CCSU Announces Designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations (CAE-CO) by the National Security Agency

Central Connecticut State University has announced that the National Security Agency (NSA) has awarded the University for the second time as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations (CAE-CO).

CCSU says that, “Central is one of only 22 institutions nationwide that hold the CAE-CO designation, and it is the only institution in New England to be designated as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education CAE-CD and a CAE-CO.”

“Central has been on the forefront of academic innovation in higher education,” said Central President Zulma R. Toro. “This national designation validates the forward thinking of our faculty and their efforts to integrate real-world challenges into the curriculum. I am excited for our students and look forward to seeing how they benefit from this designation.”

CCSU says that,

Central’s Bachelor of Science program in Cybersecurity provides a strong foundation in networking and computer science that prepares students to become highly qualified computing professionals. Students can choose the general option, which requires a minor, or pursue one of the in-depth concentrations aligned with the content focus areas recommended by the NSA.

“This distinction is a testament to the expertise of the faculty of Central,” said Cybersecurity Center co-coordinator Dr. Chad Williams. “It gives students the unique opportunity to start their degree in Cybersecurity and choose which specialty best aligns with their developing interest rather than being limited to just one option.”

The NSA describes its mission as, “The National Security Agency/Central Security Service (NSA/CSS) leads the U.S. Government in cryptology that encompasses both signals intelligence (SIGINT) insights and cybersecurity products and services, and enables computer network operations to gain a decisive advantage for the nation and our allies.”