AFCEAN of the Month, March 2026
Sherif E. Abdelhamid, assistant professor of computer and information sciences at Virginia Military Institute (VMI) and director of programs for the AFCEA Rockbridge Shenandoah Chapter, has demonstrated exceptional leadership in advancing AFCEA’s mission at both the chapter and institutional levels. As director of programs, he has been instrumental in organizing high-impact community and student events, including the Build-and-Fly Drone Workshops in Martinsville and Buena Vista. He co-organized Community Cyber Day, the food safety and security speaker panel, Rural Smart Cities Choices and Business Impact event, “Tackling 21st Century Cybersecurity Challenges in the Quantum Age” and the VASA Hackathon. These initiatives engaged cadets, students and community members in hands-on STEM and cybersecurity experiences, strengthening AFCEA’s role as a leader in workforce development and community engagement across Virginia.
In his academic role, Abdelhamid has redesigned and modernized core computer science courses at VMI, introducing active learning, gamification, case-based instruction and VR/AR technologies to improve cadet engagement and learning outcomes. His innovative platforms—such as vizLab (Gold Prize, 2024 International E-Learning Awards), Code Chronicles (IEEE Emerging Technology Award, 2024), CryptoQuest (Best Presentation Award, CCI Research Showcase) and CyGuardian (Best Paper, IEEE CCWC 2025)—demonstrate his ability to fuse technology and pedagogy to make cybersecurity education accessible and impactful.
Abdelhamid is also deeply committed to mentorship and cadet development. More than 22 cadets have co-authored peer-reviewed publications under his supervision, and many have presented at national and international conferences. His students have won awards, contributed to defense-focused projects, such as unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) detection systems, and secured prestigious internships, including with the White House. As faculty adviser to the Drone and IoT Club, he has expanded opportunities for cadets to explore UAV programming, Federal Aviation Administration certifications, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity applications.
In just three years at VMI, Abdelhamid has secured nearly $1 million in external funding to support cadet-focused research and experiential learning. Projects such as Cyber as a Service (training cadets to deliver cybersecurity readiness reviews for local businesses) exemplify how his efforts directly support both AFCEA’s mission and the needs of the surrounding community.
For his outstanding service to the AFCEA Rockbridge Shenandoah Chapter, his leadership in cybersecurity education and his dedication to cadet and community development, Abdelhamid deserves AFCEAN of the Month recognition. His achievements exemplify AFCEA’s core values of innovation, collaboration and mission-focused impact.
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