COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. The Network Information and Space Security Center at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs will receive a $2.5 million grant from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research to continue research into homeland defense and homeland security issues.
The funds from this grant will be used to increase the research capacity at CU-Colorado Springs with emphasis on specific needs of U.S. Northern Command. Funds will be used for faculty research grants, graduate student stipends, equipment, and other support necessary to complete research, projects, and education initiatives.
The projects will take place over the next three years, according to Bill Ayen, director, NISSC.
“We are excited about the linking of this university’s expertise with the military and joining them in making our country more secure,” Pam Shockley-Zalabak, chancellor, said. “We look forward to working with the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and appreciate the confidence they have exhibited in our work.”
CU-Colorado Springs initiated NISSC in 2001 to help satisfy critical U.S. Space Command needs in technical, management, and areas related to information assurance and future network and space system architectures. Working in collaboration with faculty members based in several colleges on campus, other CU campuses, and with partners from industry, military, government, and other academic institutions, NISSC conducts theoretical and applied research. The Center manages projects that provide focused study and technical assessment for complex systems issues. Additionally, NISSC provides seminars, credit courses and certificates to directly support homeland defense and homeland security efforts.
Since its founding, NISSC accomplishments include:
· Established partnerships with U.S. Northern Command, Northrop Grumman/ TASC, and Booz Allen Hamilton.
· Created and delivered a graduate-level certificate in Information Assurance to officers, civilians, and contractor personnel at Peterson Air Force Base directly involved in information assurance activities.
· Created a graduate-level certificate in Secure Software. Courses are in progress at Lockheed Martin.
· Created a graduate-level certificate in Homeland Security in cooperation with U.S. Northern Command. Courses from this certificate are now being offered for military personnel and in the local community.
· Awarded 47 grants to CU-Colorado Springs faculty. These grants have a value of more than $500,000 and involve 40 individual faculty members, 12 academic units and at least 50 students.
For more information, visit http://www.nissc.org/
CU-Colorado Springs, located on Austin Bluffs Parkway in northeast Colorado Springs, is the fastest growing university in Colorado and one of the fastest growing universities in the nation. The university offers 25 bachelor’s degrees, 17 master’s and two doctoral degrees. The campus enrolls more than 7,600 students annually.