Captain Harry Shilley did not wait for AI security training to exist, he built it himself.
The British Army officer, based at 30th Signal Regiment, received the Highly Commended Award in the AI in Government and Public Sector category at the National AI Awards 2026. This recognised him as one of the UK's leading AI innovators.
Harry was shortlisted for creating SecAI-TAK (Securing AI Systems for Tactical Awareness Kit), a first-of-its-kind training challenge. It shows participants how AI can be exploited, manipulated and misused if it's not properly secured.
Harry said: "AI is already being used on the battlefield, and our adversaries are already looking for ways to exploit it. The question was never whether we needed to train people to understand these threats – it was how to make that training real enough to matter.
"We wanted participants to feel the consequences of a compromised AI system, not just understand them in theory. Seeing people engage with the challenge, recognise the vulnerabilities, and build real defences in real time. That's what this was about. I'm incredibly proud of the team and what we built together."
A team of just four people built the project in less than six months. They delivered it as part of Exercise Defence Cyber Marvel 2026, the UK's largest multinational cyber exercise. The challenge built on Harry's earlier work, creating a bigger and more realistic training environment. This reflected the growing importance of AI across society and national security.
"AI is already being used on the battlefield, and our adversaries are already looking for ways to exploit it. The question was never whether we needed to train people to understand these threats — it was how to make that training real enough to matter."
SecAI-TAK placed participants in a realistic scenario that explored both the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence. Participants worked in a simulated military headquarters, where an AI system helped commanders build awareness and make decisions during a fast-moving crisis.
Their task was to find weaknesses and strengthen the system against attack. This helped them build practical skills in using artificial intelligence safely and responsibly.
To bring the challenge to life, Harry's team created a realistic digital information environment that reflected the complexity of modern operations.
Information spread rapidly, perceptions changed in real time, and events triggered immediate public reaction within the exercise scenario.
The result was a highly immersive exercise that showed how compromised AI systems can influence decisions and create consequences far beyond the digital world. It helped participants understand both the operational and wider risks of emerging technologies.
The project reached more than 2,500 participants from over 80 organisations across the UK and 26 allied nations.
The UK-led Exercise Defence Cyber Marvel 2026, now in its ninth year, brought together 2,500 personnel from 19 countries – including Mongolia, Thailand, Brazil, Kenya, Japan and Italy.
This year's exercise took place in Singapore, reflecting our growing commitment to cyber partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region. Participants included personnel from the Royal Navy, Parachute Regiment, Royal Engineers, NHS, and 10 government departments.
"Captain Shilley's achievement with SecAI-TAK is a remarkable example of what our people are capable of. Being named a national finalist is richly deserved and reflects the calibre of officer and his team. The work speaks for itself, and this recognition reflects the very real effect it has had across Defence and our allied nations."
The nomination placed Harry and his team among the country's foremost AI innovators. SecAI-TAK marks a significant change in how Defence and international partners understand AI security, with implications for how the British Army prepares for future warfare in an AI-enabled world.
Commanding Officer of 30 Signal Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Terry Harrison said: "Captain Shilley's achievement with SecAI-TAK is a remarkable example of what our people are capable of. Being named a national finalist is richly deserved and reflects the calibre of officer and his team. The work speaks for itself, and this recognition reflects the very real effect it has had across Defence and our allied nations."
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