Capito Congratulates WVU, Marshall on Establishing National Center of Excellence for Cybersecurity in Critical Infrastructure in WV

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, applauded the establishment of a National Center of Excellence for Cybersecurity in Critical Infrastructure in West Virginia. The center is the result of a partnership between U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM), Joint Force Headquarters Department of Defense Information Network (JFHQ-DODIN), West Virginia University (WVU), and Marshall University.

“As our country faces an increasing number of cyber threats to our critical infrastructure, it’s essential that we train and develop the best and brightest cyber experts. I’m proud that U.S. Cyber Command is partnering with Marshall University and West Virginia University in this effort, and harnessing the forward-thinking expertise of West Virginia’s own Civil-Military Innovation Institute (CMI2), to make this possible. The cutting-edge programs at the National Center of Excellence for Cyber Security in Critical Infrastructure will better prepare the Department of Defense, the private sector, and other federal agencies to defend the critical systems we rely on every day,” Senator Capito said.

BACKGROUND:

The partnership will focus on critical infrastructure protection, cyber security, and cyber assessment research needs ensuring the student population is addressing these essential topics in both depth and breadth. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and federal government participation ensures research remains focused on the most pressing needs of the nation while keeping pace with contemporary concerns and issues.

Senator Capito has been a strong advocate in helping ensure this National Center of Excellence will become an exemplar public/private partnership of academia, federal/state/local government, law enforcement, the DoD, and the private sector with a vision of becoming the premier source of expertise in cyber security, operations, and defense of America’s critical infrastructure.

The National Center of Excellence for Cyber Security in Critical Infrastructure is expected to leverage innovative capabilities, build awareness and interoperability tools for synergistic and integrated operations, and foster effective collaboration across the public and private sectors to reduce risk through collective action amid the growing risks due to global interconnectivity.

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