NORTHFIELD, Vt., March 21, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Norwich University computer security and information assurance (CSIA) program, with students operating both onsite in California and on campus, supported Santa Clara Police Department, the lead law enforcement agency at Super Bowl 50, and the law enforcement and homeland security functions leading up to and during this international sporting event.
Norwich University was the only educational institution invited to participate in support of the public safety team tasked with safeguarding Super Bowl 50. With support from over 60 students working at its campus based Global Threat Observatory, Norwich cybersecurity students and faculty collaborated with Levi's Stadium – the host for the event – and with the Super Bowl 50 Critical Infrastructure & Cyber Protection Sub Committee, the represented agencies and their personnel. This committee was led by Detective Sergeant Ray Carreira '96 of the Santa Clara Police Department, the lead law enforcement agency for the event.
Throughout 2015 CSIA students worked with this team in preparation for this globally televised event and formed partnerships with leading software developers to support their work.
Norwich University's participation was made possible in part with generous support by these critical providers:
Levi's Stadium, home of Super Bowl 50, is one of the most technologically capable stadiums in the world. In preparation, CSIA students attended Wrestlemania and a major soccer match for fact-finding and familiarization with the security environment.
Super Bowl 50 was broadcast in over 180 countries in 25 languages and was expected to reach over 115 million households in the USA, making it the most viewed event in history.
"I have been so impressed by these Norwich students and their professionalism, their ability to solve complex problems and the ease with which they have integrated into this intense law enforcement environment," said Captain Phil Cooke, Santa Clara Police Department Super Bowl 50 Commander.
The Norwich University cybersecurity program began in 1999.
Ranked #2 by the Ponemon Institute for cyber security in the U.S., Norwich University programs are consistently ranked among the best in the nation for cyber security education. Norwich University is recognized as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and has received designation as a Center of Digital Forensics Academic Excellence (CDFAE) by the Defense Cyber Crime Center (DC3). Beginning in 2002, Norwich University became a member of what is now called National Science Foundation's Cyber Corps: Scholarship for Service program. Norwich is partnered with the United States Army Reserves (USAR) to develop cyber-education curricula that align with federal standards and cybersecurity needs.
"When I read about all the impressive work Norwich is doing with cyber, I took the opportunity to connect that expertise to a function for law enforcement of this major event," Carreira said.
About Norwich University:
Norwich University is a diversified academic institution that educates traditional-age students and adults in a Corps of Cadets and as civilians. Norwich offers a broad selection of traditional and distance-learning programs culminating in Baccalaureate and Graduate Degrees. Norwich University was founded in 1819 by Captain Alden Partridge of the U.S. Army and is the oldest private military college in the United States of America. Norwich is one of our nation's six senior military colleges and the birthplace of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). www.norwich.edu
In fulfillment of Norwich's mission to train and educate today's students to be tomorrow's global leaders and captains of industry, the Forging the Future campaign is committed to creating the best possible learning environment through state-of-the-art academics and world-class facilities. Norwich University will celebrate its bicentennial in 2019. Learn more about the campaign and how to participate in the "Year of Transformation" here: bicentennial.norwich.edu.