As a university designed for busy professionals, University of Maryland Global Campus understands the importance of a relevant, leading-edge curriculum. With cyber security programs designed by industry experts and delivered by experienced faculty, we educate our students on the latest trends and technologies.
Meet Cyber Security Faculty
UMGC's cyber security programs are designed by industry experts and delivered by experienced faculty.
Featured Cyber Security Faculty
S. K. Bhaskar
Vice Dean, Computer Information Systems and Technology, The Undergraduate School
Valorie Jackson King
Program Chair, Cybersecurity Management and Policy
Collegiate Professor
Patrick J. O'Guinn, Sr.
Program Chair of Graduate Digital Forensics and Cyber Investigation
James Robertson
Program Chair, Computer Science and Software Development and Security
Collegiate Professor
Jesse Varsalone
Collegiate Associate Professor
Coach and Captain of the UMGC Cyber Competition Team
S. K. Bhaskar
Vice Dean, Computer Information Systems and Technology, The Undergraduate School
240-684-2840
s.bhaskar@umuc.edu
S. K. Bhaskar joined UMGC in 1998 after serving as senior programmer and analyst at SRA Technologies Inc. He holds an MS from the School of Automation, Indian Institute of Science, in Bangalore, India, and earned his PhD in computer science from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Balakrishnan Dasarathy
Professor and Program Chair, Information Assurance
balakrishnan.dasarathy@umuc.edu
Balakrishnan Dasarathy brings more than 30 years of experience in research and development and management in the fields of information assurance, cyber security, and related areas of computer science. He has worked in the telecommunications and finance industries and currently teaches courses in network and software security and cyberlaw. Dasarathy received his PhD in computer and information science from Ohio State University.
Bruce deGrazia
Director and Professor of Cyber Security Management and Policy Program
Bruce deGrazia is the Program Chair for Cybersecurity Management and Policy at UMGC. Before joining the university, deGrazia held positions at the US Environmental Protection Agency, Cummins Engine Company, and United Technologies Corporation. He served in the Navy as an officer in the Judge Advocate General's Corps and was Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Environmental Quality in the Clinton Administration. A graduate of DePaul University with a degree in History, deGrazia received a master's in archaeology from the University of London and then returned to DePaul for a degree in International Law. He holds a Master of Science in Cybersecurity Technology from UMGC.
Mansur Hasib
Program Chair, Graduate Cybersecurity Technology Program
Mansur Hasib is the program chair of the graduate cybersecurity technology program at UMGC. Hasib has more than 30 years of experience leading organizational transformations through digital leadership and cybersecurity strategy in healthcare, biotechnology, education, and energy, including 12 years of experience as a chief information officer.
Hasib has been recognized within the cyber industry for work in the field. In 2018, the Cyber Startup Observatory inducted Hasib into their Hall of Fame. In 2017, Hasib was named a "Rock Star" of cybersecurity by (ISC)2 and received their Americas Information Security Leadership Award for leading the implementation of the Master of Science in cybersecurity technology program at UMGC. Hasib also won the 2017 Cybersecurity People's Choice Award and the 2017 Information Governance Expert of the Year Award.
In 2016, Hasib's book, Cybersecurity Leadership: Powering the Modern Organization, was nominated for inclusion in the Cybersecurity Canon, a listing of essential books on cybersecurity. In 2013, as part of his doctoral work, Hasib conducted a national study of healthcare cybersecurity in the U.S. and published his findings in a book titled Impact of Security Culture on Security Compliance in Healthcare in the USA.
Hasib holds a bachelor's degree in economics and politics, a master's degree in political science, and a doctorate in cybersecurity. He also holds CISSP, PMP, and CPHIMS certifications. Hasib is a frequent speaker at local, national, and international conferences on a wide range of topics.
Valorie Jackson King
Program Chair, Cybersecurity Management and Policy
Collegiate Professor
Valorie J. King currently serves as the program chair for the cybersecurity management and policy program in the Undergraduate School. Her professional experience includes executive management consulting, IT strategy, and policy development for federal organizations, as well as systems and software engineering in the defense and intelligence industries.
King's areas of expertise include cybersecurity education and training; cybersecurity management, policy, and governance; risk management; and the Internet of Things (IoT), including the quantized self, embedded medical devices, and wearable computing. Her current professional focus is on providing students with the knowledge and skills needed to lead and manage tomorrow's cybersecurity programs, products, and services in businesses and governments within local, regional, national and international contexts. To accomplish this, King leads a world-class faculty of cyber scholar-practitioners who engage in the design, management, delivery, and assessment of curriculum.
King earned a Master of Science in information technology and a Chief Information Officer certificate from UMGC. She earned a Doctor of Philosophy in organization and management (IT management specialization) in 2008 and a post-baccalaureate certificate in healthcare administration in 2010, both from Capella University. She earned a Bachelor of Science in computer sciences from University of Maryland, College Park. She is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and holds the CISSP, CISA, CISM, CRISC, PMP, and PSEM certifications.
Patrick J. O'Guinn, Sr.
Program Chair of Graduate Digital Forensics and Cyber Investigation
Patrick J. O'Guinn, Sr. is the program chair of the graduate digital forensics and cyber investigation program at UMGC. He taught for 23 years at Howard Community College, where he developed courses in criminal justice and computer forensics and was named Outstanding Professor of the Year. At Howard Community College, he created and directed the digital forensics program and retired as Professor Emeritus of Criminal Justice and Digital Forensics.
O’Guinn emphasizes skill development and problem solving labs to prepare students for digital forensics and cyber investigation careers. His extensive background in digital forensics, litigation, and law enforcement complements the UMGC scholar-practitioner learning mission. He is a Maryland trial lawyer experienced in civil and criminal litigation, intellectual property matters, and negotiating effective Master Services Agreements for software engineers.
He earned a JD at University of California's Hastings College of the Law, an MPA from Golden Gate University, and a BS in administration of justice from San Jose State University.
O'Guinn is an inspirational book author, frequent keynote speaker, training consultant, and mentor.
His areas of expertise include digital forensics and cyber investigation training, inspiring performance in cyber security professionals, developing transformative thinking and achievement, and practical writing processes.
James Robertson
Program Chair, Computer Science and Software Development and Security
Collegiate Professor
240-684-2840
james.robertson@umuc.edu
James Robertson joined University of Maryland Global Campus in 2001 after serving as a principal consultant at Oracle. He earned an MS in electro-optical engineering from the University of Dayton and an EdD in instructional technology from Towson University. He teaches courses in programming, databases, computer graphics, and image and signal processing at UMGC. He also presents papers and participates in technical discussions at conferences across the United States.
Mamadou Thiam
Lab Director, The Graduate School
Mamadou Thiam is the director of the UMGC Virtual Lab for The Graduate School. He is an IT professional with more than 15 years of technical and customer service experience.
Mamadou earned his BS in electrical engineering in 2008 from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. He joined the IT department at UMGC in 2009, where he moved up from an IT associate to a coordinator, a support analyst, and IT customer support manager. He held the manager position until joining The Graduate School in January 2015.
While working for the IT department, Mamadou also served as a teaching assistant for many courses offered in the Cybersecurity program. He is currently working on his master's degree in Telecommunication Management at UMGC. His current interest includes virtualization, networking, information security, and digital forensics.
Jesse Varsalone
Collegiate Associate Professor
Coach and Captain of the UMGC Cyber Competition Team
Jesse Varsalone earned his Master's degree from the University of South Florida, and his bachelor's degree from George Mason University. In addition to teaching for UMGC, he has also taught at the Defense Cyber Investigations Training Academy (DCITA) and holds a number of certifications in the information technology field, including A+, Net+, iNet+, Server+, Linux+, CTT+, CISSP, MSCE, CCNA, and CCNA Security.
Faculty with Connections
Many of our cyber security faculty are well-connected leaders in the field. Current or former faculty members have experience in the public and private sectors at a wide range of organizations, including
- CSC
- Defense Information Systems Agency
- eBay
- General Dynamics
- Lucent Technologies
- National Security Agency
- PNC Bank
- SAIC
- U.S. Department of Defense
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- Verizon
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