MCC takes lead on cyber security for Missouri

Steven Calicutt (l) from St. Louis Community College
and Jawad Drissi (r) from Cameron University in Oklahoma
are instructors participating in the MOCSEC training.

According to Chancellor Mark James, “Cyber-attack is one of the biggest national security threats facing our nation.” MCC has responded to the cyber-security threat by forming a new Missouri counterpart of a national program called the Cyber Security Education Consortium, or CSEC. James says, “The information in these training components could save businesses millions of dollars and government systems from embarrassing intrusions.” This program will be an invaluable part of the High Risk Attack and Disaster (HRAD) Training Center currently being developed by MCC.

Heading up the MOCSEC training are MCC computer science instructors Ed McCarty (BTC) and Melissa Napper (Blue River). According to McCarty, the federal government wants to promote cyber-security awareness to every American, and MCC is on the cutting edge of that movement.

The goal for MOCSEC is to present eight specific courses which are integral to an Associate of Applied Sciences degree in cyber-security. Graduates of the program could transfer to a number of prestigious area universities like Missouri University and Oklahoma State to complete bachelor’s level degrees in cyber-security. The MOCSEC plan is well underway, having drawn a number of Missouri colleges into

Missouri Cyber Security Education moves forward

The first meeting of the six-college Missouri Cyber Security Education Consortium.

On Wednesday, Nov. 10, Melissa Napper (MCC-Blue River) and Ed McCarty (MCC-Business and Technology) hosted the first meeting of the Missouri Cyber Security Education Consortium (MOCSEC) at the Blue River campus. The consortium will develop course materials for cyber security classes to form a new CSIS AAS degree in Cyber Security to serve students, military personnel at Missouri's bases, local and state government personnel and the business community in each college's service area.

Members of MOCSEC include MCC, St. Louis Community College, Ozark Technical Community College, Moberly Area Community College, Mineral Area Community College and State Fair Community College. The consortium will create a common curriculum leading to a degree program offered by all six colleges. Naper and McCarty will be coordinating the grant activities, and MCC will provide instructor training for the other five colleges at the Blue River campus.

Chancellor Mark James attended to express his enthusiasm for the project and to pledge his help and support for the consortium’s efforts. Sheryl Hale, Manager of Innovative Programs, Research and Development for the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, presented information on the multi-state NSF grant that Missouri is now part of through MCC's leadership.