SAN ANTONIO — The National Security Agency (NSA) has designated University of Texas at San Antonio as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Research (CAE-R) for its doctoral programs.
The designation recognizes universities that provide advanced doctoral-level cybersecurity education and research and support priorities outlined in the 2018 National Cyber Strategy, including addressing the shortage of cybersecurity professionals. UT San Antonio first received a CAE designation in 2002 and earned its first CAE-R designation in 2009.
The university’s cybersecurity programs, often aligned with government and military needs, are supported by nearly 30 research labs and centers, including the Institute for Cyber Security, the Center for Infrastructure Assurance & Security, and the UTSA AI Consortium for Human Well-Being. In 2025, the university launched the College of AI, Cyber and Computing to integrate programs in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, computing, and data science.
Jennifer Sharpe Potter, PhD, senior executive vice president for research and innovation, said the designation confirms that UT San Antonio’s doctoral programs meet federal standards for advancing national cybersecurity capabilities. Interim dean Fred Martin, PhD, emphasized the university’s role in developing a skilled cybersecurity workforce and supporting the nation’s digital defense.
The designation, effective through 2031, required demonstrating high levels of cybersecurity research activity among PhD faculty and students. Alumni have contributed to government, military, and private-sector cybersecurity, including roles at the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Africa Command, the U.S. Navy, and Microsoft.
The NSA will formally recognize UT San Antonio at a ceremony later this year.
