Center for Cyber Operations Education
The mission of the Center for Cyber Operations Education at the University of North Georgia (UNG) is to develop highly capable cyber professionals and leaders for the private, non-profit, military, and government sectors. We accomplish this through innovative co-curricular opportunities, interdisciplinary research in emerging threats and solutions, relevant community outreach, and fostering a sustainable ecosystem to support cyber operations education. UNG is designated by the NSA and Department of Homeland Security as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE). With this designation, UNG is able to offer the Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship Program.
UNG is also designated as a University System of Georgia leadership institution and is The Military College of Georgia, one of six federally designated Senior Military Colleges in the nation.

UNG offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Cybersecurity, a Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity, two degree concentrations and two minors in information assurance and security (IAS) and cybersecurity. The Department of Computer Science and Information Systems (CSIS) has offered the Concentration in Information Assurance and Security (IAS) as part of the Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science since 2004 and serves as many as 300 students per semester in cybersecurity courses.

The Center wishes to thank our Gold Sponsors for 2020, Truist, Inc. and Georgia Power. Their support makes our nationally-ranked student competition teams, student conferences and certification training possible.
The Department of CSIS offers the Information Assurance and Security Minor, and, jointly with the Department of Criminal Justice, the Minor in Cybersecurity to add value to any undergraduate major across all disciplines. The interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts degree in Strategic and Security Studies offers a Concentration in Cybersecurity for students interested in military, government, or intelligence careers.
Cyber Curriculum and Departments
- Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
- Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity
- Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science
- BSCS Concentration in Information Assurance and Security (IAS)
- Bachelor of Business Administration in Information Systems
- Bachelor of Arts in Strategic and Security Studies w/Cyber Concentration
- Information Assurance and Security Minor
- Cyber Security Minor
- Department of Computer Science and Information Systems
- Department of Criminal Justice
Contact Information
Dr. Bryson Payne, GPEN, CEH, CISSP®, Director
Center for Cyber Operations Education
129 Barnes Hall, Dahlonega Campus
706-864-1694
bryson.payne@ung.edu
Cybersecurity Outreach
- UNG Cyber Hawks – The UNG Cyber Hawks competition teams meet every Wednesday at noon in NOC 109. We practice for the Southeast Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (SECCDC), the National Cyber League (NCL), NSA Codebreaker Challenge and similar cyber defense/cyber operations/cybersecurity events, and we discuss cybersecurity with guest speakers. Visitors who are interested in learning more about cybersecurity are welcome to attend.
- Guest Lectures – Dr. Tamirat Abegaz is a Certified Ethical Hacker, former Programmer with the African Union, and speaks on Computer Science and Cybersecurity. Dr. Payne is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional and Certified Ethical Hacker and speaks regularly at civic organizations and K-12 schools on computer science, cybersecurity, and technology education. To request a guest lecture, email cs@ung.edu.
- Cyber Leader Development Program – In collaboration with the Army Cyber Institute, UNG’s Cyber Leader Development Program offers Cadets majoring or minoring in Cyber-related disciplines the opportunity to participate in up to 100 hours per year of academic and co-curricular Cyber activities, including courses, conferences, certifications, and competitions, leading to the Army Skills Identifier SI-C1 (Cyber) upon commissioning. See CPT Caitlin Hirsch (caitlin.hirsch@ung.edu) for more information or to join the CLDP.
- Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship Program - A scholarship-for-service program that provides full tuition, fees and books plus a stipend for $25,000 for living expenses to juniors and seniors in a cyber-related degree program ($30,000 for Master’s in a cyber degree or concentration)
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Adjunct instructor wins $22K scholarship for cyber certifications
Jacob Elliott, an Information Technology Services software developer and adjunct instructor of computer science at the University of North Georgia (UNG), won a $22,000 scholarship from the SANS Instit
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Elliott wins spring Cyber FastTrack event
Jacob Elliott, an Information Technology Services software developer and adjunct instructor of computer science at the University of North Georgia (UNG), won the SANS Institute Cyber FastTrack capture
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Payne receives Order of Thor for efforts to train cadets in cyber
Dr. Bryson Payne, professor of computer science and director of the Center for Cyber Operations Education at the University of North Georgia (UNG), has been honored for his work to prepare cadets for
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UNG wins NSA Codebreaker Challenge 'in commanding fashion'
The University of North Georgia (UNG) scored a decisive victory in the 2019 National Security Agency (NSA) Codebreaker Challenge, which ran for 110 days and finished Jan. 10. UNG students, faculty and
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Two cybersecurity faculty earn high-level certifications
While UNG students cemented their cybersecurity prowess with a top-10 ranking in a competition this semester, two computer science faculty members recently earned high-level certifications in the cybe
Cybersecurity Resources
- Top 20 Critical Security Controls - SANS Institute
- OWASP Top Ten Web Application Vulnerabilities
- SANS Security Awareness Tips
- Cybersecurity Tips - US-CERT
- Top Ten Cybersecurity Tips - The U.S. Small Business Administration - SBA.gov
- Kaspersky Top 10 Tips For Educating Employees About Cybersecurity (PDF)
- SANS Cyber Aces Online Courses
Peer/Partner Institutions
- DHS-NSA - National Centers of Academic Excellence
- Columbus State University - TSYS Center for Cybersecurity
- Kennesaw State University - Institute for Cybersecurity Workforce Development
- Georgia Tech - Institute for Information Security & Privacy
- Augusta University - Augusta University Cyber Institute
- Georgia Southern - Armstrong Campus - Center for Applied Cyber Education
- U.S. Military Academy at West Point - Cyber Leader Development Program
Cyber Competitions
- SECCDC
- US-CERT Strategies for Cyber Competition - National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies
- National Cyberwatch Center - Upcoming Conferences/Events
- National Cyber League
- MITRE Cyber Academy (High School and College)
- CyberPatriot (Middle and High School)
- SANS NetWars (Professional)
- DARPA Cyber Grand Challenge
Cyber Operations Reading
- "Strategic Application of Special Warfare in Cyberspace"
- "Strategic Development of Special Warfare in Cyberspace" (2015 Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Award Research Paper)
- "Man, Computer, and Special Warfare"
- "Harnessing Cyber-technology's Human Potential"
- "Why do Russia and Iran have More Cyber Commandos than the US?"
- "UW in Cyberspace: The Cyber UW Pilot Team Concept"
- "SOF's Cyber FRINGE"