The National Security Agency has designated the Air Force Institute of Technology Center for Cyberspace Research (CCR) as a National Center of Excellence in Research for academic years 2009-2014. Official letters of notification were sent to the AFIT Commandant, Governor of Ohio, members of Congress, and appropriate Congressional Committees. A ceremony to recognize the achievement was held at the 13th Colloquium for Information Systems Security Education in Seattle, WA, June 3, 2009. CCR Associate Director Dr. Rusty Baldwin accepted the award on behalf of the Air Force Institute of Technology.

The National Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education-Research program is sponsored by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The goal of the program is to reduce vulnerabilities in our national information infrastructure by promoting higher education and research in Information Assurance and producing a growing number of professionals with IA expertise in various disciplines.

The award was jointly presented by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Information Management and Technology, the NSA Information Assurance Technical Director, and the DHS Director for Education.

With this designation, an AFIT student is eligible to apply for scholarships and grants through the Department of Defense Information Assurance Scholarship Program or the Federal CyberCorp Scholarship for Service Program.

For more information visit the CCR website: http://www.afit.edu/ccr/Scholarships.cfm