CfIA Receives Cyber Security Training Grant from FEMA

Posted on 2015-11-22

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded a 2015 Continuing Training Grant of $3 million for cyber security training to the National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium (NCPC).  The project will be led by the University of Arkansas Criminal Justice Institute; the University of Memphis Center for Information Assurance (CfIA) will collaborate on the project as a core member of the consortium.

This Homeland Security National Training Program (HSNTP) will provide FEMA-certified training to first responders, emergency managers, technical specialists, and local government and community leaders, preparing them for all types of cyber emergencies.

The University of Memphis is at the forefront of information security research, education, and outreach in the region, according to Dr. Dipankar Dasgupta, founding director of CfIA, which is a National Center for Academic Excellence in Information Assurance. "The center will receive $474,000 from the consortium, and though this grant we will be developing an online training course on mobile device security and privacy issues. The course will make it safer for everyone browsing the Internet," he said.

The 36-month program focuses on four areas: cyber security, hazardous materials, countering violent extremism and rural preparedness. Rural preparedness includes school-based incidents, mass fatality planning and response, the development of emergency operation plans, rail car safety, media engagement strategies for first responders, agro-terrorism, food and animal safety, and hazardous materials.