The Cyber/Information Security Program at Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) has been re-designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Two-Year Education (CAE2Y) by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and National Security Agency (NSA).

“OCCC is proud to have been a leader in Cybersecurity and Cyber Defense education for over 10 years,” says Al Heitkamper, professor of computer science & cyber security at the college. “The need for trained Cybersecurity professionals continues to grow daily. OCCC’s re-designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE2Y) will allow us to continue to meet the growing threat to both our public and private data infrastructures.”

The re-designation comes after the formal creation of the Center for Cyber Defense Education (CCDE) on the college’s main campus in the Division of Information Technology. The CCDE provides program guidance and oversight of OCCC’s cyber/information security program, general cyber defense information to the OCCC community, and creates collaboration and outreach opportunities among students, faculty and other institutions.

OCCC serves more than 28,000 people each year. The college offers a full range of associate degree programs that prepare students to transfer to baccalaureate institutions while other degree and certificate programs prepare students for immediate employment in a variety of fields. At OCCC, students receive a quality education with small class sizes, dedicated teachers and leadership opportunities. Students can choose from more than 80 major fields of study and participate in any of the 40+ clubs and organizations and attend events such as the annual Arts Festival Oklahoma. For more information about OCCC, visit www.occc.edu .