Center for Cyber Education

In 2018, the University of Maine System (UMS) and its member institutions of higher education established the Maine Cybersecurity Center (MCC) as the designated Center for Cyber Education. The MCC is responsible for providing cyber defense education support and resources to any institution within the UMS.

The center shall provide program guidance and oversight, general cyber defense information, and collaboration and outreach opportunities among students, faculty, and other institutions.

MCC Mission & Goal

Our mission is to provide the State of Maine with a trained cybersecurity workforce, based on guidance from the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Cybersecurity Workforce Framework and the National Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE) in Cybersecurity program-jointly sponsored by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.

Our goal is aimed at advanced cybersecurity curriculum and practice by investing in and implementing technology that provides remote access to immersive training and simulation; such as virtual lab environments and a cyber range that delivers real-world real-time security operations center experience. We are committed to workforce development and building a comprehensive network of partnerships among academia and industry.

Annual Reporting

All CAE designated institutions agree to complete and submit an annual report that describes academic activities, highlights and benefits of being a CAE in Cyber Defense, and any program changes. Our annual reports are available upon request, and includes information about:

  • program of study and department
  • faculty teaching in the program of study
  • student enrollment, reflective of the last academic year
  • graduates, reflective of the last academic year
  • student placement after graduation (government, academia, industry)
  • student development opportunities (clubs, chapters, cyber competitions)
  • curriculum changes (if any since last CAE designation)
  • NICE framework mapped program of study
  • research funding (source, amount, brief description)
  • institution successes and achievements (scholarships, outreach, partnerships, awards, conference participation, etc.)
  • CAE designation return on investment (specifically resulting from CAE designation)
  • CAE community contributions (meetings, workshops, workgroups)
  • additional information not reported in the areas above

External Board of Advisors

The board will consist of industry professionals and faculty from other institutions. The board will provide programmatic guidance over the activities of the center and the program as a whole, and provide a connection between the program and the local community. The board will elect a chairperson and determine a meeting schedule that will include at least quarterly meetings.

Contact Us

Henry Felch, DCS
Director, Maine Cyber Center,
UMA Associate Professor of Cyber/CIS, and
Director, Maine Cyber Range

Michele Weymouth
Assistant to the Director

Email us at: UMAcyber@maine.edu