Degrees
B.S. Clemson University
M.S. University of West Florida

About

Robert J. Kaufman III is a Professor of Practice in the Carlos Alvarez College of Business at The University of Texas San Antonio. Kaufman began his career at UTSA in 2002, and he teaches a wide range of cybersecurity courses as well as runs the college’s Information Systems and Cyber Security Department cyber range which supports academic classes. He also supports research and instructional efforts in the department’s SCADA Security Lab.

He recently retired as Senior Advisor of the 318th Cyberspace Operations Group, 67th Cyberspace Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland AFB, Texas after 41 years of total Air Force service. The 318th Cyberspace Operations Group conducts capability production, training, testing and cyber range operations for Air Force and joint warfighters.

Kaufman entered government service in 1982 as a commissioned officer. He served 21 years in various assignments to include command, computer network defense operations, personnel, executive officer, staff officer, USAFA professor and coach, test and evaluation and research and development.

After active duty retirement, he entered USAF Civil Service in May 2003 as the Chief, Technology Applications Branch, Information Operations Directorate with the Air Force Information Warfare Center. As the Branch Chief, he led a 30-person team tasked with providing operational support to the Air Force Computer Emergency Response Team and Major Command Network Operations and Security Centers.

He was selected Director of Resource Management in February 2004 where he was responsible for all AFIWC mission support functions. In 2006, he was selected Director, Information Operations where he led 300 engineers and scientists tasked with exploring leading edge technology, prototyping solutions, developing concepts and migrating capabilities to the warfighter.

In January 2018 he was inducted into the San Antonio Cyber Hall of Honor for his impact on the cybersecurity discipline. Kaufman is a certified Global Industrial Control System Professional and a GIAC Information Security Professional.

Publications/Presentations

“Cyberspace Operations: Cyber Challenges in a Contested Supply Chain,” Air Force Institute of Technology, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 2023.

“Cybersecurity Simulation–What’s Our Kobyashi Maru,” Association of Digital Forensics Security and Law Conference, San Antonio, May 2018.

“Host Based, Network Enabled, Integrated Remote Interrogation System,” U.S. Patent No. 9,860,258 B1, January 2018.