PORTLAND, ME – This morning, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, recognized the University of Maine System (UMS) as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cybersecurity.

“Our world is more interconnected and reliant on technology than ever before. While this has enabled tremendous progress, it has also given rise to new and complex challenges,” Senator King wrote in a congratulatory letter presented to University of Southern Maine President David Flanagan. “The Maine Cyber Security Cluster will be an invaluable resource as we work to protect our nation from these threats. In addition, students who learn and train at this lab, as well as other labs within the University of Maine System, will gain the necessary skills and experience to serve on the frontlines of our nation’s cybersecurity efforts. I look forward to watching these students take leadership roles in this ever growing and crucial field. Congratulations on this impressive designation.”

The distinction, awarded by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), recognizes the capacity and curriculum that Maine’s public universities have developed collaboratively to help address the critical national shortage of professionals with the skills needed to help defend the United States’ national information infrastructure. UMS is the nation’s first and only public university system in the country to earn the distinction as a national cybersecurity education leader. Senator King also toured the Maine Cyber Security Lab at the University of Southern Maine’s Portland campus and participated in a cybersecurity roundtable discussion with students and faculty.

As a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, Senator King has repeatedly voiced his concern about the danger of a cyber-attack or other destructive computer network exploitation activities that could cause damage to our national and economic security, including threats to the U.S. energy grid, financial services, or health sectors.

The complete text of Senator King’s letter to President Flanagan can be read below:

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November 24, 2014

Mr. David Flanagan

President

University of Southern Maine

PO Box 9300

Portland, ME 04104

Dear President Flanagan,

It is a great honor to join you today as we gather to recognize the University of Maine System’s recent designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/ Cybersecurity by the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency. This distinguished designation identifies the University of Maine System as one of the nation’s top academic leaders in cybersecurity education and highlights the important role that the University of Southern Maine’s Cyber Security Cluster will play in ensuring that our nation is equipped with trained professionals to meet its cybersecurity needs.

Our world is more interconnected and reliant on technology than ever before. While this has enabled tremendous progress, it has also given rise to new and complex challenges. The Maine Cyber Security Cluster will be an invaluable resource as we work to protect our nation from these threats. In addition, students who learn and train at this lab, as well as other labs within the University of Maine System, will gain the necessary skills and experience to serve on the frontlines of our nation’s cybersecurity efforts. I look forward to watching these students take leadership roles in this ever growing and crucial field.

Congratulations on this impressive designation. Thank you for your leadership and commitment to excellence.

Best regards,

ANGUS S. KING, JR.

United States Senator

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