LaGuardia Community College Receives National Cybersecurity NCAE-CD Designation, Opens Cybersecurity Lab
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (April 8, 2025) — LaGuardia Community College/CUNY recently received national recognition for excellence in cybersecurity curriculum and programs.
LaGuardia earned a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) designation, which is awarded to institutions that have met the rigorous requirements set forth by the National Security Agency (NSA). The NSA awards CAE-C designations to institutions that commit to producing cybersecurity professionals that will reduce vulnerabilities in our national infrastructure.
Dr. Doyel Pal, Professor of Computer Science, says earning the Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) designation signifies that the college’s cybersecurity program meets the rigorous standards set by the National Security Agency (NSA), ensuring a top-tier education aligned with national security needs.
“The CAE-CD designation recognizes LaGuardia for its excellence in cybersecurity education, ensuring our program meets national and industry security standards,” Dr. Pal said. “It reflects our commitment to advancing cybersecurity knowledge, equipping students with the skills to protect critical systems, and strengthening the nation’s cyber defense efforts.”
The cybersecurity program at LaGuardia provides students with a solid foundation in theory and hands-on practice through its curriculum, extracurricular activities, and workshops, enabling them to understand current cybersecurity threats and develop strategies to address emerging challenges.
“Receiving the CAE-CD Designation is an incredible achievement for our faculty and staff, who worked diligently toward this goal,” says Dr. Abderrazak (Abdel) Belkharraz Idrissi, Professor and Chairperson of the Mathematics, Engineering & Computer Science Department. “It marks a significant milestone for our cybersecurity students and enhances the prestige of our institution. This recognition truly places us in the hall of fame within the cybersecurity sector.”
Dr. Pal says this designation enhances LaGuardia’s cybersecurity program by boosting its credibility, expanding career opportunities for students, and providing access to federal grants, scholarships, and industry partnerships.
“Achieving this milestone was a collective effort, and I sincerely appreciate the dedication and contributions of our entire college community,” Dr Pal said. “Whether through sharing course materials, students’ work, syllabi, IR data, transcripts, and cybersecurity policies, developing media and web pages, establishing CPL credits, or creating cybersecurity labs, LaGuardia Community’s support was instrumental in this success.”
CAE-IAE History and Designations
In 1999, the National Security Agency (NSA) launched the Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education (CAE-IAE) program. Under this program, an institution could receive the CAE-IAE designation if it passed rigorous curriculum and program requirements. By May 1999, seven schools became designated as a CAE-IAE, and soon, many more institutions joined the ranks of CAE-IAE designated institutions. While the CAE-IAE program initially formed to address the shortage of intelligence community professionals, the program later expanded to address the lack of qualified cybersecurity professionals in the workforce.
Today, the NCAE-C program has over 400 U.S. institutions with designations in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD), Cyber Research (CAE-R), and Cyber Operations (CAE-CO). LaGuardia Community College is now included on the National CAE Institution Map.
There are three types of designations schools can pursue Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD), Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Research (CAE-R), and Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations (CAE-CO). While the NSA does not provide funding to CAE-C designated institutions, once a school obtains one of these designations, it can compete for grants like the Department of Defense Cybersecurity Scholarship Program (DoD CySP) and can apply for the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Scholarship for Service program. Schools are not limited to a single designation and are encouraged to pursue more than one.
All regionally accredited two-year, four-year, and graduate-level institutions in the United States are eligible to apply to become a CAE-C designated institution. An institution or program must apply for re-designation every five academic years.
Cybersecurity Lab Offers Students Enhanced Learning Experience
Adding to the success of the Cybersecurity program is the new Cybersecurity lab in room B-124, which opened in 2024.
“Creating a physical cybersecurity lab at a college is challenging due to the cost of equipment, software, isolated, and secure infrastructure required for safe, hands-on cybersecurity training,” said Dr. Pal. “Through the Cybersecurity Education Diversity Initiative (CEDI), we received a grant from the Fordham Center for Cybersecurity (FCC) to establish a dedicated cybersecurity lab aimed at enhancing students’ learning experiences.”
Since 2024, LaGuardia has operated this lab, providing hands-on experience with real-world threats and tools. Dr. Pal says the new lab has added to the students’ learning experiences.
“The new lab fosters practical skills in ethical hacking, digital forensics, network monitoring, and more, bridging theory with practice,” Dr. Pal said. “This prepares students for careers by strengthening their understanding of security practices and emerging threats, ultimately providing them with a deeper, practical understanding of cybersecurity.”
LaGuardia Prepares Students for Cybersecurity Job Market
The cybersecurity job market is rapidly expanding, with a growing demand for skilled professionals to address emerging cyber threats. Dr. Pal says despite the high demand, the shortage of cybersecurity professionals remains a critical issue, making it challenging to meet the needs of organizations seeking to secure their digital infrastructure.
“The supply of cybersecurity professionals in the United States meets 83% of the demand for these positions, leaving 17% of roles unfilled due to the ongoing talent gap,” said Dr. Pal citing data from the Cyber Seek heat map.
Cybersecurity talent gaps are prevalent nationwide, with more job openings than qualified candidates, according to LinkedIn.
“As a CAE-CD designated institution, LaGuardia gains access to specialized programs, scholarships, and federal partnerships, creating new opportunities for career growth in cybersecurity,” Dr. Pal said. “As a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), LaGuardia is dedicated to increasing diversity in cybersecurity by providing accessible education, scholarships, mentorship, and industry partnerships that support students from underrepresented backgrounds. By fostering inclusivity and expanding opportunities, LaGuardia is helping to ensure the cybersecurity workforce reflects diverse perspectives, which is crucial for developing more effective security solutions that protect all communities.”
Dr. Pal hopes to see LaGuardia’s cybersecurity program continue to grow, offering cutting-edge education, hands-on training, and workforce development to prepare students for high-demand careers in cybersecurity.
“With unwavering faculty support, apprenticeship collaborations with Mastercard, career readiness and cybersecurity workshops through the CyberNinjas meet-up group and CUNY 2X Tech Academy at LAGCC, and student involvement in extracurricular activities, LaGuardia has become a leading hub through its newly established Cyber Circle for cutting-edge cybersecurity education.
“At LaGuardia, we are not just educating students – we are shaping the future generation of the cybersecurity workforce,” Dr. Pal said. “By continuously advancing our curriculum, fostering strong industry partnerships, and expanding undergraduate research opportunities, we are equipping cybersecurity professionals with the skills to defend against evolving cyber threats and protect critical systems.”
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LaGuardia Community College (LAGCC), a Hispanic-Serving Institution, located in Long Island City, Queens offers more than 50 associate degrees and academic certificates, and more than 65 continuing education programs to prepare New Yorkers for transfer to senior colleges and rewarding jobs and careers. An institution of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his advocacy of the underserved. Since 1971, LaGuardia’s academic programs and support services have advanced the socioeconomic mobility of students from Queens, NYC and beyond.
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