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March 18, 2024

St. Johns Universitys Master of Science (M.S.) degree program in Cyber and Information Security has received Program of Study validation from the National Security Agency (NSA), recognizing it among the industrys most highly regarded advanced-degree programs.

Representatives of the NSA joined a committee of academic peers in recognizing the masters program offered by The Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies. Program of Study validation acknowledges the St. Johns program is helping to ensure a highly skilled cybersecurity workforce that creates a strategic national advantage, according to the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C), which is managed by the NSA and oversees its educational programs.

According to Cybercrime Magazine, more than 170 colleges or universities offered cybersecurity-related masters degrees in 2023. Not all have earned Program of Study validation. St. Johns validation extends through the 2029 academic year and promises to enhance the professional prospects of University graduates entering a high-demand career field.

For students interested in pursuing a masters degree in Cyber and Information Security, validation offers assurance that the curriculum, facilities, and synergy between faculty and students meet the high standards of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the NSA, said Erald Troja, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Computer Science, Mathematics, and Science, and Acting Program Coordinator for the Cyber Security Systems program in the Collins College of Professional Studies.

For faculty and administrators, Dr. Troja continued, it offers the opportunity to pursue well-funded research and service-related grant opportunities that are exclusively available to programs validated by DHS and NSA.

The Program of Study validation is the culmination of a process that began before the first class of St. Johns graduate students enrolled in 2020. A minimum of three years of graduates was required before the University could apply. Courses needed to align with validation requirements, including a program-wide emphasis on community leadership in the field and demonstrated engagement in developing solutions to challenges in cybersecurity education.

Once the first class of students graduated in May 2023, a team led by Joan E. DeBello, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Mathematics and Computer Science, and Chair, Division of Computer Science, Mathematics, and Science, and Luca Iandoli, Ph.D., Dean, the Collins College of Professional Studies, and Professor, Division of Computer Science, Mathematics, and Science, applied for approval.

Approval came from the NCAE-C in mid-February.

Having this designation puts St. Johns at a high standard for continually improving the curriculum and provides a competitive edge with peer institutions who may not have this validation, Dr. DeBello said.

According to Suzanna Schmeelk, Ed.D., D.P.S., Assistant Professor of Cybersecurity, and Director, M.S. in Cyber and Information Security program, validation ensures the continued growth of the 30-credit M.S. in Cyber and Information Security program.

The future of this program is developing rapidly, Dr. Schmeelk said. Validation supports future initiatives, including international research and preparing students for strong cyber skill leadership in the industry, rooted in ethical and equitable values.

Program of Study validation continues the Universitys commitment to providing its cybersecurity students with state-of-the-art classroom and experiential-learning opportunities in an industry that is rapidly expanding. According to the information technology network Spiceworks, more than 2.7 million cybersecurity job vacancies existed globally in 2022.

St. Johns students in bachelors and masters degree programs have access to the Universitys Sanford Family Cyber Security Lab, where they can employ classroom-taught techniques for intrusion detection, vulnerability identification and mitigation, malware analysis, and more. The Sanford Family lab is the main conduit of St. Johns Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity Defense research.

Spiceworks recently ranked St. Johns among the top 10 of all cybersecurity colleges in the United States.

The NSA designation is a key asset in our strategy to consolidate St. Johns leadership and reputation in cybersecurity, Dean Iandoli said. NSA designation attests that our graduate curriculum is based on the industry gold standard, defined through identifying critical knowledge and competencies. Such design ensures our students will be fully prepared to be technology leaders in this developing field.

Read more here:
St. John's M.S. in Cyber and Information Security Earns Key NSA Validation - St John's University News

Fort Meade, Md.

The U.S. Senate voted to confirm President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.s nomination of U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Timothy D. Haugh to the rank of General and to assume the duties as the Commander, U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM), Director, National Security Agency (NSA)/Chief, Central Security Service (CSS).

Lt. Gen. Haugh is scheduled to assume his new role following a change-of-command ceremony planned for early 2024.

It is the honor of a lifetime to have the opportunity to lead the incredible workforce of the Command and the Agency as they support the joint force during this decisive decade, Lt. Gen. Haugh said. My priorities people, innovation, and partnerships will serve as the foundational values to ensure we continue to execute our mission to deliver outcomes against national priorities in foreign intelligence and cybersecurity.

Lt. Gen. Haugh began his Air Force career in 1991, by earning his commission and as a distinguished graduate of the Reserve Officers Training Corps at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa. He currently serves as CYBERCOMs deputy commander, where he directs, synchronizes, and coordinates cyberspace planning and operations to defend and advance national interests in collaboration with domestic and international partners.

In his nearly 32 years of service, Lt. Gen. Haugh brings a wealth of joint service knowledge and experience to the Command and the Agency from assignments including commander, Sixteenth Air Force, Air Forces Cyber and Joint Force Headquarters-Cyber, as commander, Cyber National Mission Force, as CYBERCOMs director of Intelligence, J2, and as the deputy commander of Joint Task Force-Ares.

Lt. Gen. Haugh expressed gratitude toward U.S. Army Gen. Paul M. Nakasone, Commander, CYBERCOM, Director, NSA/Chief, CSS, for his commitment to the dual-hat mission and workforce under his charge during times of unparalleled global challenges.

I believe the nation is defended and the future is secured due to his leadership over the past six years, Lt. Gen. Haugh said. His loyalty to the nation, duty to the mission, selfless service, integrity and personal courage are admirable.

Gen. Nakasone expressed that he is fortunate to pass command to a leader who upholds the highest standards of the service and demonstrates immense dedication to the mission.

Having worked alongside Lt. Gen. Haugh over the past decade, I can personally attest to his steadfast leadership, integrity first mentality, and unwavering sense of duty, Gen. Nakasone said.

Gen. Nakasone will retire after 37 years of dedicated service to the nation. As Director, NSA/Chief, CSS, Gen. Nakasone leads the nations signals intelligence (SIGINT) enterprise ensuring delivery of timely, accurate intelligence insights to warfighters, policymakers, and allies on topics of critical national security importance. As the National Manager for National Security Systems, Gen. Nakasone supports the protection of these systems, the Defense Industrial Base, and U.S. critical infrastructure from cyber threats as well the development of game-changing technologies to provide intelligence advantage.

During his tenure with the Command and the Agency, Gen. Nakasone supported the establishment of CYBERCOM, fostered strategic concepts for cyber operations, and oversaw tighter integration between CYBERCOM and NSA. Additionally, under his leadership the Command and the Agency built closer ties with federal and industry partners. For example, Gen. Nakasone established several NSA organizations, including the Cybersecurity Directorate, the China Strategy Center, and the Cybersecurity Collaboration Center, which now has 750 partners across industry and the Defense Industrial Base. Moreover, Gen. Nakasone spearheaded the development of several successful joint CYBERCOM and NSA teams such as the Russia Small Group, China Outcomes Group and the Election Security Group.

Gen. Nakasone has held command and staff positions across all levels of the U.S. Army and the joint force with assignments in the United States, the Republic of Korea, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

Serving the nation alongside the CYBERCOM and NSA/CSS workforce has been the highlight of my career, Gen. Nakasone said. I am proud to have worked every day with the very best leaders and talented workforce.

Read Gen. Paul Nakasones biography.

Read Lt. Gen. Timothy Haughs biography.

About U.S. Cyber Command:

U.S. Cyber Command directs, synchronizes, and coordinates cyberspace planning and operations to defend and advance national interests in collaboration with domestic and international partners.

Here is the original post:
Senate votes to confirm Lt. Gen. Timothy Haugh to lead CYBERCOM and NSA/CSS - United States Cyber Command

The National Security Agency (NSA) published its 2023 Cybersecurity Year in Review this week to share its recent cybersecurity successes, including the agencys work to enhance national security through artificial intelligence, strategic competition, and more.

The report also highlights the agencys work this year with other Federal agency partners, foreign partners, and the Defense Industrial Base (DIB).

The combined talent of our partners is the greatest competitive advantage we have to confront the increasingly sophisticated threats we see today, NSA Cybersecurity Director Rob Joyce said in a Dec. 19 press release.

The report highlights that NSAs Cybersecurity Collaboration Center (CCC) tripled its partnerships this year, allowing the agency to collaborate in more than 750 open and robust relationships across industry and government.

According to the report, the CCC scaled its cybersecurity as a service program to include small-to-medium businesses within the DIB increasing enrollments in NSAs no-cost cybersecurity services to Department of Defense contractors by 400 percent.

Within the CCC, NSA also established the Artificial Intelligence Security Center this year, which will promote the secure development, integration, and adoption of AI technologies within National Security Systems (NSS) and the DIB.

Additionally, the 36-page report highlights NSAs work to protect the United States against global threats such as Russian cyberespionage malware and malicious cyber activity from the Peoples Republic of China (PRC).

This year, NSA said it joined forces with partners at the FBI, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and others to expose PRC and Russian intrusions into U.S. critical infrastructure.

We need to be able to respond to threats from the PRC, Russia, and other global adversaries today and in the future, NSA Director Gen. Paul Nakasone said in a letter within the report. We must stay ahead of our global competitors who constantly seek to reshape the global information environment and the world order as we know it.

Cybersecurity matters. It matters to our partners and it matters to us. It ensures that our information, our intelligence, our knowledge can be shared securely, Nakasone added.

Read the original here:
NSA Highlights AI, Partnerships in 2023 Cyber Review - MeriTalk

FORT MEADE, Md.--The National Security Agency (NSA) published its 2023 Cybersecurity Year in Review today to share its recent cybersecurity successes and how it is working with partners to deliver on cybersecurity advances that enhance national security. This years report highlights NSAs work with U.S government partners, foreign partners, and the Defense Industrial Base.

The combined talent of our partners is the greatest competitive advantage we have to confront the increasingly sophisticated threats we see today- Rob Joyce, Director of Cybersecurity

The Cybersecurity Year in Review highlights NSAs recent cybersecurity efforts, including:

Establishing the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Security Center.

Detecting stealthy Peoples Republic of China (PRC) intrusions into U.S. critical infrastructure and joined forces with partners (CISA, FBI, NIST, etc.) to expose those intrusions.

Collaborating with industry, government stakeholders, and academia to modernize cryptography to scale cybersecurity solutions and address the quantum threat.

Cybersecurity matters. It matters to our partners and it matters to us. It ensures that our information, our intelligence, our knowledge can be shared securely.- General Paul M. Nakasone, U.S Army; Commander, U.S Cyber Command; Director, National Security Agency; Chief, Central Security Service

This report includes information about NSAs cybersecurity partnerships and the efforts in building them. This year NSA:

Inaugurated the new AI Security Center within the Cybersecurity Collaboration Center, which will promote the secure development, integration, and adoption of AI capabilities within National Security Systems (NSS) and the Defense Industrial Base (DIB).

Scaled NSAs cybersecurity impact against global threats like Russian cyberespionage malware and malicious cyber activity from the Peoples Republic of China together with U.S. and international partners and collaborators.

Increasedenrollments in NSAs no cost cybersecurity services to Department of Defense contractors by 400%, hardening infrastructure and strengthening the Defense Industrial Base.

For questions or feedback on the report, contact Cybersecurity@nsa.gov or CybersecurityReports@nsa.gov. For any media inquiries, contact MediaRelations@nsa.gov. Read the 2023 NSA Cybersecurity Year in Review to learn more.

View original post here:
NSA Publishes 2023 Cybersecurity Year in Review - National Security Agency

FORT MEADE, Md. The U.S. Senate voted to confirm President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.s nomination of U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Timothy D. Haugh to the rank of General and to assume the duties as the Commander, U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM), Director, National Security Agency (NSA)/Chief, Central Security Service (CSS).

Lt. Gen. Haugh is scheduled to assume his new role following a change-of-command ceremony planned for early 2024.

It is the honor of a lifetime to have the opportunity to lead the incredible workforce of the Command and the Agency as they support the joint force during this decisive decade, Lt. Gen. Haugh said. My priorities people, innovation, and partnerships will serve as the foundational values to ensure we continue to execute our mission to deliver outcomes against national priorities in foreign intelligence and cybersecurity. Lt. Gen. Haugh began his Air Force career in 1991, by earning his commission and as a distinguished graduate of the Reserve Officers Training Corps at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa. He currently serves as CYBERCOMs deputy commander, where he directs, synchronizes, and coordinates cyberspace planning and operations to defend and advance national interests in collaboration with domestic and international partners.

In his nearly 32 years of service, Lt. Gen. Haugh brings a wealth of joint service knowledge and experience to the Command and the Agency from assignments including commander, Sixteenth Air Force, Air Forces Cyber and Joint Force Headquarters-Cyber, as commander, Cyber National Mission Force, as CYBERCOMs director of Intelligence, J2, and as the deputy commander of Joint Task Force-Ares.

Lt. Gen. Haugh expressed gratitude toward U.S. Army Gen. Paul M. Nakasone, Commander, CYBERCOM, Director, NSA/Chief, CSS, for his commitment to the dual-hat mission and workforce under his charge during times of unparalleled global challenges.

I believe the nation is defended and the future is secured due to his leadership over the past six years, Lt. Gen. Haugh said. His loyalty to the nation, duty to the mission, selfless service, integrity and personal courage are admirable.

Gen. Nakasone expressed that he is fortunate to pass command to a leader who upholds the highest standards of the service and demonstrates immense dedication to the mission.

Having worked alongside Lt. Gen. Haugh over the past decade, I can personally attest to his steadfast leadership, integrity first mentality, and unwavering sense of duty, Gen. Nakasone said.

Gen. Nakasone will retire after 37 years of dedicated service to the nation. As Director, NSA/Chief, CSS, Gen. Nakasone leads the nations signals intelligence (SIGINT) enterprise ensuring delivery of timely, accurate intelligence insights to warfighters, policymakers, and allies on topics of critical national security importance. As the National Manager for National Security Systems, Gen. Nakasone supports the protection of these systems, the Defense Industrial Base, and U.S. critical infrastructure from cyber threats as well the development of game-changing technologies to provide intelligence advantage.

During his tenure with the Command and the Agency, Gen. Nakasone supported the establishment of CYBERCOM, fostered strategic concepts for cyber operations, and oversaw tighter integration between CYBERCOM and NSA. Additionally, under his leadership the Command and the Agency built closer ties with federal and industry partners. For example, Gen. Nakasone established several NSA organizations, including the Cybersecurity Directorate, the China Strategy Center, and the Cybersecurity Collaboration Center, which now has 750 partners across industry and the Defense Industrial Base. Moreover, Gen. Nakasone spearheaded the development of several successful joint CYBERCOM and NSA teams such as the Russia Small Group, China Outcomes Group and the Election Security Group.

Gen. Nakasone has held command and staff positions across all levels of the U.S. Army and the joint force with assignments in the United States, the Republic of Korea, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

Serving the nation alongside the CYBERCOM and NSA/CSS workforce has been the highlight of my career, Gen. Nakasone said. I am proud to have worked every day with the very best leaders and talented workforce. About the National Security Agency: Founded in 1952, NSA is a U.S. Department of Defense combat support agency and element of the U.S. Intelligence Community. The Agencys mission is to provide foreign signals intelligence to policymakers and our military, and to prevent and eradicate cybersecurity threats to U.S. national security systems, with a focus on the Defense Industrial Base and the improvement of U.S. weapons security. From protecting U.S. warfighters around the world to enabling and supporting operations on land, in the air, at sea, in space, and in the cyber domain, NSA is committed to building public trust through transparency and protecting civil liberties and privacy consistent with our nations values.

NSA Media Relations MediaRelations@nsa.gov 443-634-0721

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Senate votes to confirm Lt. Gen. Timothy Haugh to lead CYBERCOM and NSA/CSS - National Security Agency