Vajda to Head U.P. Cybersecurity Institute

A former Marquette city manager will take over the leadership of Northern Michigan University’s Upper Peninsula Cybersecurity Institute.

A release from the university says William Vajda has extensive experience in technology roles at the state and federal government levels, with his most recent job as chief information officer for the State of Wyoming. He served as Marquette city manager from 2010 to 2015.

Vajda replaces Doug Miller, the first director of the UPCI, who recently announced his retirement.

The UPCI provides NMU’s non-credit training and programming in areas related to cybersecurity that are outside the academic degrees offered at the university. It is the only cybersecurity institute in the Upper Peninsula and offers industry certifications, tests and events to promote cybersecurity careers. 

It and the university’s Information Assurance and Cyber Defense degree program earned NMU a designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education.