Center for Cybersecurity Research and Analysis (CCRA)

The Center for Cybersecurity Research and Analysis serves as the university hub for training, research, analysis, and programming in all things cybersecurity. Learn to defeat simulated cyberattacks, land an internship where you can put your skills to work and prepare for the workforce, publish a scholarly article addressing an existing challenge in the field, and much more. Students–both on-ground and online–faculty, alumni, and community partners alike are welcome.

As one of the first schools in the nation to be designated a National Center of Excellence in Cyber Defense by the Department of Defense and the National Security Agency, Capitol Technology University stands ready to advance the field and do its part to combat one of the nation’s greatest challenges.

Accolades

Cybersecurity Chair, Dr. William (Bill) Butler received the SC Media Leadership Award for Outstanding Educator at the 2021 SC Awards. Read more...

Capitol Technology University was announced as the winner of the prestigious SC Media Award for Best Cybersecurity Higher Education Program on February 25, 2020. Read more...

The Department of Defense and National Security Agency have designated Capitol Technology University as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense. We were honored to have a communications team from the NSA come to campus and produce this video explaining the benefits of our award-winning program.

Celebrating 21 Years of Quality Cyber Education

One such program is our award-winning cybersecurity program, currently celebrating its 21st year at Capitol Tech. This robust program offers degrees at every level, including doctoral, and is constantly evolving to meet the needs of the growing cyber industry. It was named Best Cybersecurity Higher Education Program by SC Media in 2020, and was a finalist for the same award the following year. Learn more about this wonderful program and its faculty each October as we celebrate Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

National Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) Northeast Regional Hub

Capitol Technology University was awarded a two-year grant from NSA to lead the National Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) Northeast Regional Hub, which includes 14 states, the District of Columbia, and hundreds of institutions offering cybersecurity programs. This distinction bestowed to the university echoes the importance of the university’s longstanding dedication to cybersecurity education, active leadership roles within the region, and ever-expanding global reach.

Institutions that receive a Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) in Cybersecurity designation have met the rigorous requirements set forth by the joint sponsors of the program, the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The NSA and DHS award the CAE in Cybersecurity (CAE-C) designation to institutions that commit to producing cybersecurity professionals that will reduce vulnerabilities in our national infrastructure.

Capitol Tech leads the Northeast Consortium composed of Mohawk Valley Community College, and Towson University dedicated to establishing a collaborative community to both address and achieve the CAE program office goals and objectives including increasing:
1. collaboration between CAEs within the region;
2. CAE relationships between stakeholders (K-12, Employers, etc.);
3. the number of CAE institutions in the region; and
4. the number of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) designated as CAEs in the region
The Consortium to date has held two well-attended regional town hall meetings; hosted other CAE initiatives focused on student competitions, faculty training and development, the CLARK repository of cybersecurity curriculum content; the K-12 focused RING project, and the new CAE designation / KU mapping Training. The Consortium has agreed to work closely with the Cybersecurity Education Diversity Initiative (CEDI) program to identify and work with MSI’s and HBCU’s within the Northeast region on program development and/or CAE designation.
For your institution to become a CAE-C, your organization needs to first contact the CAE-C program office with your intention to apply for the designation. Once this information is received, you will be encouraged to fill out the CAE Program Applicant Checklist. Once this information is collected, you enter into the mentor/reviewer program housed by the CAE National Resource Centers (CNRC) located at Whatcom Community College and Northern Virginia Community College. This process will take several months to complete. Upon successful completion of the program, your institution becomes designated as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity.
The CAE-C Program Office contact information is listed below.
- Cybersecurity (CAE-C) Program Office
  - CAE Office Information Link - https://www.iad.gov/NIETP/CAERequirements.cfm
  - General Question Email Address - askCAEIAE@nsa.gov

Attend a Free Virtual Cyber Saturday Information Session

Are you a high school or community college student with an interest in computers, coding, gaming and cybersecurity? At Capitol Technology University, we offer a regular series of Cyber Saturdays that will provide you with the opportunity to explore those activities in a fun, game-like environment.

Click here to view upcoming Cyber Saturday dates and register now!

Contact

William Butler, D.Sc. Executive Director, Center for Cybersecurity Research and Analysis (CCRA) 240.965.2458 whbutler@captechu.edu	Kellep Charles, PhD Director, Center for Cybersecurity Research and Analysis (CCRA) Chair, Cybersecurity kacharles@captechu.edu
Ronald Martin, PhD Professor of Practice, Cyber Security Director, ICAM Lab rlmartin1@captechu.edu	Richard Hansen, CISSP Professor of Practice, Cyber Security Technical Advisor and Competitions Coach rhhansen@captechu.edu