Houston Daily

The University of Houston has been redesignated as a Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Research (CAE-R) by the National Security Agency (NSA), maintaining its status through 2029. This recognition is part of the NSA’s National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity program, which identifies institutions with strong performance in cyber defense education, research, or operations.

Houston’s position as a hub for energy, health care, and transportation—industries frequently targeted by cyberattacks—highlights the importance of this designation. The university's role includes advancing research and workforce training to bolster U.S. defenses against emerging cybersecurity threats.

“Cybersecurity is essential to protecting our nation’s economy and infrastructure, and universities like ours play a vital role in advancing both the science and the workforce needed to meet these challenges,” said Claudia Neuhauser, vice president of research at UH. “This recognition reflects the collaborative excellence of our faculty across colleges and their commitment to innovation in this critical field.”

UH has held the CAE-R distinction since 2014, showing its ongoing commitment to cybersecurity advancement and national defense. The university currently holds two designations from the NSA:

- The CAE-R designation remains valid through the 2028-29 academic year for contributions to cybersecurity research.

- The Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) runs through 2027-28, recognizing UH’s educational efforts. Professor Emeritus Arthur Conklin serves as point of contact for this program at UH’s Sugar Land campus.

The university reports that more than 90% of its cybersecurity graduates find employment in their field after graduation. Its programs blend advanced research with practical training to prepare students for careers addressing rapidly changing digital risks.

Faculty from UH’s Department of Computer Science within the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics lead these initiatives, providing opportunities such as workshops, conferences, and agency briefings for students and faculty.

Stephen Huang, professor of computer science at UH and point of contact for the CAE-R program, noted that the designation helps maintain eligibility for federal grants supporting faculty and student research. Huang recently completed an NSA-funded project on automated intrusion detection focusing on identifying attackers using anonymity networks like VPNs; his work targets issues such as geolocation spoofing.

In addition to its NSA designations, UH launched the Transportation Cybersecurity Center for Advanced Research and Education (CYBER-CARE) in 2023. This center aims to enhance transportation system resilience against cyber threats.

“We never know how we are going to be attacked next, and attackers can always come up with new methods of doing it,” Huang said. “That’s why we must be very vigilant in predicting how they may be able to do that and analyzing their attacks to prevent them. It’s a never-ending battle.”