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Cybersecurity students Aaron Hondrick, Edgar Rodriguez, Michael Barnes and Ricardo Ibarra work in the 7th Street Classroom lab on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021.

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Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Cybersecurity program has been designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyberdefense by the National Security Agency. The designation brings with it more opportunities for professional relationships and funding for students, helping them to better prepare for careers in a field where they are desperately needed. 

“There are about 590,000 unfilled cyber jobs in the U.S., and about 20,000 of those jobs are in Colorado,” said Richard Mac Namee, director of the Cybersecurity Center at MSU Denver.  

The Cybersecurity Center provides students with hands-on, experiential learning that results in a clear pathway to break into the cybersecurity industry. The NSA designation facilitates the development of faculty and researchers, among other benefits.  

To earn the designation, college and university cybersecurity programs must meet stringent academic standards and demonstrate a commitment to providing students with necessary training to defend the world against a growing array of international threats. 

“With this certification, the NSA recognizes that MSU Denver’s Cybersecurity program adheres to high standards of academic excellence. Our innovative and interdisciplinary programming, along with our approach to industry partnerships, focused on experiential learning in our Cyber Range, makes MSU Denver a key player in developing the nation’s next generation of cyber professionals,” said MSU Denver President Janine Davidson, Ph.D.

MSU Denver’s innovative cybersecurity programming includes a newly launched partnership with the National Cybersecurity Center in Colorado Springs, Project PISCES. The project will leverage MSU Denver’s Cybersecurity Center to provide free and low-cost cyber training to local governments and students throughout Colorado.  

“This (PISCES) program is an exciting example of the many resources the NCC is working to bring to Colorado communities to improve our state’s and region’s cybersecurity posture,” said Harry D. Raduege, Jr., Lieutenant General, USAF (Ret.), CEO of the NCC.

In addition, cybersecurity students can benefit from paid internships with the international cybersecurity provider Atos. As interns, students work alongside Atos professionals to learn how to monitor client networks in real time. The Cybersecurity Program also worked with the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) to offer multiple professional certifications to its 250 undergraduate and graduate students last fall.  

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