UCCS is now a founding member of the Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC), joining organizations including Lockheed Martin, Booz Allen Hamilton and Northrop Grumman in facilitating collaboration across the global space industry. Gretchen Bliss, UCCS’ director of cybersecurity programs, will sit on the Space ISAC Board.
UCCS’ addition to the organization will create new access for the ISAC to Colorado’s space and cybersecurity ecosystems, and to UCCS’ cybersecurity engineer students and graduates.
“UCCS is uniquely positioned to provide the cybersecurity workforce and research that industry and government are looking for with the headquarters of the Space ISAC, National Cybersecurity Center and Exponential Impact all located in our cybersecurity building,” Bliss said in response to the news.
“Our students and faculty will be able to collaborate with the leading organizations, government, academia and industry in the space and cybersecurity fields on education, training and research. They’ll be able to provide timely, effective solutions to hard problems at the national level.”
Erin Miller, vice president of operations for Space ISAC at the National Cybersecurity Center, said, “With their cybersecurity program spanning across the College of Engineering, College of Business, and College of Public Affairs, UCCS is bringing a focus on cybersecurity specific to space unlike any other university. With the university’s proximity and close ties to both the U.S. Space Force and U.S. Space Command, their partnership will help the Space ISAC and our future growth of training programs reach untapped potential.”
The Space ISAC was announced in April 2019 during a classified session at the 35th Space Symposium and is headquartered in Colorado Springs, co-located with the National Cybersecurity Center. It is a space sector-specific, member-driven organization supported by the federal government. Its members collect, analyze and disseminate cyber and physical security threats and risk mitigation information.
Each board member has a role in fulfilling the mission of the ISAC: to facilitate collaboration across the global space industry to enhance our ability to prepare for and respond to vulnerabilities, incidents, and threats; to disseminate timely and actionable information among member entities; and to serve as the primary communications channel for the sector with respect to this information.
About the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS)
The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) offers 55 bachelor’s, 24 master’s and eight doctoral degree programs and enrolls about 12,000 students annually. Located in the heart of Colorado Springs, UCCS has a strong student focus and access mission, with a goal of transforming lives for the better. Learn more about UCCS at uccs.edu.
About Cybersecurity at UCCS
UCCS is a recognized cybersecurity education leader in the region, awarding hundreds of degrees each year in cybersecurity fields at bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels. UCCS cybersecurity programs train security professionals who work to ensure the nation’s security, support faculty research and strategic cybersecurity partnerships with industry, government, military and academic institutions, including the U.S. Space Force and the National Cybersecurity Center. Due to generous Colorado state funding of cybersecurity education, UCCS students are eligible for significant financial aid towards security degree scholarships. Learn more about Cybersecurity Programs at UCCS.