MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – Northern Michigan University’s Upper Peninsula Cyber Security Institute is transitioning directors. The institute serves to teach train and engage the public on the importance of the emerging cybersecurity field.
Starting back with the founding of the up cyber security institute in 2019, Director Doug Miller was the first senior director at the institute. The new director taking over is William Vajda. Miller says he’s ready to pass the torch after 3 years in the position.
“Bill has just got a wealth of experience at many levels of cybersecurity,” Miller says, “so for him to be able to come in and use that experience and weave that into what we have here at northern is just going to be absolutely fantastic.”
Vajda was city manager in Marquette for 5 years, but outside of that has held many different roles working within the cybersecurity and technology fields.
“Coming here to northern, having the opportunity to contribute and step behind some very venerable shoes of our inaugural UPCI director is almost a dream come true.” Says Vajda.
Vajda has family ties to NMU that go back generations. This week Vajda and Miller have begun working together to begin the transition. Vajda will be starting off his role working up a plan for his first year as director. With a long history working in cybersecurity, Vajda says he’s excited to bring his experience back to NMU
“When you think about technology in the world today, it’s wrapped into everything.” Vajda says, “It is ubiquitous to most people as eating or drinking. And if you’re not cyber-savvy, or really don’t have full confidence in what it means to live and breathe in that environment, you’re living somewhat at risk.”
Miller says he’s looking forward to seeing the work Vajda does as he takes over the position and that he plans to stay involved and step into a new role within the institute when he steps down as director in the coming months.
