Contact: Bob Ratliff
The United States' largest and most secret intelligence agency is adding Mississippi State to a select public list it maintains.
The National Security Agency recently invited MSU to join 22 other schools in its Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education program. Carnegie-Mellon and Georgia Tech universities and the U.S. Military Academy are among the others in the group.
NSA officials established the assistance program two years ago as a way to encourage American higher education's help in overcoming a national shortage of computer specialists trained in information systems security.
MSU and the other centers will be recognized formally in a May 23 program at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.
Though lesser known than the Central Intelligence Agency among the general population, NSA has its own distinct history. Established by presidential order in 1952 within the Department of Defense to intercept foreign communications, it today gathers intelligence by collecting and analyzing computer communications, telephone signals and other electronic data. Protection of U.S. communications is another major NSA responsibility.
Inclusion in the centers of excellence program "recognizes that Mississippi State has reached a high level of success in the area of computer security," said computer scientist Rayford Vaughn.
Among several immediate benefits, the university now becomes eligible for NSA's sponsored scholarship program.
"The importance of computers in personal and business communications, commerce and national security has created a need for individuals who can provide security for these systems," Vaughn said. "Our computer science graduates are filling that need, both in the private sector and a variety of state and federal agencies.
"NSA is one of those agencies," the associate professor added.
Enrollment of significant numbers of students in computer security courses and recognized achievements in student and faculty research and publications are among qualifications for inclusion in the NSA program. Students' success in regional and national computer security competitions and available library resources are some other considerations.
Often referred to as the Puzzle Palace, NSA has its headquarters at Ft. Meade, Md., and a second major facility at Menwith Hill, England. "Providing and Protecting Information through Cryptology" is its official motto.
The agency grew out of the communications intelligence activities of U.S. military units in World War II. NSA's director is either a general or an admiral.
For additional information on MSU's programs in computer systems security, contact Vaughn at (662) 325-7450 or vaughn@cs.msstate.edu.
Additional information about systems security research at MSU also is available at http://www.cs.msstate.edu/.