National Center of Academic Excellence

Texas A&M University is recognized as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (CAE-C), with designations for Cyber Defense (CAE-CD), Cyber Operations (CAE-CO) and Cyber Research (CAE-R)—one of only eleven institutions that hold all three designations.

The National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) program is managed by National Security Agency’s (NSA) National Cryptologic University. Federal partners include the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)/National Initiative on Cybersecurity Education (NICE), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Defense Office of the Chief Information Officer (DoD-CIO), and U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM).

What is a CAE-C?

Institutions that receive a CAE-C designation have met the rigorous requirements set forth by the sponsor of the program, the National Security Agency (NSA). The NSA awards CAE-C designations to institutions that commit to producing cybersecurity professionals that will reduce vulnerabilities in our national infrastructure.

What is a CAE-C?

• The Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) designation indicates that your institution is helping reduce threats to our national infrastructure by promoting higher education and research in cyber defense as well as provide the nation with a pipeline of qualified cybersecurity professionals.
• The Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations (CAE-CO) program is in support of the President’s National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE): Building a Digital Nation. It furthers the goal to broaden the pool of skilled workers capable of supporting a cyber-secure nation. The CAE-CO program is a deeply technical, inter-disciplinary, higher education program with a particular emphasis on technologies and techniques related to specialized cyber operations (e.g., collection, exploitation, and response), critical to intelligence, military, and law enforcement organizations authorized to perform these specialized operations.
• The Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Research (CAE-R) designation indicates that your institution increases the understanding of robust cyber defense technology, policy, and practices that will enable our Nation to prevent and respond to a catastrophic event.