The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey, California, was visited by John McHugh, Secretary of the Army, on Monday.

McHugh visited NPS in order to learn about research efforts at the University, as well as look at the academic programs that military officers take part in. NPS President Dan Oliver and key faculty members gave McHugh and his staff a command brief regarding the development of the university’s new cyber security degree program.

McHugh shared: “The Naval Postgraduate School is an important place to the Army, and we need to make sure we are taking full advantage of it… The joint approach to training at the graduate and postgraduate level is impressive and I have an enormous respect for the work that is being done here. I want to know how the Army can help your efforts.”

An overview of the master’s degree on cyber systems and operations offered at NPS was given by Dr. Cynthia Irvine, director of the Cyber Academic Group of NPS. She said: “We’re here to focus on maximizing cyberspace operational effectiveness, and we’re very excited [about] the programs in this field of study that we are offering our students.”

McHugh commended NPS’ efforts in the field of cyber security, especially those targeting senior enlisted Sailors and soldiers: “Interestingly, I’ve noticed how much of a gap exists between our junior and senior enlisted soldiers in knowledge of the cyber world,” McHugh said. “It’s crucial that we get these senior enlisted soldiers the foundations they need to succeed.”