NSA, DHS Name Multiple Universities as Centers of Excellence in Cyber Defense

Five universities were commended by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security as national centers of academic excellence in cyber defense, HSToday reported Wednesday.

The new centers of academic excellence in cyber defense are the University of Delaware, University of Cincinnati’s Information Technology School, University of Missouri in St. Louis, University of West Florida and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Daytona Beach campus, Amanda Vicinanzo writes.

According to the report, each school is sponsored by the agencies in support of efforts to help produce cyber defense professionals and experts in the country through tertiary education and research.

The designation will provide support in the universities’ efforts to improve or expand their cyber defense programs, the report said.

“The critical shortage of professionals with [cyber] skills highlights the importance of higher education as a solution to defending America’s cyberspace,” said Karen Leuschner, CAE program manager at NSA.