Montana State designated as National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense

BOZEMAN - The National Security Agency has named Montana State University a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense in recognition of programs that prepare students to protect and promote America's national security and economic prosperity.

"The NSA puts a lot of weight on this certification," said Clemente Izurieta, a professor of computer science in the Gianforte School of Computing in MSU's Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering. "On a very high level, we now have a validated cybersecurity curriculum in alliance with National Security Agency standards."

The National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, a program managed by the NSA's National Cryptologic School, notified MSU of the designation on Nov. 20. The designation runs through the end of the academic year in 2030.

Izurieta said it took four years to bring together the elements required for the designation, including graduating three classes from a recently developed Master of Science in Cybersecurity degree program. To build the program, MSU recruited additional faculty members with demonstrated expertise in cybersecurity. The Software Engineering and Cybersecurity Laboratory, or SECL, formed an industry advisory board, created a digital portal that students can use to research opportunities, secured funding to train ROTC cadets and is a member of the newly formed Institute of National Security Research and Education, where students are given opportunities to strengthen the nation's posture in national security. Izurieta and his colleagues Ann Marie Reinhold, assistant professor and co-director of the laboratory, and program manager Suzanne Hockel led the effort.

Izurieta said the designation is likely to attract students who recognize that it could lead to academic grants and scholarships, as well as job prospects with agencies like the NSA or Department of Homeland Security.

"A lot of students make decisions on the programs they select based on certification," he said. "Students basically get national recognition for the work that we're doing."

He said the new designation complements cybersecurity programs at Gallatin College MSU, which itself was designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense in 2023. Gallatin College's cybersecurity program offers associate degrees that prepare students to join the workforce immediately upon graduation.

"Gallatin College's focus is hands-on, teaching students how to configure complex technology such as routers and servers and how to wire the networking equipment so they can mitigate cybersecurity threats. Our program is academically rigorous and research-driven, emphasizing both foundational principles and applied knowledge that strengthen operational capabilities," Izurieta said. "Both are equally important."

Izurieta noted that MSU's SECL also conducts highly classified research led by Reinhold for the federal government and defense companies at MSU's Applied Research Laboratory.

"We're doing a lot of good work, and this doesn't end here," said Izurieta, adding that MSU's next step will be pursuing a second designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Research. "The 'Research' designation is reserved for R-1 universities like MSU, and we plan to go after that one."

Added Izurieta, "We are the cyber hub in the state of Montana, and we plan to take the cyber program at MSU to the next level."