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Regional Structure

CCI network map

The Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) is a highly connected network that engages higher education institutions, industry, and government, as well as  non-governmental and economic development organizations.

CCI connects four regional nodes across Virginia, each led by a higher education institution, with the coordinating hub located in Arlington, Va., at the Virginia Tech Research Center. 

The four Regional Nodes, encompassing Central Virginia, Coastal Virginia, Northern Virginia, and Southwest Virginia, are vibrant centers of research, learning, and innovation tailored to their local ecosystems.

The Hub is the core of CCI. It coordinates programs, provides support, and houses strong research capabilities, providing a platform for research and innovation growth across the network.

The nodes are each led by a public institution of higher education and engage industry, local government, and colleges and universities in their region. Together, the CCI Network engages 46 institutions of higher education.

Lead:
Virginia Commonwealth University

Learn more about CCI Central Virginia.

Director:
Erdem Topsakal
Chair, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Areas of focus include: medical device security, OpenCyberCity (smart cities), and NextG testbeds

Higher Education Partners:

Explore the Central Virginia Node

Lead:
Old Dominion University

Learn more about CCI Coastal Virginia.

Director:
Daniel Takabi
Director, ODU School of Cybersecurity

Areas of focus include: maritime, defense, and transportation.

Higher Education Partners:  

Explore the Coastal Virginia Node

Lead:
George Mason University

Learn more about CCI Northern Virginia.

Director:
Liza Wilson Durant
Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives and Community Engagement

Areas of focus include:  5G performance and the security of autonomous vehicles, the Internet of Things (IoT), smart manufacturing, smart cities and infrastructure, and mobile communications

Higher Education Partners:

Explore the Northern Virginia Node

Lead:
Virginia Tech

Learn More about CCI Southwest Virginia

Director:

Gretchen Matthews
Professor, Mathematics

Areas of focus include: communications, power and energy, transportation, intelligent agriculture, satellites and space, autonomous systems, smart manufacturing, defense, societal security, quantum systems, cryptography, and AI/machine learning.

Higher Education Partners

Explore the Southwest Virginia Node