NSA honors Hamilton for contributions to national cyber education program
David Shaw, vice president for research and economic development at Mississippi State, congratulates Drew Hamilton on his recent commendation by the National Security Agency.
The National Security Agency recently honored Mississippi State's Drew Hamilton for his outstanding contributions for the agency's National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations Program.
"Dr. Hamilton's technical expertise was instrumental to the success of the 2018 CAE-Cyber Operations season, which culminated in the designation of three new national CAE-Cyber Operations schools," wrote Steven M. Lafountain, the dean of the National Cryptologic School and College of Cyber, in a letter of commendation. "Dr. Hamilton's contribution to this important national effort is greatly appreciated."
At MSU, Hamilton is the director of the Center for Cyber Innovation and a professor of computer science and engineering. He is a Fellow and former president of the Society for Modeling & Simulation, International. A member of the ACM Special Interest Group Governing Board Executive Committee, he chairs the ACM Special Interest Group on the Ada Programming Language.
For approximately 20 years, Mississippi State has worked to grow its leading cyber security research and education programs. The university is certified as a Center of Academic Excellence in both Information Assurance Education and Research, as well as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations. MSU is the only university in the state with all three designations.
Previously, Hamilton served as Alumni Professor of Computer Science and Software Engineering at Auburn University, where he established Auburn's cyber security program.
During his active duty career in the United States Army, he commanded HQs & HQs Battery, 1st Bn. 5th Field Artillery, Battery A, 8th Bn., 8th Field Artillery, Service Battery, 1st Bn, 8th Field Artillery and Battery F (sep), 7th Field Artillery and qualified in nuclear/chemical targeting. He served as the first director of the Joint Forces Program Office at SPAWAR working command and control interoperability and on the Department of Electrical Engineering a Computer Science faculty of the United States Military Academy, as well as chief of the Ada Joint Program Office. He is a graduate of the Naval War College with distinction.
Hamilton holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and public relations from Texas Tech University, a master's degree in systems management from the University of Southern California, and a master's degree in computer science from Vanderbilt University. He earned his Ph.D. in computer science from Texas A&M University.
