Charles Town, W. Va., October 3, 2017 —American Public University System (APUS) today announced that Dr. Kenneth Williams, director, APUS Center for Cyber Defense (CCD), has been named to the National CyberWatch Center's (NCC) Curriculum Standards Panel.
The appointment coincides with several related APUS strategic initiatives in support of its expanding STEM and interdisciplinary cybersecurity programs, most recently including American Military University's (AMU) sponsorship of the Cyberpatriot youth cyber education program. As a NCC panel member, Williams will help develop the nation’s first Open Education cybersecurity curriculum to create a free resource for all higher education institutions that aligns with Department of Homeland Security and National Security Agency cybersecurity guidelines.
“The core mission of the APUS Center for Cyber Defense is to serve as a portal for cyber defense education to create the next-generation cybersecurity workforce of professionals and leaders for the defense of our nation's citizens, industry, government, and academic institutions,” said Williams. “I’m proud to lead this effort to further distinguish our cyber programs among our existing flagship global intelligence and security offerings.”
APUS’s cyber initiatives are supported by its membership in the National CyberWatch Center, a consortium of higher education institutions, businesses, and government agencies collaborating to advance information security education and strengthen the national cybersecurity workforce. NCC’s National Cyber League, for example, enables APUS instructors to integrate virtual cyber education and training into their classrooms. The rigorous training allows students to prepare for national cybersecurity competitions while offering the resources, lab experience and equipment to acquire the career-relevant skills for success in today’s rapidly-evolving global cyber environment.
Students to Benefit from Participation in NCC Cyber Competitions and IT Skills Development Through Partnership with CompTIA
APUS also recently became an authorized Academy Partner of the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) to further extend the scope and benefits of its cyber programs. APUS offers robust cyberdefense-related curriculum at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, including degrees, concentrations, and certificate programs related to cyberdefense, information security, information assurance, cybersecurity, national security and digital forensics. Through this new strategic relationship, AMU and American Public University (APU) students can graduate with both a degree or certificate and vendor-neutral skills credentials from CompTIA, which can play an increasingly important role in pursuing IT careers.
