CyLab News: CyLab & INI Host Information Assurance Capacity Building Program to Boost Nation’s Cyber Security

"As one of the nation's largest cybersecurity research and education centers, Carnegie Mellon CyLab can offer a wealth of highly relevant topics and research findings to the faculty who engage in the IACBP," said Virgil Gligor, co-director of Carnegie Mellon CyLab, a multidisciplinary research center pioneering development of leading-edge cybersecurity tools.

CyLab News: CyLab & INI Host Information Assurance Capacity Building Program to Boost Nation’s Cyber Security

Carnegie Mellon University's CyLab and its Information Networking Institute (INI) are hosting six faculty members for the seventh annual federally funded Information Assurance Capacity Building Program (IACBP) through July 24.

"This comprehensive program is designed to foster outstanding programs that support the nation's cybersecurity needs and educate future information security leaders and faculty," said Dena Haritos Tsamitis, INI director and director of education, training and outreach for Carnegie Mellon CyLab.

This year, select faculty will spend two weeks participating in a combination of lectures and lab exercises designed to help them develop cutting-edge curricula to educate tomorrow's information security leaders.

"It's been so helpful because we are learning how to simulate situations on the Internet, which helps us convey complex information to our classes," said Gail Finley, an associate professor in the Computer Science Department at the University of the District of Columbia in Washington, D.C.

Thorna Humphries, associate professor in the Department of Computer Science at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Va., said the program is outstanding because it gives participants insight into the future. "We've been exposed to everything from cryptography to secure software," she said. Other 2009 participants come from Hampton State University and Bowie State University.

Humphries and Finley join 36 other faculty members from 11 academic institutions that have participated in the IACBP. Since 2002, more than $1.1 million has gone toward the IACBP, which is designed to guide faculty from minority-serving institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Hispanic-Serving Institutions, to develop curricula with academic enrichment from Carnegie Mellon CyLab and the INI.

"As one of the nation's largest cybersecurity research and education centers, Carnegie Mellon CyLab can offer a wealth of highly relevant topics and research findings to the faculty who engage in the IACBP," said Virgil Gligor, co-director of Carnegie Mellon CyLab, a multidisciplinary research center pioneering development of leading-edge cybersecurity tools.

Tsamitis said the combined efforts of Carnegie Mellon and the program participants will ultimately translate into new courses and educational initiatives at the participating institutions. In the past seven years, program participants have created 11 new courses, seven new degree options and 14 certificate programs, workshops and symposia.

"Programs such as the IACBP are designed to strengthen information assurance education at campuses nationwide," said Tsamitis, who was instrumental in gaining recognition for the university at an awards ceremony in Seattle, Wash., where Carnegie Mellon was re-designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education and designated for the first time as a Center for Academic Excellence in Research.

The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security jointly sponsor the National Centers of Academic Excellence programs. This partnership was formed in 2004 to protect the nation's critical infrastructures, which are essential to maintaining a strong economy and our national security.

Thru CyLab, US Gov Designates Carnegie Mellon as a CAE in Research, & also Re-Designates University as CAE in Information Assurance Education

“This is an outstanding honor for the university as Carnegie Mellon CyLab pioneers development of cutting-edge cybersecurity tools, and we continue to shape information security leaders through our competitive programs at the Information Networking Institute (INI),” said Mark S. Kamlet, Carnegie Mellon provost and senior vice president.


Thru CyLab, US Gov Designates Carnegie Mellon as a CAE in Research, & also Re-Designates University as CAE in Information Assurance Education

Through the university-wide efforts of its cybersecurity education and research center, Carnegie Mellon CyLab, Carnegie Mellon University has been re-designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education and designated for the first time as a Center for Academic Excellence in Research. The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security awarded the designation through 2014.

“This is an outstanding honor for the university as Carnegie Mellon CyLab pioneers development of cutting-edge cybersecurity tools, and we continue to shape information security leaders through our competitive programs at the Information Networking Institute (INI),” said Mark S. Kamlet, Carnegie Mellon provost and senior vice president.

Presentations will be made to new and re-designated centers June 3 during an awards ceremony at the Red Lion Hotel in Seattle, Wash.

“I am honored to represent Carnegie Mellon at this prestigious award ceremony, which recognizes our strength in fostering outstanding educational programs that support the nation’s cybersecurity needs,” said Dena Haritos Tsamitis, INI director and director of education, training and outreach for Carnegie Mellon CyLab.

Dena Haritos Tsamitis

The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security jointly sponsor the National Centers of Academic Excellence programs. This partnership was formed in April 2004 to protect the nation’s critical infrastructures, which are essential to maintaining a strong economy and our national security.

Through the university’s designation as a National Center for Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education, Carnegie Mellon graduate students in information security may be eligible to participate in the Federal Cyber Service Scholarship for Service Program (SFS), which offers a full scholarship and stipend in exchange for a commitment to work for the government after graduation.

“I’m very confident that my INI degree in information security, technology and management will expand my career as I continue to find new challenges in the information security field,” said John Truelove, who attended Carnegie Mellon through the SFS program.

Truelove, who must spend two years working for a government agency or federally funded research center under the program, begins work at MIT’s Lincoln Lab later this summer. In the past six years, the SFS Program has provided $12 million in stipends and tuition to 124 students at Carnegie Mellon.

The Information Assurance Capacity Building Program is another program at Carnegie Mellon designed to educate tomorrow’s information security leaders and faculty. Since 2002, more than $1.1 million has gone towards the Information Assurance Capacity Building Program, which is designed to guide faculty at minority-serving institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and Hispanic-Serving Institutions, to develop curricula with academic enrichment from the INI and Carnegie Mellon CyLab.

Three participating institutions, California State Polytechnic University Pomona, California State University San Bernardino and Texas A&M University, have consequently earned designations as Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance.

“This latest designation and these programs are an excellent example of the broad commitment by Carnegie Mellon CyLab and the College of Engineering to support the nation’s cybersecurity needs,” said Pradeep K. Khosla, dean of Carnegie Mellon’s College of Engineering and founder of Carnegie Mellon CyLab.

New INI Track Offers Cyber Forensics

NOTE: CyLab is a dynamic matrix that includes not only its own internal programs, e.g., CyLab Biometrics, CUPS, CyLab Mobility Research Center (MRC), etc., but also extends to closely associated resources, e.g., Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT), Information Networking Institute (INI), etc., which have evolved within the same space. In particular, INI is an important factor in the fulfillment of CyLab's commitment to personnel capacity building. So CyBlog not only carries news of CyLab developments, it also carries news of major INI developments.

New INI Track Offers Cyber Forensics

Here is some breaking news --

In Fall 2009, the INI will launch the Forensics Track to educate top talent in the cyber security field on how to conduct forensically sound digital investigations. It will be an option for students in Pittsburgh who are enrolled in either the Master of Science in Information Networking program or the Master of Science in Information Security Technology Management program. The INI offers the track in partnership with Carnegie Mellon's Software Engineering Institute (SEI), whose CERT® Program has long been at the side of government and law enforcement agencies when it comes to cyber forensics. ... Students who choose the Forensics Track as part of their master's program will obtain the skills and knowledge required to perform the investigations on computers and systems for which CERT has earned its reputation. CERT faculty, using state-of-the-art software, will teach each of the courses in the track and will include projects that give students hands-on experience. Upon completion, students will earn a certificate sanctioned by CERT, in addition to a master's degree in their program of choice.
The Forensics Track is the latest incentive offered at the INI to attract students who are interested in the field of information security. Another program, Scholarship for Service, provides a full scholarship to students who are U.S. citizens and willing to work for the government after graduation. The INI in partnership with Alta Associates also offers the Executive Women's Forum Fellowship, a full scholarship offered to an American minority student who will study information security.

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