The CAE at 10: Interview with Dickie George of the NSA

Ten years ago, the National Security Agency (NSA) started up the Centers of Academic Excellence program to encourage stronger information assurance programs at colleges and universities. Initially, there were 7 designated CAE schools. Today, the ranks have swollen to over 100 CAE-designated schools, and information assurance professionals are much better prepared to tackle the cybersecurity challenges we face. Dickie George, Information Assurance Technical Director within the NSA, discusses: The CAE program's core mission; Benefits of the program for participating schools and students; What to expect from CAE in its second decade. George began at the National Security Agency in August 1970 after graduating from Dartmouth College. He started in the Crypto-Math Intern Program, having tours in Research, the SIGINT Directorate, and the Information Assurance Directorate's (IAD) predecessor organization. Except for a tour in the Signals Intelligence Directorate (SID) and one at the Center for Communications Research in Princeton, he has worked in the IAD since 1973, and has served as the Technical Director of the IAD since 2003.