General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, a leading provider of cyber security solutions, has joined with Virginia Tech as an affiliate of the newest Security and Software Engineering Research Center (S2ERC), founded with support from the US National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF established the S2ERC programme 25 years ago as the Industry and University Cooperative Research Center (I/UCRC) programme dedicated to software engineering and recently rechartered the centre with an added focus on security.

The National Science Foundation awarded Virginia Tech a five-year grant to support the centre, which includes the participation of industry and academia. The new cyber security site becomes the third primary S2ERC location in the country. The two other primary site locations are Ball State University and Iowa State University Tech.

“It is vital to America’s security that industry remains a prominent contributor in the education and training of our future cyber leaders,” said Lou Von Thaer, President, General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems. “The strides we make in cyber security benefit not only industry, but protect our national security as well. That is why we are committed to helping Virginia Tech create and sustain this centre as a nexus for collaborative cyber security research.

“Partnering with one of the leading engineering institutions in the country, we expect this centre for cyber research to improve our customers’ mission capability and strengthen their defences on the Internet,” said John Jolly, Vice President and General Manager of General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems’ Cyber Systems division.