Virginia Tech receives NSA cybersecurity designation

The National Security Agency (NSA) has designated Virginia Tech as a Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations.

That makes Virginia Tech the first university in the commonwealth, and one of 16 in the nation, to receive the designation.

The program is designed to create a cyber-aware workforce through education initiatives. Universities selected for this designation must offer a curriculum that promotes both interdisciplinary knowledge and hands-on technical studies, including courses in software reverse engineering, cybersecurity law, and mobile and cellular technologies.

Virginia Tech offers a bachelor of science in computer engineering, minor in cybersecurity, and focus in cyber operations.

Virginia Tech will hold the designation for five academic years, from 2017 to 2022. Virginia Tech has received a previous designation as an NSA Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, and is also designated by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence as an Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence.

“This elite designation is an outstanding addition to Virginia’s cyber portfolio,” Gov. Terry McAuliffe said in a statement. “This very technical, inter-disciplinary, higher education program is firmly grounded in computer science, computer engineering, and electrical engineering disciplines and offers students an opportunity to attain the highest level of cyber credentialing in the commonwealth.”