image: Stephen Huang is a professor of computer science at the University of Houston and point of contact for the federal CAE-R program.
Credit: University of Houston
The University of Houston has been redesignated by the National Security Agency (NSA) as a Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Research (CAE-R) through 2029, reaffirming UH’s national leadership in advancing cybersecurity innovation, education and workforce development to help protect America’s critical infrastructure.
The federal redesignation — part of the NSA’s National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) program — recognizes institutions that demonstrate excellence in cyber defense education, research or operations.
With Houston serving as an epicenter of the nation’s energy, health care and transportation networks — all frequent targets of cyberattacks — this redesignation underscores UH’s growing role as a national partner in advancing research and workforce training that strengthen U.S. resilience against evolving threats.
“Cybersecurity is essential to protecting our nation’s economy and infrastructure, and universities like ours play a vital role in advancing both the science and the workforce needed to meet these challenges,” said Claudia Neuhauser, vice president of research at UH. “This recognition reflects the collaborative excellence of our faculty across colleges and their commitment to innovation in this critical field.”
The University has held this national CAE-R distinction since 2014, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to advancing cybersecurity innovation and national defense. UH currently holds two NCAE-C designations:
- Cyber Research (CAE-R): In effect through the 2028-29 academic year, recognizing excellence in advancing cybersecurity research and innovation.
- Cyber Defense (CAE-CD): Valid through the 2027-28 academic year, highlighting UH’s role in preparing the cybersecurity workforce through education and training. Professor Emeritus Arthur Conklin serves as the point of contact for the CAE-CD designation in the College of Technology at UH's Sugar Land campus.
UH’s cybersecurity programs combine advanced research with hands-on education to prepare students for the nation’s most in-demand cyber careers. On average, more than 90% of UH cybersecurity graduates are working in the field after graduation, supporting industries and agencies facing rapidly evolving digital threats.
The CAE-R redesignation reflects the collaborative efforts of cybersecurity faculty in the Department of Computer Science within UH’s College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. It provides networking and training opportunities for faculty and students through workshops, conferences and agency briefings.
The designation also preserves UH’s eligibility for competitive federal grants and scholarships that support the research of faculty and students, said Stephen Huang, professor of computer science and UH’s point of contact for the CAE-R program.
Huang recently completed an NSA-funded project on automated intrusion detection. His research focuses on real-time identification of cyber attackers using anonymity networks such as VPNs. The techniques can be used to detect geolocation spoofing — when users falsify their location for deceptive or illegal purposes.
The University’s two NCAE-C designations add to UH’s expanding footprint in cybersecurity. In a separate effort, UH launched the Transportation Cybersecurity Center for Advanced Research and Education (CYBER-CARE) in 2023, dedicated to strengthening the resilience of transportation systems against cyber threats.
Huang said cybersecurity is a constant, evolving challenge that requires continuous vigilance.
“We never know how we are going to be attacked next, and attackers can always come up with new methods of doing it,” Huang said. “That’s why we must be very vigilant in predicting how they may be able to do that and analyzing their attacks to prevent them. It’s a never-ending battle.”