Our Mission
Provide affordable information security services, curated open-source threat intelligence reports, and specialized training to educate small to medium-sized businesses, nonprofits, and historically underserved and underrepresented communities within Madison County, Indiana.
Train and equip students for a career in public service in both public and private sectors with the knowledge, skills, and ethical foundations required to preserve and promote security in every aspect of American Society.
Our Story
Cybersecurity is a critical component of business for every organization. It is highly dependent on the availability of highly trained and qualified personnel who can respond to problems with strong critical thinking, creativity, and a strong understanding of ethics.
The Center for Security Studies and Cyber Defense (CSSCD) serves as an information security and open-source intelligence (OSINT) consulting group and as a talent pipeline for established businesses after graduation from Anderson University.
Anderson University established the CSSCD on April 12th, 2022, through grants from the Lilly Endowment and Avis Foundations to address those needs. The CSSCD trains and equips students through a combination of interactive academic and practical experiences, preparing them for a career in public service with the knowledge, skills, and ethical foundations required to preserve and promote security in every sector of American society - while actively making a positive, tangible impact by helping secure organizations that may not be able to afford help otherwise.
Our Leadership
David Dungan serves as Executive Director and has over 25 years of law enforcement experience including seven years in the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division. He has a history of public service leadership with a passion for strong client relationships. He most recently served as a public and private sector liaison at the Indiana Intelligence Fusion Center.
Garrett Henderson is the Assistant Director of the CSSCD. He has worked across several roles in the information security industry and studied at the Institute of World Politics under former intelligence professionals, policymakers, and diplomats. He has a robust research background focused on cyber threat intelligence, digitally enabled influence operations, and other security topics. He holds a Bachelor's in Political Science, Computer Science, and Psychology and is working on multiple security certifications and an MBA from Anderson University.
John S. Pistole earned his bachelor’s degree from Anderson University in 1978 and currently serves as the university's fifth president. Pistole began a career with the FBI in 1983 before he rose through the ranks and was appointed deputy director in 2004. In March 2006, the FBI honored Pistole with the 2005 Presidential Rank of Distinguished Executive. In 2010, Pistole was nominated for administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) by President Barack Obama and later confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate. He remains the longest-serving administrator in TSA’s history.