The Vesper Association
VESPER P4
One mission. Four stars. Integrated vigilance.
Where disciplines converge
VESPER P4 was born from a recognized gap within the ECECS Department at Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico (PUPR). Engineering students navigating cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and the broader landscape of national security had no unified academic community — no forum where those disciplines could collide and compound.
We exist to change that. VESPER P4 brings together practitioners, researchers, and builders under four integrated pillars, offering students the structured environment and real-world mentorship needed to develop skills that matter beyond the classroom.
Etymology
Vesper — Evening Star
From the Latin vesper, meaning evening or the western star — Venus as seen at dusk. Like the evening star that bridges day and night, VESPER P4 bridges the disciplines that define modern defense and technology. Brightest when others fade.
4
Pillars
ECECS
Department
PUPR
Institution
2026
Established
Four disciplines.
One vector.
Each pillar represents a distinct domain of expertise. Together, they form an integrated framework for understanding and shaping the future of technology and national security.
Cybersecurity
Offensive and defensive security, threat intelligence, vulnerability research, and hardening critical infrastructure. We operate in the adversarial mindset — understanding attacks to build better defenses.
Artificial Intelligence
Machine learning, deep learning, and applied AI systems. From natural language processing to computer vision, we explore AI's role in national security, autonomy, and decision-support systems.
National Security & Affairs
Geopolitics, defense policy, intelligence analysis, and the intersection of technology with national strategy. We analyze the systems and decisions that shape global security.
Engineering
Systems design, embedded systems, hardware security, and applied engineering for defense and emerging technology. Builders who understand that hardware and software are inseparable.
The Four Stars
Four founders. Four disciplines. One constellation guiding the association forward.
Jesiel J. Carro Luna
Artificial Intelligence
Axel G. Rivera Cruz
Cyber Security
David Palacios López
National Affairs
Ramon L. Collazo Irizarry
Engineering
Executive Board
President
Axel Rivera
Vice President
David Palacios
Treasurer
Gabriel Colón Ortiz
Secretary
Carolyn M. Colón Lebrón
Faculty Mentor
Prof. Wence López
Faculty Mentor
Guiding VESPER P4 with expertise at the intersection of engineering, technology policy, and applied research. A practitioner who builds with the technologies being taught.
Mission
Why we exist
To cultivate a collaborative academic community that advances knowledge and practical skills across cybersecurity, AI, Engineering, national security and defense, while fostering meaningful connections among like-minded individuals passionate about technology and its real-world impact — all led by practitioners who build with the technologies they teach.
Vision
Where we're going
To provide students with a structured yet inclusive environment to explore advanced technologies, develop hands-on expertise under the guidance of those who actively work in the field, and engage in interdisciplinary discussions, while serving as a platform for networking, collaboration, and shared intellectual curiosity.
Core Objectives
Provide structured academic programming that bridges theoretical knowledge with hands-on technical practice.
Foster interdisciplinary collaboration among students in cybersecurity, AI, engineering, and national security.
Offer mentorship and guidance from practitioners who actively work in the fields they teach.
Create networking opportunities with industry professionals, defense organizations, and research institutions.
Organize workshops, competitions, and research initiatives that develop real-world expertise.
Serve as a platform for intellectual discourse on technology, national security, and emerging threats.
We seek members who want to build, not just discuss.
VESPER P4 is not a passive student club. It is a mission-driven association for those who take their work seriously and want to contribute to something larger than a course requirement.
Builders
You ship code, design systems, or build hardware. You have shipped something — or you're driven to. We value makers over observers.
Practitioners
You don't just study the field — you practice it. Whether it's a CTF, a research project, or a personal tool, you've put in the reps.
Curious
You read beyond the syllabus. You ask questions that don't have clean answers yet. Your curiosity is a professional asset, not just a personality trait.
Interdisciplinary
You see connections across fields. You understand that cybersecurity isn't just code, AI isn't just math, and engineering isn't just hardware.