Professor Fred Chang

The Center for Information Assurance and Security at the University of Texas has joined forces with the United States Navy on a project that will help improve the protection of Navy defense data systems.

The center received an undisclosed amount of funding from the Navy for the research and development of answers to some of the Navy's cybersecurity issues. The project will be led by Fred Chang, director of the CIAS and a computer sciences research professor at UT. The CIAS was founded at UT as a multi-disciplinary research center focused on developing innovative answers to cybersecurity problems.

The center's project with the Navy includes a combination of research and advanced development to address cybersecurity problems facing Navy submarines. Any solutions the project brings to light will be designed and proof-of-concept prototypes will be developed and rigorously tested, according to the Navy.

Rear Admiral John Butler

"In the modern naval battle space, information assurance is of paramount importance," says Rear Admiral John Butler, program executive officer for Navy submarines.

The CIAS is also expecting further funding from the Navy for the project in the future.

-- Austin Business Journal, April 14, 2005