Center for Cyber Defense Education

Rockland Community College has a longstanding commitment to Cyber Security Education. Rockland was the first community college in the SUNY system to have its courses certified as mapping to the Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS) NSTISSI Standard 4011 in 2008, and first offered a degree in local area networking in 1996. The degree was later renamed to Computer Networking and is now called Cyber Security.

The 62-credit Cyber Security AAS degree program provides students with the technological course work needed for careers in cyber security. Course work prepares students for vendor certifications including Microsoft® Windows®, CompTIA®, and Cisco®. Courses use vendor authorized curriculum and include extensive lab work. See a mapping of courses to certification exam preparation.

For more details on the requirements please see our online catalog: Cyber Security Associate Degree

Cyber Security topics are also covered in other degree programs. Examples include HIPAA in Nursing and Occupational Therapy Assistant programs, information privacy topics in the Paralegal Studies program, and critical infrastructure protection in the Corporate and Homeland Security program.

The College is a CompTIA Authorized Academy, an affiliate school of the National Center for Systems Security and Information Assurance, a member of the National Cybersecurity Training & Education Center, and a member school of the National CyberWatch Center. Our Facebook page contains cyber security tips and information, and the Center for Cyber Defense Education maintains a display case on the third floor of the Technology Center.

Cyber Security Degree
Cyber Security Policies
Cyber Security Resources
Competitions & Events
Cyber Security Awareness Blog

Cybersecurity Student Club

The club meets on Thursdays during the fall and spring semesters from 12:40 pm – 1:30 pm and is open to all students. Students can attend meetings remotely or in person. The club is meant to encourage everyone of all skill levels to explore cybersecurity further. It is a fun engaging way to apply some of the skills you have learned in class and open new challenges outside of the classroom. The Cybersecurity Club participates in local, regional and national competitions. The next competition will be National Cyber League Spring 2023 season.

Club Faculty Advisors: Christopher Flatley, Jeanette Geller

Cybersecurity News

For current RCC Cyber Security Program, College and general cybersecurity news and event information, as well as cybersecurity tips, please visit our department Facebook page.

Professional Development Opportunities for Students

A LinkedIn learning path containing courses on job seeking, career development, interview skills, certification exam preparation and technical skills is made available to all cybersecurity students at no cost.

Guest Speakers

Guest speakers working in Cybersecurity roles are invited to classes and club meetings to give presentations and answer questions.

Internships

On and off-campus internships and college work-study opportunities may be available through the Internship Office and the IT department.

Business seeking interns are invited to fill out this application or contact the Internship Office for more information.

Employment

Student Employment assists students with finding employment, and the Career Readiness and Success Center provides Career Advising services.

CompTIA Authorized Academy logo NSA logo

Contact Information

Center for Cyber Defense Education
Point of Contact (POC): Jeanette Geller, Professor of Cyber Security
Technology Center, Room 8307
845-574-4577
f: 845-574-4259
[email protected]

Faculty

  • F.M. Jeanette Geller, Chair
    A.A.S,, Business: Office Technologies
    A.A.S, Data Processing: LAN Administration
    B.S., Management
    M.B.A, Management
    Certifications: Microsoft, Cisco Certified Instructor
  • Christopher M. Flatley
    B.S. in Cybersecurity
    M.S. in Cybersecurity
    Certifications: CEH, CISSP, Security+, Network+
  • Nicole L Hanaburgh
    B.E. Electrical Engineering
    M.S. Electrical Engineering
    Certifications: CISSP, Security+, CTT+, A+, Network+

Advisory Board

Eric Magaram Professor, Program Director, Math, Computer Science and Cyber Security
Rockland Community College

Jeanette Geller Professor, Cyber Security
Rockland Community College
Christopher Flatley Instructor, Cyber Security
Rockland Community College
Nicole Hanaburgh Professor, Cyber Security,
Rockland Community College
Tarik Abdelqader RCC Cyber Security Graduate
Senior Manager, Application, Cloud Security, and Vulnerability Management
Wyndham Hotels and Resorts
Azhar Ahmad Regional/Lead Manager of Managed IT Services
LHRIC/SWBOCES
Angel Cardoza General Manager, Control Center and Substation Operations
Orange and Rockland Utilities
Denise McCarroll RCC Cyber Security Graduate
Instructor, Information Technology and Cybersecurity
Mount Saint Mary College
Alberto Rodriguez Network Administrator, County of Rockland
Instructor, Cyber Technology, Rockland BOCES