Fayetteville Technical Community College cybersecurity instructor Chris Herring has been recognized by the International Council of E-Commerce Consultants with its 2020 Academic Instructor Circle of Excellence Award. The organization is also known as the EC-Council.

The Academic Instructor Circle of Excellence award is one of several partner awards given annually by the council to highlight “academic institutions and instructors across the world that excel each year with lasting impacts on their students’ cybersecurity education and local communities.”

Herring, who is department chair of Systems Security & Analysis at FTCC, said he is honored to be selected for the Academic Instructor Circle of Excellence award. Two other instructors from the United States also received the award.

“During our short time working with EC-Council, the partnership has had a major positive impact on our program. The curricula is very popular with our students and our faculty alike,” Herring said. “The support team they provide is exceptional and we truly value our partnership.”

FTCC’s Systems Security & Analysis department is part of the College’s Computer Information Technology programs. It includes the college’s Cyber Education Center, which is a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Two-Year Education. That designation comes from the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.

The EC-Council says it determines award recipients based on more than seven areas of criteria, including continuous program development, incorporating new technologies and innovative methods of education, specialized initiative engagements, and commitment to educate and make a difference in the cybersecurity workforce.

The council describes itself as the world’s largest cybersecurity technical certification body. It operates in 145 countries and has trained, certified more than 200,000 information security professionals across
the globe.

Pictured: FTCC cybersecurity instructor Chris Herring received the 2020 Academic Instructor Circle of Excellence Award from the International Council of E-Commerce Consultants.