The National Security Agency has designated Cal State Fullerton as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense education to prepare and train qualified cybersecurity professionals.
The university is now ranked among academic institutions with elite cybersecurity programs that meet the stringent requirements of the National Security Agency, said Mikhail Gofman, professor of computer science and director of CSUF’s Center for Cybersecurity.
“Training cybersecurity professionals requires teaching hands-on practical skills, technical rigor and strong communication skills,” Gofman said. “Instruction must also incorporate an interdisciplinary perspective that combines the technical, regulatory and organizational aspects of cybersecurity.”
Gofman said the designation involves a comprehensive assessment of an institution’s curriculum, students, faculty, IT practices, professional development opportunities, extracurricular activities, and its overall cybersecurity culture.
The achievement is the culmination of efforts led by Gofman and the Center for Cybersecurity, in collaboration with campus departments and faculty across disciplines.
“This designation affirms the strength of our faculty, curriculum and student preparation, and highlights our role in developing the highly skilled workforce needed to protect critical digital infrastructure and support national security,” said Sang June Oh, interim dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
For students, the designation means access to nationally recognized training, expanded research and internship opportunities, pathways into high-demand cybersecurity careers and scholarships.
The university offers a bachelor’s degree in computer science with a concentration in cybersecurity, as well as a cybersecurity minor. Courses, including malware analysis and cloud security, have also been created.
Gofman said that attainment of the designation paves the way for establishing a cybersecurity transfer pathway from two-year NCAE-CD institutions to Cal State Fullerton.
Additionally, NCAE-CD’s recognition aligns with the vision for the new ECS Innovation Hub, a new state-of-the-art building, expected to open by fall 2027. The hub will feature a cyber range — an environment for students to practice cybersecurity skills using cutting-edge cyber technologies.
“Through the Innovation Hub’s skills-based learning, it will elevate our ability to cultivate cybersecurity talent by allowing students to engage with the NCAE-CD curriculum in new, innovative ways,” Gofman said.
Alum Owen De Vita, who graduated in January, said CSUF’s program helped him build fundamental technical skills needed to enter the field immediately after earning a bachelor’s degree in computer science-cybersecurity.
“CSUF provided an outstanding cybersecurity program that gave me a strong technical foundation in computer science, software engineering and cybersecurity,” said De Vita, a junior vulnerability researcher at Florida-based Cromulence, which develops cybersecurity solutions for national security programs.
“My work requires understanding security concepts as well as how computer systems are designed and implemented. The structure of CSUF’s program also helped prepare me for my career by giving me strong fundamentals in core computer science concepts as well.”
Gofman added that graduates from NCAE-CD-designated institutions are more attractive to public and private-sector employers who appreciate the rigor of the curricula.
“The designation strengthens the reputation of our program, which prepares the next generation of cyber defenders who are in high demand nationwide due to the constant escalation of cyberattacks.”