St. Petersburg College (SPC) has been re-designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This designation, valid through the 2029 academic year, acknowledges SPC’s rigorous cybersecurity programs and its role in developing a skilled workforce equipped to address national information infrastructure vulnerabilities.
SPC initially received the CAE-CD designation in 2019 for its Associate in Science degree in Cybersecurity, becoming the fourth state college in Florida to earn this recognition. Building on this foundation, the college expanded its offerings to include a Bachelor of Applied Science in Cybersecurity.
The CAE-CD program, managed by the NSA’s National Cryptologic School in partnership with federal entities such as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), aims to promote higher education and research in cyber defense. Institutions awarded this designation have met stringent criteria, demonstrating their commitment to producing professionals capable of reducing vulnerabilities in the national information infrastructure.
SPC’s cybersecurity curriculum is designed to align with the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Cybersecurity Workforce Framework, preparing graduates for roles such as Systems Security Analyst, Security Control Assessor, and Cyber Defense Analyst. The program emphasizes hands-on training with industry-standard tools, ensuring that students are well-equipped to meet the demands of the cybersecurity sector.
The Tampa Bay region, where SPC is located, has experienced significant growth in the cybersecurity job market. According to Nucamp, a coding boot camp and industry expert, the area is projected to see a 28% increase in cybersecurity positions between 2022 and 2026. Additionally, the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council reports that defense contractors contribute $20 billion to the local economy, supporting 175,000 jobs, with nine of the top 10 U.S. defense contractors operating in the area.
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