Major Grants and Awards Announced at ESU

The authorization to release $2.5 million in state funding for the establishment of a Computer Security Research Center and a Computer Security Command and Control Center at East Stroudsburg University was announced January 16, 2003 by former Governor Mark Schweiker of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The authorization to release $2.5 million in state funding for the establishment of a Computer Security Research Center and a Computer Security Command and Control Center at East Stroudsburg University was announced January 16, 2003 by former Governor Mark Schweiker of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The funds from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) were approved in response to a grant application submitted by the ESU Center for Research and Economic Development in cooperation with BackboneSecurity.com, DSD Laboratories, Pocono Mountains Industries, State Representative Kelly Lewis, and others.

The Computer Security Command and Control Center will be operated by BackboneSecurity, a nationally known computer security company which was instrumental in the development of the ESU bachelor's degree program in computer security. In 2001, ESU became the first and only university in the United States to offer a bachelor's degree program in computer security. Backbone, the first company to participate in the university's Business Accelerator, was named one of seven firms qualified to conduct information security assessments for the National Security Agency (NSA).

The development of this state–of–the–art Computer Security Research Center, a Command and Control Center, and headquarters for the ESU Center for Research and Economic Development is being made possible through the $2.5 million in Commonwealth funding, in conjunction with other financing.

"It is our belief that this project will place ESU, Monroe County and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania at the forefront of a fast–growing industry that is critical to the security of our nation," said ESU President Robert Dillman.

$300,000 Grant for 2+2+2 Computer Security Cooperative Academic Program

East Stroudsburg University's Computer Security Program in collaboration with Northampton Community College (NCC) and the Monroe County Area Vocational Technical School (MCAVTS) was awarded $300,000 to extend career training in the field of computer security into the secondary and community college levels. Curriculum development will be accomplished with the assistance of BackboneSecurity.com.

The grant is one of eleven Workforce Leadership 2+2+2 "Skills Greenhouse" grants announced by former Governor Mark Schweiker and Tim McNulty, Acting Secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development.

The university will work with NCC and MCAVTS to develop and coordinate cooperative computer security course programming. The program will prepare students for employment at the completion of each educational level and will be designed to provide seamless transitions for students progressing through the three schools. It represents a unique and groundbreaking initiative by extending career training in computer security from the secondary through the university level. One of the outcomes of the program will be to provide a model for other school districts in Pennsylvania seeking to introduce computer security programs in their schools.

The assistance of BackboneSecurity adds significance to this collaborative initiative because of Backbone's recognition as a leader in anti–terrorism computer security protection by major government agencies such as the FBI and the National Security Agency.

"The unique partnership made possible through this grant will create a model computer security curriculum for community college and high school students in the Commonwealth," said ESU President Robert Dillman.

ESU Computer Security Program Seeks NSA Center of Excellence Status

The East Stroudsburg University Computer Science Department is proud to announce that its curriculum for Computer Security (also called Information Assurance) has met two of the National Security Agency's "National Standards" for this type of curriculum. The course work meets the basic National Training Standard for Information Systems Security Professionals. The program has exceeded this basic standard by meeting the National Training Standard for Designated Approving Authorities.

Professor N. Paul Schembari, a member of the Computer Science Department, states that, "Meeting these standards is equivalent to having our curriculum accredited by the NSA. Only 25 educational institutions in the United States have been accredited in this manner." In a communcation from NSA, its spokesperson said, "This NSA program provides the nation with a consistency in training and education for the information assurance critical skills." She further states that East Stroudsburg University "plays a vital role in helping protect our nation's vital information."

Having achieved this recognition, ESU has submitted an application with the National Security Agency to be declared a Center of Excellence in Information Assurance Education. The university expects news concerning this application in the next few months.