The Texas A&M University System’s RELLIS Campus to Launch Cybersecurity and Emerging Technologies Academy

Initial Offerings Available in Summer 2022 Include Apprenticeship and Cybersecurity Analyst Programs

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Texas A&M University System’s RELLIS Academic Alliance and the Institute for Cyber Threat Defense have established a five-year partnership to form the RELLIS Campus Cybersecurity and Emerging Technologies Academy.

The academy will provide skills development, workforce placement, and mentoring programs in the areas of cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and emerging technologies.

“The demand for cybersecurity trained personnel is overwhelming and I am proud that the RELLIS Academic Alliance is helping meet that demand,” said Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp. “Nobody does cybersecurity better than the Texas A&M System.”

The partnership leverages the relationships and expertise of the Institute for Cyber Threat Defense’s (ICTD) instructors, who come from private industry, the intelligence community, military special operations forces, law enforcement, and academia, and combines them with the academic and continuing education programs offered through the RELLIS Academic Alliance. Specifically, the Cybersecurity and Emerging Technologies Academy’s programs and offerings will be coordinated through the RELLIS Academic Alliance’s Center for Applied Research and Experiential Learning, and they will be delivered by ICTD and members of The Texas A&M University System.

Approved by the A&M System Board of Regents in November 2020, the Center for Applied Research and Experiential Learning was established to advance the artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies disciplines through education, research and experiential learning.

“The partnership between ICTD and the RELLIS Academic Alliance is the latest example of how the RELLIS Campus is a collaborative ecosystem built to foster higher education and hands-on career training to meet the needs of the state of Texas and national skills gaps with our industry and academic partners,” said James K. Nelson, Associate Vice Chancellor and Director of the RELLIS Academic Alliance.

Beginning in Summer 2022, the Cybersecurity and Emerging Technologies Academy will provide two offerings:

  1. A one-year online program offered through the Texas A&M University-Commerce Center for Professional Development that will prepare new entrants into cybersecurity for cybersecurity analyst roles; and
  2. An apprenticeship program targeted at university graduates seeking careers in the areas of software development, end user computing, cybersecurity, software testing, infrastructure support, network administration, and application support.

“ICTD is proud to partner with The Texas A&M University System to help fill the urgent need for technicians and professionals with proficiency in cyber security and related technologies,” said Shawn Cassidy, Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Cyber Threat Defense. “The research and education initiatives underway and planned at RELLIS Campus provide endless possibilities for professional continuing education, skills development, and mentoring to the state of Texas’ current and future workforce.”

For more information on how to partner with RELLIS, contact James K. Nelson at jknelson@rellis.tamus.edu and visit https://rellis.tamus.edu/academicalliance/cybersecurity-academy/.

About The Texas A&M University System

The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation, with a budget of $9.6 billion. Through a statewide network of 11 universities, a comprehensive health science center, eight state agencies, and the RELLIS Campus, the Texas A&M System educates more than 152,000 students and makes more than 24 million additional educational contacts through service and outreach programs each year. System-wide, research and development expenditures exceed $1 billion and help drive the state’s economy.

About the RELLIS Campus

Founded in 2016 by The Texas A&M University System, the RELLIS campus in Bryan, Texas, fosters cutting-edge research, technology development, workforce training and two- and four-year college degrees by tapping the System’s state agencies and multiple universities, along with academic, corporate and government partners outside the System.

About the Institute for Cyber Threat Defense

The Institute for Cyber Threat Defense is committed to creating innovative solutions and optimizing opportunities to mitigate risk in digital ecosystems for public and private stakeholders. ICTD is comprised of cyber experts from the U.S. Intelligence community, industry, military, academia and law enforcement offering and advocating cyber defense education, training, analysis and strategic planning.

 

RELLIS Campus Cybersecurity and Emerging Technologies Academy Contact:

 

James K. Nelson, Ph.D., P.E.

Associate Vice Chancellor and Director, RELLIS Academic Alliance

The Texas A&M University System

jknelson@rellis.tamus.edu

979-317-3401

Institute for Cyber Threat Defense Contact:

Shawn Cassidy

Founder/CEO

The Institute for Cyber Threat Defense

(858) 775-6000

shawn@ifctd.com