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News Release

Last modified: Friday, May 16, 2008

IU named National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Research

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 16, 2008

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security announced that Indiana University is among the nation's first universities to be designated National Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Research.

The designation is for the years 2008-13. IU and the 22 other colleges and universities named National Centers of Academic Excellence will be recognized at the annual conference of the Colloquium for Information Systems Security Education June 2-4 at the University of Texas at Dallas.

"This designation reflects the fact that Indiana University is a world leader in information assurance and cybersecurity," said IU President Michael A. McRobbie. "It is a tribute to the hard work and strategic vision of many technology research leaders at the university. The support of the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security will enable the university to be even more effective in helping overcome the challenges of securing the global information system."

The designation complements IU's selection in August 2007 as a National Center of Academic Excellence for Information Assurance Education. Fred H. Cate, director of the Center for Applied Cybersecurity Research and distinguished professor of law at the IU School of Law--Bloomington, said the designation for both research and education "reflects our twin goals of developing new knowledge and translating that knowledge into practical benefits for the public by educating students, professionals, policymakers, the press and the public."

Cate credited McRobbie, who as vice president for information technology and chief information officer, created the university security policy office, pushed to have IU receive a contact to operate the Research and Education Network Information Sharing and Analysis Center, and started the Center for Applied Cybersecurity Research.

"The designation reflects President McRobbie's vision for, and sustained commitment to, enhancing information security," Cate said. "It recognizes not only the volume and quality of Indiana University's cybersecurity research, but also the unparalleled range of resources here engaged in that research."

In addition to the aforementioned centers and outstanding faculty and students in the School of Informatics and other units, Cate noted, IU is home to the Advanced Network Management Lab, the Internet 2 network operations center and other unique assets that contribute to its research mission.

Brad Wheeler, the current IU vice president for information and chief information officer, said, "This designation affirms IU's long leadership in the intersection of law, policy and technology. Our centers align the very best expertise in these areas, and this designation affirms the timely relevance of information assurance education and scholarship."

The National Centers of Academic Excellence in IA Research (CAE-R) program was launched in September 2007 to address the need for robust information assurance technology, policy and practices to enable the nation to prevent and respond to catastrophic events. Its vision is to establish a process that will allow IA research centers to find solutions for securing the global information grid and provide federal agencies with insight into programs that can support advanced research and development for information assurance.

IU and the other universities designated as Centers of Academic Excellence in IA Research and Education are eligible to apply for grants and scholarships through the federal and Department of Defense Information Assurance Scholarship programs.

The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security formed a partnership to support the National Centers of Academic Excellence programs in 2004. The effort responded to President Bush's National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace, which directed the federal government to foster training and education programs to support the nation's cybersecurity programs and to improve the efficiency of national cybersecurity.

In addition to IU, National Centers of Academic Excellence in IA Research include: Auburn University, Boston University, Dartmouth College, George Mason University, Johns Hopkins University, Mississippi State University, Missouri University of Science and Technology, North Carolina State University, Northeastern University, Oklahoma State University, Polytechnic University, Stevens Institute of Technology, The George Washington University, The Pennsylvania State University, The University of Texas at Dallas, University of California at Davis, University of California Irvine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Maryland Baltimore County, University of North Carolina Charlotte, University of Pittsburgh and University of Washington.

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