National Security Agency Eyes Cyber-Ops Program for Universities

 

The National Security Agency (NSA) is seeking to introduce a new cyber-ops program at certain universities in order to offer basic training for individuals looking to fill intelligence and defense jobs.

According to Reuters, the curriculum will only be revealed to certain faculty members and students who must first obtain government security clearance. The program will be offered through summer seminars offered by the NSA, the news source said.

Neal Ziring, technical director for the NSA's Information Assurance Directorate, told Reuters during an interview at the agency's Maryland headquarters that the goal of the curriculum is to net more "quality cyber operators," which has been a challenge to this point.

"We're trying to create more of these, and yes they have to know some of the things that hackers know, they have to know a lot of other things too, which is why you really want a good university to create these people for you," Ziring explained.

ABC News reports the universities that have been chosen include Dakota State University, Northeastern University, the Naval Postgraduate School and the University of Tulsa.