CADENCE

Microelectronics

This CADENCE program assesses and supports U.S. manufacturers and their use of U.S. manufactured microelectronics and associated electronics in defense modernization priority areas. The program primarily consists of Threat Situational Awareness assessments of DoD supplier knowledge regarding many threat vectors in the semiconductor and microelectronic supply chains. This program helps connect small commercial innovation or defense companies with CMTC’s California Manufacturing Network.

Converging Technologies

This program assesses and supports the security of U.S. commercial innovation in the development and production of converging technologies (such as 5G, AI/ML, Cyber, Space, FNC3) into integrated platforms for defense modernization areas such as the Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2).

The work under this project seeks to connect regional suppliers with DIU, DARPA, AFWERX, Naval-X Tech Bridges, and California educational institutions research labs. The security assessments under this program includes assessment of gaps in manufacturing workforce skills, single points of failure, and vulnerability to actions of foreign nations.

Cybersecurity

This program supports defense small and medium-sized suppliers in the innovation and production base with training and technical assistance for cybersecurity compliance in their internal information system. The program uses the CMTC 3-phase cybersecurity compliance training model for DoD suppliers (evaluate, implement, execute), focused on improving their cyber compliance and resilience. Training and assistance aligns to support defense modernization priorities including microelectronics and electronics, as well as converging technologies that go into Space, 5G, FNC3, and AI.

Innovation Protection

This program provides training to defense manufacturers and innovation firms on threats — beyond cyber — that may attack U.S. defense suppliers and supplier networks. Training includes modules on insider threat, espionage, adversarial capital, Foreign Ownership Control or Influence (FOCI); supply chain disruption; foreign 5G, counterfeit and compromised parts; China’s 1000 Talents Program, China 2025, China Standards 2035 and the compromise of U.S. Universities and Research & Development firms.

Zero Trust

This CADENCE program provides training in unclassified environments to defense manufacturers and innovation firms on Zero Trust methodologies, trust relationships, and trust assumptions as a vulnerability. The program includes an analysis component to identify and assemble information about Zero Trust relevant to Defense Manufacturing suppliers; regional stakeholders and experts; Trust dependencies common in the supplier networks of microelectronics and converging technology platforms; and analysis of specific implementation pathways for the principles and concepts of Zero Trust.

Although the “Zero Trust” concept originated from information network security, the concepts will increasingly have relevance in other Defense Industrial Base (DIB) networks, such as manufacturing networks, supplier networks, financial networks, and communication networks where trust relationships have been the target of external threats such as espionage and cyber-attacks.