Defense Acquisition University Forms Cyber Education Degree Pact; Christopher Feudo Comments

The Defense Acquisition University and the University of Fairfax have formed an arrangement to allow students that complete classes at DAU to earn post-graduate degrees in cybersecurity at the UoF.

Both universities want to give acquisition workers the opportunity to earn critical cybersecurity certifications, as well as master’s and doctoral degrees in cybersecurity at the UoF, the DAU said Tuesday.

Military and civilian government employees and contractors take classes at the DAU.

“As the nation’s first graduate institution focused exclusively on the field of cybersecurity, the University of Fairfax recognizes the need for cybersecurity professionals in all fields, but particularly in national defense,” said Dr. Christopher Feudo, president of the University of Fairfax.

Students can apply certain work, educational and training experience as credits toward UoF programs of study under the arrangement.

Dr. James McMichael, acting DAU president, said the universities aim to help students understand how to use cybersecurity factors when developing and managing acquisition programs, projects and systems for warfighters.

The universities cited the need for qualified and certified cybersecurity professionals as malicious online activity continues to grow and potentially threaten public and private information infrastructure in the U.S.