National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity

Designated by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security

Education, Collaboration & Research

The Mark O. Hatfield Center for Cybersecurity convenes scholars, managers, and policymakers from across Portland State University and beyond to train future leaders and translate research findings into effective policy. We achieve these goals through multi-disciplinary, multi-sector, and multi-stakeholder curricular and research partnerships.

Collaboration

The Mark O. Hatfield Center for Cybersecurity is a NSA/DHS National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Research.

Within PSU, we are a collaborative partnership between the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government of the College of Urban and Public Affairs, the Departments of Computer Science and Engineering and the Department of Engineering and Technology Management of the Maseeh College of Engineering & Computer Science, and The School of Business.

As a member of the NCAE-C Community, our center collaborates with over 340 universities and community colleges in the US with webinars, panel discussions, information meetings, research, and teaching materials and syllabi for undergraduate and graduate students. Furthermore, PSU is the lead member of Oregon’s cybersecurity initiative partnering with Oregon State University, University of Oregon, Chemeketa Community College, and Mt. Hood Community College. 

Read our NSA/DHS designation letter (PDF).

Email cybersecuritycenter@pdx.edu to express interest in collaborating.

Research

In 2021, the Hatfield School of Government received a three-year, $3 million grant from the National Centers of Academics in Cybersecurity located within the National Security Agency. The grant establishes and funds a consortium of public, private and academic partners that will address cybersecurity issues related to smart grid infrastructure in the Pacific Northwest including Hawaii and Colorado. Dr. Birol Yeşilada will work with co-investigators Dr. Tugrul Daim, PSU engineering and technology management faculty, and Dr. Barbara Endicott-Popovsky, PSU Senior Research Faculty (formerly executive director of Center for Information Assurance and Cybersecurity at the University of Washington-Bothell).

Cybersecurity Center of Excellence Establishment Plan

Creating a Central Cybersecurity Resource Hub for All Oregonians

Cybersecurity Services, Education, and Funding: Best Practices and Strategy for Capacity Building in Oregon

This report, Cybersecurity Services, Education, and Funding: Best Practices and Strategy for Capacity
Building in Oregon, builds on the ongoing efforts to increase the cybersecurity posture in the state of
Oregon.

Oregon Cybersecurity Needs Assessment

Oregon’s Senate Bill 90 (SB90), signed into law and effective as of July 1, 2017, requires the Oregon Office of the State Chief Information Officer (OSCIO) to draft a proposal for an Oregon Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (CCoE). To assist with the process of drafting the proposal for this high-priority initiative and fulfill the requirements set out in the bill, the OSCIO engaged Portland State University’s Center for Public Service (CPS) to help decision-makers gather evidence and further understand where the CCoE might direct its work.

Center Staff

• Birol Yeşilada, Director
  • Email, Phone
• Tugrul Daim, Associate Director for Research
  • Email, Phone
• Barbara Endicott-Popovsky, Associate Director for Workforce Development
  • Email, Phone
• Julia Babcock, Senior Project Manager
  • Email, Phone
• Margaret Banyan, Non-credit Cybersecurity Resilience Certificate
  • Email, Phone