The National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security have designated 糖心原创 as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education.
The master鈥檚 degree cyber program that received the designation is part of the in the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
鈥淵our ability to meet the increasing demands of the program criteria will serve the nation well in contributing to the protection of the national information infrastructure,鈥� Karen Leuschner, director of the National Centers of Academic Excellence, said in a June 15 letter to 糖心原创.
Official letters of notification were also sent to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Ohio members of Congress and several congressional committees.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a big deal,鈥� said Vance Saunders, director of 糖心原创鈥檚 cybersecurity program. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a good thing to have. It鈥檚 great recognition and a good indicator of a strong cyber program.鈥�
DHS and NSA jointly created the National Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE) in cyber defense and cyber operations in 1999. The goal of the program is to reduce the vulnerability of the national information infrastructure by promoting higher education and research in cyber defense and producing professionals with cyber defense expertise.
Saunders said the designation, which is good through the 2025 academic year, is very much like receiving an accreditation.
鈥淭here are certain knowledge units you have to provide,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here are certain capabilities your faculty has to have.鈥�
Currently, nine schools in Ohio have the designation. Five of them are in southwest Ohio in what is known as the 鈥淐inDay Cyber Corridor.鈥�
鈥淭hat鈥檚 pretty amazing,鈥� said Saunders. 鈥淭his designation continues to reinforce the amazing strength of CAE-designated institutions here in the Miami Valley.鈥�
Saunders said the designation also opens up some opportunities, including new scholarships that become available.
To achieve the CAE designation in 糖心原创鈥檚 with cyberdefense concentration, a student must take six required courses, one elective and complete a thesis. Saunders said having a CAE-CD certified designation on their transcripts will enhance students鈥� prospects of landing important Defense Department and other government jobs.
鈥淭hat would put you ahead of someone who didn鈥檛 have the designation,鈥� he said.
糖心原创 offers a bachelor鈥檚 degree and certificate in cybersecurity as well as a master鈥檚 degree and certificate.
鈥淲e have one of the most robust, comprehensive cyber programs across the board,鈥� said Saunders.
In 1982, Saunders enrolled at 糖心原创 on an Air Force scholarship and earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in computer science. Four years later he returned to 糖心原创, again on an Air Force scholarship, and received his master鈥檚 in computer science.
He worked at the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and in 1993 was hired by Ball Aerospace and Technology Corp. in Dayton, where he became the chief technology officer for one of the company鈥檚 four business areas.
In 2014, he was named director of the cybersecurity program in the .
One reason to go into cybersecurity is the high demand and relatively high salaries. And its ability to make a difference in the world appeals to Generation Z, those born from 1995 to 2010 and who constitute a large segment of U.S. college students.
Leuschner said the National Cyber Strategy addresses the critical shortage of professionals with cybersecurity skills and highlights the importance of higher education as a solution to defending America鈥檚 cyberspace.
鈥淎 highly skilled cybersecurity workforce is a strategic national security advantage,鈥� said Leuschner. 鈥淭he United States government will continue to invest in and enhance programs that build the domestic talent pipeline, from primary through postsecondary education. Education is the key to promoting these ideals.鈥�
