UNCW Faculty Work with Congress to secure $625,000: Allows for Creation of Cyber Security Maritime Specialization

Sponsored Content provided by Robert Burrus - Dean , Cameron School of Business - UNC-Wilmington

This article was contributed by Jenny Bingham, M.Ed., External Communications, and Dr. Ulku Clark, Professor and Director of the UNCW Center for Cyber Defense Education within CSB.

UNCW Provost James Winebrake, College of Science and Engineering Dean Ron Vetter, Professor and Director of the UNCW Center for Cyber Defense Education Ulku Clark, National Cyber Director Harry Coker, Jr.

Cybersecurity threats are currently one of the most important issues facing our country and world. The Cameron School of Business, in partnership with other UNCW departments, has risen to the challenge by creating programs to close the gap in cybersecurity workforce needs and available workers.

Important Dates:

2018: UNCW launched the Center for Cyber Defense Education directed by Dr. Ulku Clark
- This program is dedicated to raising awareness of cybersecurity issues and supporting the development of cyber defense expertise
2022: The Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity is launched
- The degree is interdisciplinary between the Computer Science department and the Cameron School of Business
2023: UNCW joins Carolina Cyber Network (CCN)
- CCN members equip students with hands-on technical skills, essential life skills and work-based learning that prepares them to be “job-ready” to serve the public and private sectors
- UNCW is one of the National Security Agency’s designated Centers for Academic Excellence
- UNCW is leading the Transportation Systems Security Sector Group of Carolina Cyber Network
2024: UNCW worked with Congress to secure $625,000 from the FY24 federal budget to help protect America’s marine transportation system from cyber threats
- The research project is titled “Maritime Cyber Security: Standards Advancement, Research, and Workforce Development”

Currently UNCW offers eight cybersecurity focused programs including a cybersecurity major, minor, and MBA with cybersecurity specialization. The money received from Congress will allow the university to add a graduate certificate with maritime specialization. This graduate certificate will build on the cybersecurity curriculum and help find solutions to critical national security issues.

Professor and Director of the UNCW Center for Cyber Defense Education Ulku Clark is the principal investigator for this project. Professor and Founding Dean of the UNCW College of Science and Engineering Ron Vetter will serve as the co-principal investigator. The research team includes faculty from the Cameron School of Business and the College of Science and Engineering.

The funding will enable UNCW to focus on maritime cyber security issues such as:

Risk assessment and remediation plan development
Train a workforce to address the cybersecurity professional shortage
Develop standards that can be shared nationally

“Dr. Clark said, ‘As North Carolina’s coastal university, we resolutely support the blue economy, which includes major efforts to address the need for a high-skilled maritime cybersecurity workforce.’” – UNCW Office of University Relations
UNCW worked with Congressman David Rouzer (NC-07) to secure the $625,000.

“It is important that UNCW has the resources to expand their maritime cybersecurity research and education program, and I was pleased to help during the appropriations process for fiscal year 2024,” U.S. Rep. Davis Rouzer said in an UNCW press release.

You can read the letter of request from Rouzer to Congress by clicking here.

If you are interested in joining UNCW’s Cyber Security Industry Advisory Board, please visit this site.

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UNCW Faculty Work with Congress to secure $625,000: Allows for Creation of Cyber Security Maritime Specialization

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