Developing and understanding cybersecurity vulnerabilities has grown so much construction began on a site to expand that work at the university.
Officials broke ground at the Texas Tech University Reese National Security Complex (RNSC) on the Critical Infrastructure Security Site, which will expand the capacity to advance research, innovation and collaboration in national security and critical infrastructure protection.
“Today’s groundbreaking marks an important milestone for the Texas Tech University Reese National Security Complex and for our growing leadership in national security research,” said President Lawrence Schovanec. “As the first major development at the RNSC since the passage of House Bill 5092, this project demonstrates the momentum behind our efforts to build a nationally recognized hub for research and workforce development focused on protecting the nation’s critical infrastructure.”
Goals Behind CISI
The Critical Infrastructure Security Institute (CISI) advances the protection, resilience and security posture of our nation’s critical infrastructure systems. It accomplishes this goal by developing cutting-edge solutions to emerging security challenges through interdisciplinary research, innovative education and strategic partnerships.
The institute utilizes infrastructure design, threat intelligence, cyber analytics and research capacity to achieve this goal.
CISI builds on Texas Tech’s existing strengths in cybersecurity, energy and cyber-physical systems research as well as its uniquely qualified faculty to ensure the U.S. stays at the forefront of technology and produces a workforce capable of protecting the country from future threats.
From testing critical power infrastructure to cyber-physical defense, this facility will allow CISI to serve as a national hub for innovation, certification and national security while training the next generation of scientists and engineers.
Texas Tech University Reese National Security Complex (RNSC), a former business park and U.S. Air Force Base with a private airfield, on nearly 2,500 acres of land with perimeter fencing and locked gates.
Source: RNSC
“This groundbreaking reflects Texas Tech’s growing role in securing the nation’s critical infrastructure,” said Stephen Bayne, vice president for national security and executive director of the CISI. Additionally, “this research site strengthens our ability to protect the systems our nation, state and community depend on every day and delivers solutions that address evolving threats to infrastructure security.”
CISI also works with federal, industry and educational partners to monitor and update networks to strengthen critical infrastructure security and develop standards, best practices and innovative technologies that will decrease the vulnerabilities of the electrical grid, water utilities, communication, military and other systems vital to the economies of the region, state and nation.
CISI Impact
Meanwhile, CISI has already made an impact through a variety of training and curriculum opportunities to equip professionals already in the workforce as well as high school and college students preparing to do so.
The West Texas Cyber Workforce Development Consortium established critical infrastructure security training, providing hands-on experience with resilient, cyber-physical systems to industry professionals and college and high school students. This initiative ended up sponsored by a grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Meanwhile, the Texas Talent Connections Development grant from the Texas Workforce Commission combines efforts from Texas Tech, West Texas A&M and others to train high school and college students as well as those in the industry as information and operations systems security professionals.
The Army Research Lab workforce development pilot grant supports a comprehensive research and workforce development program that tackles challenges related to national defense and enhances research capabilities in cybersecurity and materials science. Furthermore, students receive hands-on, real-world experience through applied research projects and internships.
Click here for more information on the Critical Infrastructure Security site.