A / CYBERSEC_2B, AI_2B, DRONI_2B)
3 Cp.: 3 sessions between Nov and Dec (CYBERSEC_3A, AI_3A, DRONI_3A)
The complete cycle, over a period of three years, includes 5 modules (2+2+1) for each of the three TECH themes, with certificates of attendance.

PROGRAM COORDINATION

General:

OVERALL: Col.Alberto Valent
Commander and School Head Scuola Militare “Nunziatella”, together with a working group of lecturers from the School and the contribution of external consultants. Maths lead: Professore Nicola Izzo; Humanities lead: Dott.ssa Noemi Perlingieri, Art Historian.

UNDER 35: Lia Ambrosio 11-14
Manager pharmaceutical sector. Sales training, Product and Project Management,  Patient Engagement.

By topic:

CYBERSEC: Eugenio Santagata 89-92 
Eugenio has extensive experience in the Defense sector first as a career officer and later as a manager in the private sector, focusing on security and cyber security systems. He his the Chief Executive Officer of Telsy S.p.A. and Head of the Chief Public Affairs & Security Office of TIM.

AI: Gerardo Iovane 88-91
Associate Professor in Mathematical Analysis (MAT/05) at the Department of Information Engineering and Applied Mathematics of the University of Salerno, Expert and Coordinator of academic-scientific activities in the theoretical and applied fields. He holds PhDs in Engineering and Economics of Innovation, Mathematics, Physics and holds a IASD (Institute for Advanced Defense Studies) certification.

DRONI: Francesco Avallone 03-06
Full Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (DIMEAS) at the Polytechnic University of Turin, scientific sector of Fluid Dynamics, Industrial and Information Engineering. He is a leader in the research of drones’ acoustic impact and of the social and security implications of their use. He returned to Turin after several years of professional practice at the University of Delft in the Netherlands.

LEADERSHIP: Domenico Pace 79-82
Vice President of the Nunziatella Alumni Associations, Domenico’s academic curriculum includes two degrees, 3 Masters and an EXMBA at Bocconi; during his distinguished military career he has held the positions of Chief of the General Financial Planning Office of the Army General Staff, Defense Attaché at the Italian Embassy in Tokyo, Commander of the Pozzuolo del Friuli Cavalry Brigade (Gorizia) and, in his final assignment before retirement, as Counsellor for External Relations within the COVID task force led by Gen. C.A. Figliuolo.

# CYBERSEC MODULES
##CYBERSEC_1A. Ethical Hacking and Offensive Security
– Introduction to Ethical Hacking
– Vulnerability Assessment vs Penetration Tests vs Red Teaming
– Cyber kill chain
– Interesting cases and notable attacks
– Career Paths and Certifications
## CYBERSEC_1B. Social Engineering
– Understanding Social Engineering
– Common Social Engineering Techniques
– Social Engineering in the Digital Age
– Physical Social Engineering
– Defending Against Social Engineering
– Social Engineering in Penetration Testing
– Case Studies of Notable Social Engineering Attacks
## CYBERSEC_2A. Threat Intelligence
– Fundamentals of Threat Intelligence
– Threat Intelligence Lifecycle
– Sources of Threat Intelligence
– Threat Intelligence Platforms and Tools
– Threat Modeling
– Actionable Intelligence
– Future of Threat Intelligence
## CYBERSEC_2B. Internet of Things (IoT)
– IoT Ecosystem Overview
– IoT Security Challenges
– IoT Device Management
– Data Privacy and Protection in IoT Environments
– Industrial IoT (IIoT)
– IoT Standards and Regulations
– Emerging IoT Technologies
## CYBERSEC_3A [2025+]. Space Operations
– Introduction to Space Operations / Communication Systems in Space
– Space Cyber Intelligence and Cyber Warfare
– Space Cybersecurity Operations
– Supply chain threats and notable attacks
– International Cooperation

##CYBERSEC_3A [2024] [Santagata | Cestrone]

I. What is cyber security: The evolution of Information technologies, Intro to Cyber Security, Risks connected with Web browsing [Identity theft], Hacker profiling [White vs Black hat], Information security [Encryption, VPN], Verification
– Cybersecurity / Infosec Vs Communication Security / CommSec
– Cybersecurity Vs Cyber Intelligence
– Layers of the cyberscurity market and industry

II. Ethical Hacking and Offensive Security
– Introduction to Ethical Hacking
– Vulnerability Assessment vs Penetration Tests vs Red Teaming
– Cyber kill chain. Social Engineering

III.Fundamentals of Threat Intelligence
– Threat Intelligence Lifecycle
– Sources of Threat Intelligence
– Threat Intelligence Platforms and Tools

IV. Cyber in the military domain: Land, Air, Naval and Space
– domains and applications
– cyber operations use cases
– intro to cyber electromagnetic activities

Alternative themes (as integration or substitution to the above)
## What is cyber security: The evolution of Information technologies, Intro to Cyber Security, Risks connected with Web browsing [Identity theft], Hacker profiling [White vs Black hat], Information security [Encryption, VPN], Verification
## Modern world Risks: Security Awareness [Defacement and Denial of Service, Phishing and Scamming, Social engineering, Exploiting Social Network, Theft of personal and sensitive data], Social Media Threats, Verification
## Thinking about the future: Cyber Security – The new battleground, Cyber Security in the Military/Law Enforcement, Cyber Security Advanced Education and Career opportunities
# AI MODULES
## AI_1A. Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
– What is Artificial Intelligence? Definition and explanation of key concepts.
– Main disciplines and techniques of AI: machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing.
– History of AI: from its origins to the most recent developments.
– Interactive discussion: reflections on how AI is changing various sectors and our future.
##AI_1B. Introduction to Decision-Making
– Human decision-making: general notions of decision-making, cognitive biases and rational choices.
– Decision-making models: Heuristic&Bias model, Naturalistic Decision-Making
– The influence of technology: how technologies are transforming the way we make decisions.
Open discussion on real cases where decision-making has played a critical role: from the medical sector to the defense.

##AI_2A. e AI_2B.AI-Assisted Decision-Making

– What is AI-Assisted Decision-Making? Overview of the concept and its applications in different industries.
– Eric Larson’s Model: Analysis of the 2019 Harvard Business Review Article, Explanation of the Four Ways a Decision Can Be Made
– Benefits and challenges: how AI can improve the quality of decisions and the ethical and practical implications of relying on these technologies.
– Interactive discussion: how to apply AI-Assisted Decision-Making to everyday or professional situations.

##AI_3A. [Troncone | Marano] Hands-on exercise: Prompt Engineering and Interaction with AI
– Prompt Engineering: what it is and how it works.
– Hands-on exercise: participants will work on effective prompts to get the desired answers from an AI system (e.g. ChatGPT).
– Application of Prompt Engineering in Decision-Making: examples of how interaction with AI can support decision-making.
# DRONES MODULES
#DRONES_1A. Drones market and applications
– Market analysis: where and for what can they be used?
– Drones size and range
– Drones limitations: the role of battery developments on drones spreading
#DRONES_1B. [Avallone] Societal impact of drones (privacy, safety and noise impact) on the drones spreading: bridging engineering with societal sciences
#DRONES_2A. Drones certification: the challenge of a unique certification approach technologies with radically different geometries and operating conditions
#DRONES_2B. The role of AI on drones operation: imaging, path optimization and system of system approach
#DRONES_3A. [Pisciotta] Training Day at the SIRALAB facilities (Italian Army’s main Drones supplier)
– Drone Flying
– Software for Command and Control
– Controlling Drones
– Practical demonstrations
Separately, care of the School, attendance to practical classes leading to certification:
– Basic APR Course (Drone Aviation Pilot)
# LEADERSHIP MODULES

Organically integrated into the TECH modules.

Examples of themes that can be integrated:
– the definition of leadership. Analysis x models
– identikit of the leader: building the emotional intelligence of groups
– Leadership and management: between the need for compromise and change management
– organizational models

Separately, care of the School, attendance to practical classes leading to certification:

– Corpo Militare A.C.I.S.M.O.M (Associazione dei Cavalieri Italiani del Sovrano Militare Ordine di Malta),  for activities related to emergency logistical and sanitary assistance in war, public calamities and emergencies.

# HUMANITIES 
Percorsi culturali di arte, storia, architettura, cultura.
  • Scavi di Pompei – organizzata da Gen. B. Giovanni CAPASSO (76 – 80);
  • Fondazione MORRA – Dott.ssa Teresa CARNEVALE Presidente Fondazione MORRA;
  • Gallerie d’Italia in Napoli – Dott. Francesco CUTOLO (84 – 87);
  • Museo Artistico Politecnico – Dott. Adriano GAITO, Presidente Fondazione Circolo Artistico Politecnico;
  • Certosa di San Martino e Castel Sant’Elmo – Magg. CC Massimo Esposito, Comandante Nucleo TPC Napoli;
  • Basilica San Lorenzo Maggiore – Dott. Carlo CACCAVALE, Presidente Fondazione San Bonaventura;
# MATHEMATICS
  • Advanced Mathematics: abstract algebra, analytical geometry, analysis, probability theory.
  • Preparation for the Math Olympiad (selected students)
  • Applied Mathmatics: multidiciplinary uses of Maths in the real world, e.g.: Physics, IT, Economics.