Heslen receives $284,434 NSA cybersecurity curriculum grant

John “Jay” Heslen, assistant professor of political science and cyber, has received a $284,434 2017 CyberSecurity Core Curriculum Development Grant from the National Security Agency.

One of the primary goals of the CyberSecurity Core Curriculum Development grant, which supports the President’s Cybersecurity National Action Plan (CNAP), is to develop publically available core cyber curricula and prepare graduates for work in federal cybersecurity positions.

Heslen said the university’s Cyber institute focused particularly on the course development aspect of the grant.

“[We] proposed developing three courses, each with on-line components, as well as a study abroad component to Tallinn, Estonia, which is where the NATO’s Cyber Center of Excellence is located,” Heslen said.

The grant proposal, which was opened to educational institutions across the country, specified the NSA’s desire to broaden education across five specific “KSAs” (short for knowledge, skills and abilities) including knowledge of computer networking concepts, risk management processes and knowledge of international laws.

Click here for more information about the Augusta University Cyber Institute.