Category Archives: cybersecurity

Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition

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We are recruiting students to participate in the 2025-26 RMU team for CCDC (Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition).

See more information at https://maccdc.org/ and https://www.nationalccdc.org/

If you are interested in participating in this cyber competition, please contact the team faculty coach Dr. Nader Kesserwan by email at kesserwan@rmu.edu no later than this Thursday, September 18 , and attach a brief 1-2 page resume including any technical background and cyber competition experience for consideration. Team size is limited. 

CIS Department Receives U.S. DoD Cyber Service Academy Program Grant

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The Computer Information Systems (CIS) Department in the School of Data Intelligence and Technology has received another grant from the U.S. Department of Defense Cyber Service Academy Program (DoD CSA). This grant, titled “Comprehensive Mentoring for DoD Cyber Talent Development,” aims to recruit eligible RMU and transfer students to develop cyber talent for the DoD cyber workforce and enhance the national pipeline for qualified cyber professionals.

For the 2025-26 academic year, this grant will support two selected DoD CSA student scholars and the research of the Principal Investigator on cybersecurity education and mentoring. Each DoD CSA student scholar will receive comprehensive support, including full tuition and fees, a living stipend, a laptop computer, and a textbook allowance. Scholars are also eligible to take up to the maximum number of credits allowed per semester at RMU. Additionally, the DoD CSA students will have paid summer internships and will be placed in professional cybersecurity positions within DoD agencies.

This marks the fourth time RMU has received the DoD CSA grant, demonstrating the university’s ongoing success in maintaining its designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (NCAE-CDE) by NSA/DHS. This designation must remain in good standing to qualify for this competitive grant.

Dr. Ping Wang (CIS) serves as the Principal Investigator (PI) for this grant project, which is set to run from September 2025 to December 2026, with the possibility of renewal for an additional year with new funding. R&GA appreciates the support provided by Julianne Michalenko (Director, Office of Scholar Development) for this grant application. The grant is valued at $165,554 for the 2025-2026+ academic year.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Wang!

Internship Opportunity: US Department of Energy/Oak Ridge National Laboratory

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Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is now accepting applications for two dynamic internship programs, both open to current students and recent graduates.

Research Student Internships (RSI):
Work alongside world-class scientists and engineers tackling major challenges in energy, environment, national security, and more. Areas include biology, supercomputing, nuclear science, and beyond.

Technical and Professional Internships (TPI):
Gain hands-on experience supporting the lab’s mission through roles in IT, communications, finance, HR, cybersecurity, legal counsel, and other key operational areas.

Both programs offer unparalleled access to ORNL’s premier facilities and expert mentors.

Apply or learn more:
RSI: https://lnkd.in/es8_7bzV
TPI: https://lnkd.in/eqm6rSTe

Pathways to Computing Program:

  • Summer: full-time 10 weeks
  • Stipend of $750 per week (paid bi-weekly)
  • Housing allowance of $250 per week (paid bi-weekly)
  • Students may be eligible for up to $1,000 towards reimbursement of expenses related to travel to Oak Ridge, TN for the appointment period
  • Open to both international and domestic students

Pathways to Computing Program:

  • Summer: full-time 10 weeks
  • Stipend of $750 per week (paid bi-weekly)
  • Housing allowance of $250 per week (paid bi-weekly)
  • Students may be eligible for up to $1,000 towards reimbursement of expenses related to travel to Oak Ridge, TN for the appointment period
  • Open to both international and domestic students

For questions or more information, please email Josh Cunningham cunninghamjs@ornl.gov

Department of Defense Scholarship Winners

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Larry Luther and Jesse Marks are the latest RMU cybersecurity students who received a generous scholarship as part of a competitive grant award to RMU from the US Department of Defense Cyber Service Academy (DoD CSA) program. Dr. Ping Wang is the Faculty PI (Principal Investigator) of the grant. The DoD CSA scholarship provides full tuition, a stipend, book and laptop allowances, travel support, and future DoD employment for selected students to complete a cybersecurity-related degree at designated National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) institutions like RMU.

Larry and Jesse are among only 50 DoD CSA Scholars selected nationally this year. They both attended this year’s DoD CSA boot camp with PI Dr. Wang in Washington, DC, in July, participating in a realistic multi-challenge cyber competition.

Congratulations, Larry and Jesse! We are very proud of your amazing accomplishment!

Jesse (left) and Larry (right), with PI Dr. Wang (center), attended this year’s DoD CSA boot camp in Washington DC

SteelHacks XII Hackathon

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Unleash Your Inner Innovator at Steelhacks XII!

Get ready to dive into a world of innovation, problem-solving, and collaboration at Steelhacks XII, happening on September 20-21, 2025, at the University of Pittsburgh.

Steelhacks is more than just a coding competition; it’s an opportunity to challenge yourself, learn new skills, and connect with like-minded individuals.

  • 24 hours of coding, creativity, and collaboration
  • Speed Friending with various companies (networking opportunities) and Guest Speakers
  • Prizes for several different tracks
  • Free food and fun activities to keep the energy high

Mark your calendars and get ready to turn your ideas into reality.

Register now: at the Steelhacks website for registration and updates on all the exciting activities and more details as the event approaches!

Dr. Steve Mancini – Best Podcast Host!

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The CIS department is thrilled to extend our warmest congratulations to our very own Dr. Steve Mancini on his recent achievement! Dr. Mancini has been recognized as the Best Podcast Host in the prestigious 2025 Communicator Awards for his engaging and insightful podcast, The Italian Impact.

This well-deserved win highlights Dr. Mancini’s dedication and passion for fostering connections both within our university and the local community. Through The Italian Impact Podcast, he skillfully brings attention to a diverse range of topics that resonate with students and faculty right here on campus, while also reaching out to the vibrant Italian community in Pittsburgh and beyond.

We encourage everyone to tune in and experience the award-winning podcast for themselves! You can find The Italian Impact Podcast on all your favorite listening platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also learn more and explore past episodes on the official website: https://italianimpactweekly.com/.

To see the details of Dr. Mancini’s award and all of the winners, click HERE

Let’s all celebrate Dr. Mancini’s fantastic accomplishment and continue to support his wonderful work with The Italian Impact Podcast! Congratulations, Dr. Mancini!


Dr. Kassa Wins Best Paper Award at ACMSE

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Dr. Yonas Kassa has been honored with the Best Full Paper Award at the 2025 ACM Southeast (ACMSE) Conference, which took place from April 24-26, 2025, at Southeast Missouri State University. As the oldest continuously running annual conference of the ACM, ACMSE serves as a vital platform for students, faculty, researchers, and industry professionals to share their latest research across all facets of computer science.

Dr. Kassa’s award-winning paper, a collaborative effort with four other researchers, is titled “Secure Edge Computing Reference Architecture for Data-driven Structural Health Monitoring: Lessons Learned from Implementation and Benchmarking.” You can access the paper here.

Congratulations to Dr. Kassa and his co-authors on this significant achievement!

The FBI Honors Internship Program

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The FBI Honors Internship Program will be opening Summer 2026 applications starting soon.  This program is ideal for undergraduate students between their junior and senior years, as well as graduate students pursuing a Master’s degree, JD, or Ph.D. This paid internship can be a direct pipeline to full-time employment after college.

The program is highly competitive. You can set up a job alert on the website to be notified when postings open. The link to the website can be found here.

RMU Redesignated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense

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RMU was redesignated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (NCAE-CD) at a special ceremony during the national cybersecurity symposium in Charleston, SC on April 9, 2025.

The redesignation for RMU is based on the BS in Cybersecurity degree program and valid through academic year 2029. The current government sponsors of the NCAE-CD designation are DoD, NSA, CISA, and FBI.

RMU Provost Dr. Joseph Zimmer and NCAE-C Coordinator/PoC Dr. Ping Wang received the NCAE-CD certificate for RMU at the designation ceremony.

Cyber Sentinel Skills Challenge for RMU Students

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Correlation One, a NYC-based workforce development company is reaching out to share an exciting opportunity. They are hosting the Cyber Sentinel Skills Challenge, a cybersecurity competition sponsored by the Department of Defense (DoD).

This one-day virtual event is designed to help students and alumni:

  • Connect to valuable job opportunities within the US DoD.
  • Apply and showcase their cybersecurity skills in real-world challenges.
  • Compete for a $15,000 cash prize pool.
  • Apply technical skills to a unique set of challenges that represent real-world, on-the-job tasks.
  • Gain insights into how the DoD can help them accelerate their careers, both within the military and in the civilian sector.  

Winners of the competition will also be eligible for a share of a $15,000 cash prize pool.

  • When: June 14, 2025
  • Where: Online
  • Cost: Free
  • Who: US citizens and permanent residents over the age of 18
  • Prizes: $15,000 prize pool + career opportunities with the DoD

See flyer on how to register.