RUSTON, La. (KNOE) – Louisiana Tech University has received $612,000 from the U.S. Department of Defense to expand its cybersecurity education programs, including student scholarships and additional training opportunities.The funding includes approximately $463,000 for Cyber Service Academy scholarships and stipends supporting eight students. The remaining $149,000 will go toward expanding training capabilities involving artificial intelligence and security operations.University officials say the investment will help students gain hands-on experience and prepare for careers in cybersecurity.Louisiana Tech’s on-campus Student Security Operations Center gives students opportunities to work alongside IT security professionals and industry partners. Students can analyze security alerts, investigate potential threats and assist with incident triage under professional supervision.Dr. William “Brad” Glisson, a computer science professor at Louisiana Tech, said the center gives students experience that cannot be replicated through classroom instruction alone.“The reality is we can teach a lot of things in textbooks, right? You can pick up the theory, but it’s a different situation when you’re actually under attack,” Glisson said. “And that’s what the Security Operations Center provides is students with hands-on, real-world experience.”The grant will also support training involving artificial intelligence and security operations. Graduate student Nicholas Cervantes said the funding will give students more opportunities to experiment with AI and prepare for careers in the industry.Graduate student Isabella Breaux said artificial intelligence can also be used to help protect computer systems and personal devices.Louisiana Tech’s cybersecurity programs also include its Cybersecurity Applied Innovation Laboratory, where students and faculty work with industry partners on research involving digital forensics, malware analysis and artificial intelligence.The university established the nation’s first cyber engineering program in 2012 and holds National Security Agency designations as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education and Cyber Research.Copyright 2026 KNOE. All rights reserved.
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