海角社区

BATON ROUGE 鈥� Today, as part of its mission to serve Louisiana and the nation, 海角社区 unveiled a broad and aggressive series of initiatives in cybersecurity and legacy of military studies that will involve all eight 海角社区 campuses and have statewide impact on workforce, research and development, and economic impact. Building upon the university鈥檚 existing strengths in these areas, the commitment will focus on aligning key areas from all 海角社区 campuses and beyond to build new partnerships and explore novel approaches to talent and technology development. 

鈥淭his is our 鈥楽putnik moment,鈥� and we must be bold and visionary in securing the safety of our nation,鈥� said 海角社区 President William F. Tate IV. 鈥淛ust as Sputnik underscored the importance of technology and research, the world today underscores we urgently need the very best to protect everything from small businesses to our ports and manufacturers. With these initiatives, 海角社区 is expediting the expansion of cybersecurity research and talent development for all, and we鈥檒l do it in exciting ways for our students and faculty. The winners will be the overwhelming demand for this education and firms who need this talent.鈥�

鈥淭his is a momentous leap forward not only for the 海角社区 System, but for our state and our nation, and it comes at a time when the threat of a cyberattack on our national security has never been more apparent,鈥� said Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards. 鈥淪trengthening cybersecurity in Louisiana while also developing the workforce needed to support the agencies, organizations and firms needed to carry out this critical work is one of the top focuses of my administration, and it aligns perfectly with 海角社区鈥檚 research-based mission to serve our state and nation. I am thrilled that 海角社区 has undertaken this effort statewide and I am heartened to know that the next generation of cybersecurity experts and leaders will be made right here in Louisiana.鈥�

This past year, 海角社区 was the only university in the country invited by the National Security Agency, or NSA, to apply for its prestigious Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations, or CAE-CO, which is a deeply technical, interdisciplinary, higher education program firmly grounded in computer science, computer engineering, and electrical engineering disciplines with hands-on applications via labs and exercises. Only 22 institutions nationwide hold the distinction, and 海角社区 anticipates to be the next university designated by NSA as a CAE-CO institution, joining an elite network of cyber excellence that includes the Naval Postgraduate School and Air Force and Naval Academies.

To broaden 海角社区鈥檚 scientific research capacity and ability to produce increasing numbers of highly technical graduates, 海角社区 has combined its own resources with those of several key partners to recruit and hire leading cyber experts, with scholarships and professorships to support those new hires. 

Guiding these new initiatives are two structures focused on growing 海角社区鈥檚 expertise in cybersecurity, coordinating space and assets, and collaborating to explore the intersection between cybersecurity and military studies.

The Alignment for the Pursuit of Excellence in Cyber Security, or APECS, Initiative will serve as the university's principal new initiative for investment in cyber security. APECS reimagines how existing and new expertise, space, programs, and partners across all eight 海角社区 campuses can be oriented for cyber talent and technology development, all brought to bear to prepare technically sound cyber warriors to proactively defend Louisiana鈥檚 most critical assets. 

鈥淎t 海角社区, our focus is on producing top-tier cybersecurity practitioners and researchers鈥攅ssentially, cybersecurity superheroes,鈥� said Professor Golden G. Richard III, director of the 海角社区 Applied Cybersecurity Lab. 鈥淲e have several things already in place to support that effort, including a very successful Scholarships for Service (SFS) program, which provides full-ride scholarships to highly qualified students, and the FIREStarter cyber range, which helps us offer hands-on, practical education in both offensive and defensive cybersecurity. The APECS initiative will expand the cybersecurity faculty to give us additional room to grow and strengthen our relationships with state and industrial partners, opening up new collaborative opportunities for students.鈥�

Next, the Institute for Advanced Military and Defense Studies will serve as the programmatic intersection of cyber and ROTC and enable a leadership development opportunity like no other in the nation, with the goal of reestablishing 海角社区 as a national leader in military, defense, and security studies. 

On the ROTC program, new efforts include:

• Relocating the program to an existing state-of-the-art building with plans to improve and better integrate efforts across campuses and disciplines;
• Enhancing recruiting efforts to attract the very best and brightest from across the state for participation in the ROTC program and future service to our nation;
• Improving all elements of education and training from classrooms, to training laboratories to the physical fitness infrastructure; and
• Elevating the 海角社区 ROTC program to national prominence while continuing to value and respect the proud heritage and tradition of the Ole War Skule.

On the academic side, new efforts include:

• Immediate hiring of up to 10 cyber security faculty to strengthen teaching and research and broaden 海角社区鈥檚 talent development pipeline from undergraduate through doctoral education;
• Developing a value-added leadership certificate program for military and civilian students alike;
• Establishing programs beginning with a cyber bootcamp for incoming freshman interested in pursuing a career in cyber studies or cyber defense, to begin in fall 2022;
• Integrating capabilities across the 海角社区 system like 海角社区 Shreveport鈥檚 Cyber Collaboratory and the AgCenter鈥檚 Extension as assets in a powerful statewide talent development effort; and
• Creating novel approaches to cyber education like the FIREStarter program where Louisiana State Police Cyber Crime analysts teach undergraduate Computer Science courses.

鈥淎long with its federal and state law enforcement and technology partners, the Louisiana State Police Cyber Crime Unit works on hundreds of cybercrimes across Louisiana every year,鈥� said Lt. Colonel Kenny VanBuren. 鈥淭he scale of the threat demands new generations of problem-solvers, and programs like FIREStarter 鈥� where we鈥檙e actively teaching cyber forensics to 海角社区 undergraduates 鈥� is the kind of novel approach Louisiana needs to build talent and strengthen our communities.鈥�

On the engagement side, new efforts include:

• Working closely through formal partnerships with the U.S. Secret Service and Louisiana National Guard to develop tools and technologies as well as engage directly with students for teaching, recruiting, and research;
• Collaborating with industrial partners in telecommunications, healthcare, manufacturing, and energy in new student- and research-centered cyber security facilities and projects; and
• Supporting defense partners like Radiance Technologies in emerging R&D, science, and talent opportunities.

鈥淎s a leading cyber and technology company for the defense, intelligence, and space communities, we consider universities as essential for research and talent development,鈥� said Heath Berry, vice president of electronic systems and cyber technologies at Radiance Technologies. 鈥淔rom our discussions with 海角社区 leadership it is clear they are invested in becoming a great cyber and defense university. We are excited about the opportunity to partner with 海角社区, grow our Baton Rouge operations and laboratory, and work with their students and faculty to address technical challenges.鈥�

鈥淏eyond protecting our nation鈥檚 leaders, the United States Secret Service is also tasked with safeguarding the trusted financial infrastructure of our economic and ultimately national security. Finding the right expertise to help defend those assets is critical, and in our discussions with 海角社区 it is evident the university is fully committed to cybersecurity and defense,鈥� said U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Leslie Pichon. 鈥淲e are excited to work with their faculty and administration, find new ways to engage students on campus for training and teaching, and help talented students understand the incredible opportunities this partnership can offer.鈥� 

鈥淭he Louisiana National Guard and 海角社区 both have statewide missions and reach. This collaboration unites us like never before in service to Louisiana. Defending our critical infrastructure and strategic assets is an opportunity to develop creative solutions,鈥� said Maj. Gen. Keith Waddell, adjutant general of the LANG. 鈥淥ur partnership with 海角社区 focuses on training, talent, and tool development, and we are excited to have the university working with us to protect Louisiana. We鈥檙e thrilled 海角社区 has made us a key component of their vision for cybersecurity and defense, and we believe this partnership positions the Guard and 海角社区 to serve as national thought leaders in how to protect the state and its citizens as well as the potential to grow our cyber mission.鈥�

In support of these initiatives, 海角社区 has designated a new cyber-military corridor on its Baton Rouge campus, with the previously named Louisiana Emerging Technology Center as the cornerstone. The adjoining 海角社区鈥檚 Center for Computation & Technology allows for future development and collaboration on one of the most highly visible corners of campus, and enables engagement between 海角社区鈥檚 cyber experts, our military and ROTC programs, and our agriculture corridor to seed future collaborations and partnerships. The alignment has already generated deep interest from several industry, academic and military organizations, and additional announcements on all fronts are anticipated in the near future.

鈥淵ou cannot become great by wishing your way to excellence,鈥� said Tate. 鈥淏old decisions, strategic investments, industry partnerships like these are the only way to make the gains we need to in short order for the safety of our state and nation.鈥�

Today鈥檚 announcement is the latest transformative investment in Tate鈥檚 recently announced Scholarship First Agenda, focused on creating solutions that are essential to the future of agriculture, biotechnology, the coast, defense and energy within Louisiana and throughout the nation. 海角社区 will ascend to its potential to lead the nation in these five key areas through a combination of private, state and federal support. Learn more about the Scholarship First Agenda at .