Maritime Cybersecurity as a Contested Control System
Abstract:
As AI-enabled adversaries gain increasing capability to conduct gray-zone cyber operations, maritime cybersecurity is evolving into a contest for operational control, feedback integrity, and decision advantage across the U.S. Maritime Transportation System (MTS). Using a Design Science Research methodology, this study develops and evaluates the Maritime Transportation System–Functional Contested Control Framework (MTS-FCCF), extending the MTS-FCMM by integrating governance controls, cyber mission threads, and adversarial interaction into a unified STPA-SEC analytical structure. Scenario-based validation demonstrated improved identification of unsafe control actions, process-model mismatch, feedback deficiencies, and adversarial disruption pathways compared to conventional static cybersecurity approaches.
AUTHORS
Congdon School of Business, Department of Supply Chain & Analytics Cybersecurity Program
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Wilmington, North Carolina, United States of America
Jeff Greer is an assistant professor of practice in the Cameron School of Business at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He received his M.S. in Cybersecurity Technology from the University of Maryland Global Campus. Prior to teaching, Greer worked in the maritime industry operating global satellite networks delivering mobile broadband services to ships at sea.
Congdon School of Business, Department of Supply Chain & Analytics Cybersecurity Program
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Wilmington, North Carolina, United States of America
Edwin Garces is a researcher in the Maritime Cybersecurity Applied Research, Technology, and Education Center (MCARTEC) at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He received his doctorate in Engineering and Technology Management from Portland State University in 2011.
Cameron School of Business University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, North Carolina, United States of America
Ulku Clark is a professor at the Cameron School of Business at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. She received her Ph.D. in Management Information Systems from the Naveen Jindal School of Management at UT Dallas in 2005. She serves as the PI of the Maritime Cybersecurity Applied Research, Technology & Education Center project.
Cameron School of Business University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, North Carolina, United States of America
Bilge Karabacak is an assistant professor in the Cameron School of Business at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He received his Ph.D. in Information Systems with a focus on cybersecurity from the Middle East Technical University in 2015. He serves as the Co-PI of the Maritime Cybersecurity Applied Research, Technology & Education Center project.
Published In
Journal of Information Warfare
The definitive publication for the best and latest research and analysis on information warfare, information operations, and cyber crime. Available in traditional hard copy or online.
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