Bio
Lt Col Jason McGinthy is an Assistant Professor of Computer and Cyber Sciences at the United States Air Force Academy. Prior to his current role, Lt Col McGinthy was a Graduate Student at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University from 2016 to 2019. During this period, he developed a secure IoT device standardization framework and a high-performance Pseudo-Random Number Generator-based Key Derivation Function, significantly advancing the field of IoT security. His innovative research on machine learning for physical device identification added an extra layer of authentication to IoT devices.
Lt Col McGinthy has also held several leadership positions in the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Air Force, including Chief of the Biological Threats Innovation Branch and Chief Engineer in the Life Sciences Division. He managed multi-million dollar portfolios, directed R&D efforts, and implemented advanced AI capabilities, significantly enhancing bio-threat analysis and DNA database performance.
Lt Col McGinthy previously served at Holloman Air Force Base, first as the Chief of the GPS Enterprise Element in the 746th Test Squadron and later as the Assistant Director of Operations in the 846th Test Squadron. As Chief of the GPS Enterprise Element, he led a team overseeing 13 programs with a $3.2 million budget, achieving significant milestones including the delivery of a next-gen GPS system and the successful execution of 13 advanced GPS security tests. His leadership in test planning for a $12 million reference system resulted in a remarkable tenfold accuracy improvement. He also played a key role in resolving electronic warfare frequency conflicts, saving critical tests for various aircraft and leading the Group Test Team of the Year.
In his role as Assistant Director of Operations in the 846th Test Squadron, Lt Col McGinthy directed significant egress tests for F-15D/E, facilitating crucial upgrades and achieving annual maintenance cost savings of $4 million. He managed a smart fuze void detection test and spearheaded the development of a next-gen Data Acquisition System, saving 40 man-hours per mission. His efforts in data analysis and anomaly resolution significantly improved test mission efficiency and contributed to the squadron's operational readiness and success.
Lt Col McGinthy also served as an Executive Officer and Lead Antenna Design Engineer at the Air Force Research Laboratory, Hanscom Air Force Base. In his role as Executive Officer, he oversaw daily activities and high-level tasks for over 250 personnel across two AFRL tech divisions, ensuring unit order and discipline and significantly improving process completion rates. As the Lead Antenna Design Engineer, he led a 20-person Integrated Product Team responsible for overseeing an electronics intelligence antenna upgrade program. His efforts in enhancing small airborne radar antennas significantly improved UAV surveillance capabilities, and he successfully facilitated the transfer of technology research to both defense and commercial sectors.
Education
Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (2003)
Squadron Officer School, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Alabama (2008)
Master of Science, Electrical Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio (2010)
Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Engineering, Virgina Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia (2019)
Professional Experience
Assistant Professor, Department of Computer and Cyber Science, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado (July 2022 − Present)
Chief, Biological Threats Innovation Branch, Defense Intelligence Agency, Charlottesville, Virginia (September 2021 – June 2022)
Chief Engineer, Life Sciences Division, Defense Intelligence Agency, Charlottesville, Virginia (July 2019 – September 2021)
PhD Student, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia (August 2016 – July 2019)
Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado (July 2013 − July 2016)
Assistant Director of Operations, 846th Test Squadron, Holloman AFB, New Mexico (May 2012 – June 2013)
Chief, GPS Enterprise Element, 746th Test Squadron, Holloman AFB, New Mexico (April 2010 – May 2012)
Graduate Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio (August 2008 – March 2010)
Executive Officer, Hanscom Research Site, Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts (May 2007 – July 2008)
Lead Antenna Design Engineer, Air Force Research Laboratory, Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts (May 2004 – May 2007)
Honors & Awards
Military Decorations
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal, One Oak Leaf Cluster
Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
Awards
RSA Conference Security Scholar, 2019
Department of Computer Science Outstanding New Faculty Member, 2015
96th Test Group Mid-Career Military Engineer of the Year, 2013
Research and Scholarly Interests
Internet of Things, Cybersecurity, Cryptography, Secure Programming
Publications
J. M. McGinthy, L. J. Wong, and A. J. Michaels, “Groundwork for neural network-based specific emitter identification authentication for IoT,” IEEE Internet of Things Journal, 2019.
J. M. McGinthy, “Solutions for internet of things security challenges: Trust and authentication,” Ph.D. dissertation, Virginia Tech, 2019.
J. M. McGinthy and A. J. Michaels, “Further analysis of PRNG-based key derivation function,” IEEE Access, 2019.
J. M. McGinthy and A. J. Michaels, “Lightweight session key derivation for internet of things devices,” Presented at RSA Conference Security Scholars Poster Session, 2019.
J. M. McGinthy and A. J. Michaels, “Secure industrial internet of things critical infrastructure node design,” IEEE Internet of Things Journal, 2019.
J. M. McGinthy and A. J. Michaels, “Lightweight internet of things encryption using Galois extension field arithmetic,” in 2018 IEEE International Conference on Internet of Things (iThings), 2018.
J. M. McGinthy and A. J. Michaels, “Semi-coherent transmission security for low power IoT devices,” in 2018 IEEE International Conference on Internet of Things (iThings), 2018.
J. M. McGinthy and A. J. Michaels, “Session key derivation for low power IoT devices,” in 2018 IEEE International Conference on High Performance and Smart Computing, (HPSC), [BEST PAPER], 2018.
J. M. McGinthy, “Global navigation satellite system software defined radio,” M.S. thesis, Air Force Institute of Technology, 2010.
S. R. Best, E. E. Altshuler, A. D. Yaghjian, J. M. McGinthy, and T. H. O’Donnell, “An impedance-matched 2-element superdirective array,” IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, 2008.
S. R. Best and J. M. McGinthy, “A comparison of electrically small hf antennas,” in 2005 IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society International Symposium, 2005.
J. M. McGinthy, B. C. Kaanta, and S. R. Best, “A comparison of fractal and non-fractal end-loaded miniature dipole antennas,” in Proceedings of the 2nd IASTED International Conference on Antennas, Radar and Wave Propagation Conference, 2005.