NEWS
University salutes Spohn with honorary doctorate
Craig Spohn, president and executive director of the Cyber Innovation Center (CIC) in Bossier City, will receive an honorary Doctor of Science from Louisiana Tech University at its Spring Commencement Ceremony at 10 a.m. May 19 in the Thomas Assembly Center.
Spohn has championed north Louisiana’s development of a cyber economy for the past decade. Through Spohn’s relentless efforts, the CIC and its partners have secured millions of dollars for cyber programs and facilities, created a knowledge-based economy in the region, and attracted national attention from industry, government, and other communities.
Under Spohn’s leadership, the CIC serves as catalyst for the development and expansion of a workforce throughout the region that is prepared for the challenges of cybersecurity. CIC also seeks to diversify the region’s economic base by promoting research, education, and technological innovation and fostering collaborative and strategic alliances between governmental agencies, private industry, and academic institutions.
“Craig has inspired and connected government, educational, and company leaders. With his guidance, we continue to work together on the facilities and programs that make up the National Cyber Research Park in Bossier City,” said Louisiana Tech President Dr. Les Guice. “He is committed to developing the programs, curricula, and activities that have accelerated and will continue to strengthen the growth of a skilled workforce to support the cyber and defense-related companies in our region.”
Spohn was integral to the establishment of the nation’s first cyber engineering program at Louisiana Tech, and he has been instrumental in helping students secure internships and creating professional development programs to enhance the readiness of the north Louisiana workforce for new opportunities in the cybersecurity field.
Louisiana Tech and the CIC have enjoyed a strong, collaborative relationship over the past decade, and much of the collaboration is because of Spohn’s vision of working with area residents from kindergarten through their careers to ensure they are ready to meet the challenges of the knowledge-based economy. Tech and CIC have shared in the development and advancement of programs and partnerships such as the Cyber Discovery Camps, the Cyber Engineering Research Conferences, and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) initiatives built to create the next generation of scientific thinkers and innovators in north Louisiana.
“Craig’s leadership has been crucial and helps our partnership’s primary purpose, to provide more and better opportunities for Louisiana students to stay here and help continue this wave of economic development in the cybersecurity field,” Guice said. “We work closely with the CIC to ensure that technology is taken from the research phase to the applied phase – with the aim of serving our region’s economic development and national security interests.
“He has been instrumental as an advisor and guide as we worked to develop and continue to enhance our cybersecurity academic programs. Craig’s influence is helping our University prepare students to make a positive impact on the government agencies and companies that will ensure our country is safe for years to come.”
Governor John Bel Edwards recently appointed Spohn Chairman of the newly formed Louisiana Cybersecurity Commission. He also served on the Consortium for Education, Research and Technology Board; the Biomedical Research Foundation Board; the Louisiana Tech Computer Science Advisory Board; and the LSU-Shreveport Science and Technology Council. Spohn and his wife, Stacy, have a son, Sam, and two daughters, Caroline and Sarah-Catherine.
Spohn has championed north Louisiana’s development of a cyber economy for the past decade. Through Spohn’s relentless efforts, the CIC and its partners have secured millions of dollars for cyber programs and facilities, created a knowledge-based economy in the region, and attracted national attention from industry, government, and other communities.Under Spohn’s leadership, the CIC serves as catalyst for the development and expansion of a workforce throughout the region that is prepared for the challenges of cybersecurity. CIC also seeks to diversify the region’s economic base by promoting research, education, and technological innovation and fostering collaborative and strategic alliances between governmental agencies, private industry, and academic institutions.
“Craig has inspired and connected government, educational, and company leaders. With his guidance, we continue to work together on the facilities and programs that make up the National Cyber Research Park in Bossier City,” said Louisiana Tech President Dr. Les Guice. “He is committed to developing the programs, curricula, and activities that have accelerated and will continue to strengthen the growth of a skilled workforce to support the cyber and defense-related companies in our region.”
Spohn was integral to the establishment of the nation’s first cyber engineering program at Louisiana Tech, and he has been instrumental in helping students secure internships and creating professional development programs to enhance the readiness of the north Louisiana workforce for new opportunities in the cybersecurity field.
Louisiana Tech and the CIC have enjoyed a strong, collaborative relationship over the past decade, and much of the collaboration is because of Spohn’s vision of working with area residents from kindergarten through their careers to ensure they are ready to meet the challenges of the knowledge-based economy. Tech and CIC have shared in the development and advancement of programs and partnerships such as the Cyber Discovery Camps, the Cyber Engineering Research Conferences, and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) initiatives built to create the next generation of scientific thinkers and innovators in north Louisiana.
“Craig’s leadership has been crucial and helps our partnership’s primary purpose, to provide more and better opportunities for Louisiana students to stay here and help continue this wave of economic development in the cybersecurity field,” Guice said. “We work closely with the CIC to ensure that technology is taken from the research phase to the applied phase – with the aim of serving our region’s economic development and national security interests.
“He has been instrumental as an advisor and guide as we worked to develop and continue to enhance our cybersecurity academic programs. Craig’s influence is helping our University prepare students to make a positive impact on the government agencies and companies that will ensure our country is safe for years to come.”
Governor John Bel Edwards recently appointed Spohn Chairman of the newly formed Louisiana Cybersecurity Commission. He also served on the Consortium for Education, Research and Technology Board; the Biomedical Research Foundation Board; the Louisiana Tech Computer Science Advisory Board; and the LSU-Shreveport Science and Technology Council. Spohn and his wife, Stacy, have a son, Sam, and two daughters, Caroline and Sarah-Catherine.
Recent Comments