The University of South Carolina, thanks to the Center for Information Assurance Engineering, has been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education (CAE/IAE). The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security jointly sponsor the CAE/IAE program. To receive this recognition, a University must pass a rigorous review based on stringent criteria and demonstrate its commitment to academic excellence in Information Assurance. Dr. Csilla Farkas, the founder and director of the Center for Information Assurance Engineering, has been actively promoting information assurance research, education, and outreach since her employment at USC. The Department of Computer Science and Engineering has been regularly offering information assurance courses since 2000, and a Graduate Certificate Program in Information Assurance and Security since 2004. In addition, the information assurance courses have been evaluated to meet the Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS) Training Standards for Information Systems Security Professionals (CNSS 4011), for System Administrators (CNSS 4013), and for Information Systems Security Officers (CNSS 4014). Completion of the information assurance coursework provides students with a foundation of information assurance and security research and practice, enabling them to solve practical security related problems as well as to make managerial decisions. The program targets graduate students enrolled in one of the graduate level programs offered by the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and IT professionals working in security related fields. As a National Center of Academic Excellence, USC is qualified to apply for specific programs for scholarships and grants. We expect that being nationally recognized will promote USC-wide information assurance awareness, attract quality graduate students, lead to new interdisciplinary research and education activities, and increase external funding in information assurance activities.