Seeking CIS Department Blog Writer/Assistant

The CIS department is currently seeking a CIS Department Blog Writer/Assistant.  This will be a paid work-study position ($9/hour up to 5 hours per week) that will be available for the full academic year 2015-2016.

Responsibilities:

  • Edit and/or write blog articles on topics assigned by the faculty editor in a timely manner
  • Work with members of the CIS department and RMU community to discover topics and issues for the blog and follow up on those topics in future blog posts
  • Monitor IT-related news outlets to discover topics and issues appropriate for the blog and follow up by writing blog posts
  • Manage and edit media related to blog posts (images, video)
  • Assist the faculty editor with management of the blog sidebar items/links and technical features in WordPress

Qualifications:

  • Excellent writing and proofreading skills
  • Enthusiasm for IT-related topics
  • Ability to manage tasks and time effectively
  • Skills in writing for the Web, editing images, editing video, and/or WordPress is a plus.

To apply, please send your resume through Colonial Trak or contact Dr. Jamie Pinchot (pinchot@rmu.edu):
https://www.myinterfase.com/rmu/Job/Detail/OFI0SDg2eWhEeWVJZlV0SmcxQUNPUDlaUjZGc2lHYWY3NVB4Y21OQWdQST01

Note:  Blog volunteers are also needed to write articles on a less structured schedule, with SET credit available for this work.  Please also contact Dr. Jamie Pinchot if you are interested in volunteering.

Learn about the Washington Center National Security Seminar in Washington, D.C.

On Monday, September 14th the students who attended The Washington Center’s National Security Program this past summer will give an informative presentation in the Sewall Center International Suite at 3:30 pm.

If you have even the slightest interest in the Washington National Security program, we urge you to make the time to attend. It is an opportunity for you to hear about the program from the student’s perspective!

You will receive one hour of SET credits for attending. Light refreshments will be served.

Welcome back! Check out these September events in the CIS Department

Welcome back to campus!  We hope that you are all settling in and enjoying the start of the fall semester.  The CIS department has been hard at work putting together new events for you.  This September, we will host two employer events.  Mark your calendars!  PNC and SDLC Partners, L.P. will be here on campus to give a presentation to our students about their organizations, and also to recruit.  If you are looking for an internship or a job opportunity, don’t miss it!  These events can also be very helpful to anyone in the department to help gain an understanding of what companies in the field are doing and what types of skills they are interested in.  We hope to see you there!


PNC
This event sponsored by the TOP SECRET COLONIALS
Wednesday, September 16, 2015  (3:45 PM to 5:15 PM)
Wheatley Center Atrium

PNC is sending their Senior Technology specialist to campus to speak about the PNC Technology programs and internship program at PNC.

3:45 PM Registration for SET Credit
4:15 PM the speaker will start his presentation

Light refreshments will be served.


SDLC PARTNERS, L.P.
Wednesday, September 30, 2015 (3:45 PM to 5:15 PM)
Wheatley Center Atrium

SDLC Partners, L.P., headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, opened its doors in 2004 as an alternative to large consulting organizations.  The firms’s 350+ employees take a practical and collaborative approach to deliver process improvement, analytics, and technology solutions to Fortune 1000 and mid-market customers by effectively working with business and I.T. units to serve as the “execution partner of choice.”

For more information about SDLC Partners, visit www.sdlcpartners.com

3:45 PM Registration for SET Credit
4:15 PM the speaker will start his presentation

Pizza will be served.

Cybersecurity Job Opportunities at the Department of Homeland Security #DHScyber

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is responsible for safeguarding our Nation’s critical infrastructure from physical and cyber threats that can affect national security, public safety, and economic prosperity. DHS is actively recruiting (http://www.dhs.gov/homeland-security-careers/dhs-cybersecurity) dynamic cybersecurity professionals in its National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC) to help protect the Nation’s cyberspace.

ABOUT NCCIC

NCCIC is a 24×7 cyber situational awareness, incident response, and management center that is a national nexus of cyber and communications integration for the federal, state, local, territorial, and tribal governments, the intelligence community, law enforcement, the private sector, and international entities. Qualified candidates must have knowledge, skills, and experience in, but not limited to:

  • Information systems and architecture design
  • Incident response
  • Malware and forensic incident analysis
  • Information security program and project management
  • Information assurance
  • Gathering and analyzing incident data
  • Developing and implementing information systems security programs, polices, and procedures
  • Leading teams in cyber incidents and responses
  • Identifying and analyzing cyber security threats and providing mitigation strategies
  • Identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities, vulnerability scanning and penetration testing
  • Evaluating security incident response policies
  • Reviewing proposed new systems, networks, and software designs for potential security risks

HOW TO APPLY

Employment opportunities are posted on USAJobs at dhs.usajobs.gov. Search using keyword “NCCIC”.  For more information, see:  http://1.usa.gov/1fbNhFS

MUST READ Article on Cybersecurity

Student Editorial

I hope everyone’s summer has gone well so far, and I hope that everyone is almost ready for another great school year as August nears. The article below is by far one of the best articles I’ve seen/read on cybersecurity. With the pool of both the good and bad guys involved with cybersecurity only continuing to grow, the battle to protect and damage critical infrastructure will continue to rage on. Shawn Henry, current president of CrowdStrike Services and former FBI Assistant Director, discusses how cyber adversaries are adapting and finding new ways to attack. In addition, he discusses the growing issue with China continuing to illegally access the U.S.’s private data, and how our nation must provide a better response to these incidents.  In addition, a few other topics in cybersecurity are discussed.  All in all, this blog post cannot give you all of the detail provided by this marvelous article. Please take the time to read it.

http://www.afcea.org/content/?q=Article-destructive-cyber-attacks-increase-frequency-sophistication#

RMU Professor John Turchek Wins IBM Faculty Award

turchekibmFor the second year in a row, John Turchek, head of the Department of Computer and Information Systems (CIS), was awarded the IBM Faculty Award, a distinguished honor given to one full-time professor at an accredited university that offers degree programs in the nominee’s field.

IBM professionals nominated Turchek, professor of computer and information systems, because of his exceptional collaboration in research and teaching using IBM mainframes. The $40,000 award reflects the advancement and reputation of the Robert Morris CIS program in addition to Turchek’s numerous activities in the field, and must be used to enhance mainframe enterprise systems in some fashion. Turchek wants to use this year’s award for educational activities that will help meet the immediate demand for IBM mainframe enterprise systems professionals in the field.

(Excerpt from RMU News)  See the full article here:
http://www.rmu.edu/news_highlights.aspx?id=1108

Congratulations, Professor Turchek!

 

Openings for Information Technology Specialists at Department of Homeland Security

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is recruiting candidates for the Acquisition Professional Career Program (APCP) for Information Technology Specialists, an Entry-Level Acquisition Career Development Program in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

We are looking for exceptional, intelligent, self-starters to train, develop skills and gain the necessary experience to become a sought after acquisition professional.  These important positions will involve support of information technology related contracting and procurement activities for mission-critical goods and services in support of the DHS mission of securing our homeland.  As a member of the DHS team, you will have the chance to put your academic achievements and professional experience to work on behalf of our nation’s security by providing information technology procurement and acquisition services throughout  Department of Homeland Security.  In public service, you’ll be in a position of public trust and will be able to contribute immensely and truly make a difference.

Department of Homeland Security has several openings for APCP Information Technology Specialist, GS-2210-7, positions.  Those candidates that gain entry into the Program will experience rotational assignments in the Department’s acquisition program offices, such as:  the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Coast Guard and Federal Emergency Management Agency.  In addition, program participants will receive technical and leadership training.  Upon successful completion of the three year program, program participants will be placed into a  position in one of the components with promotion potential to a GS-2210-12.  Federal careers offer a host of benefits such as: health insurance, paid vacation and sick leave and much more.

Please see the following links: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/405267500; or http://www.dhs.gov/acquisition-professional-career-program

Applications are due by June 22, 2015 – The vacancy announcement will close on MONDAY, June 22, 2014.

CA Technologies seeking a Senior Platform Administrator

The Mainframe Administrator will be responsible for the operation and upkeep of z/OS and z/VM systems for CA’s Product Demonstration Environment.   This individual will coordinate with our Mainframe R&D teams to load, configure and demonstrate new software products and releases. A strong background in Mainframe technologies with the ability to interact with various individuals, both internal and external, is essential.

For more information, see here.