NSA designates Citadel as National Center of Academic Excellence
June 13, 2016
Cybersecurity education contributes to protection of national intelligence information
CHARLESTON, SC – One of the world’s most highly regarded intelligence and security agencies has named The Citadel a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE).
On June 8 at the 8th Annual National Cyber Summit in Huntsville, Alabama The Citadel officially accepted the CAE-CDE designation certificate, becoming only the second college in the state of South Carolina to earn the recognition. The prestigious classification from the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) gives emphasis to The Citadel’s credibility in evolving technology field.
“Cybersecurity has a tremendous impact on our daily lives,” said Shankar Banik, Ph.D., associate professor in the School of Science and Mathematics and program director for cybersecurity who attended the summit. “The Center of Academic Excellence designation will highlight The Citadel’s role in securing the nation’s cyberspace information systems and producing some of the country’s top cybersecurity professionals.”
As a leader in cybersecurity education, The Citadel can apply for funds from the NSA and DHS in the form of scholarships and curricular and faculty development awards. Under the CAE-CDE designation, students studying cyber defense at the college will be eligible to apply for scholarships and grants through the Department of Defense Information Assurance Scholarship program and the Federal Cyber Service scholarship program.
“The endless opportunities and challenges of cybersecurity are what first attracted me to the minor,” said senior Cadet Anthony Zovich, president of The Citadel Cybersecurity Club. “The skills I’ve learned have already proven to be valuable in my internship with the Department of Homeland Security.”
Over the past several years the demand to fill cybersecurity jobs has increased exponentially. With the CAE-CDE designation, The Citadel will be positioned to fill the gap and provide well-qualified professionals into the cybersecurity workforce.
In addition to being named a CAE-CDE, The Citadel has been awarded a GenCyber Grant from the NSA and National Science Foundation. The grant of $99,038 is being used to conduct a summer workshop on cybersecurity for middle and high school teachers on The Citadel’s campus.
