Sallisaw, OK – Carl Albert State College (CASC) recently hosted a series of hands-on cybersecurity training workshops at its Sallisaw campus, bringing together IT professionals, educational leaders, and industry experts from across the region. These training events were part of national security initiatives for cybersecurity awareness.
The first course, Comprehensive Cybersecurity Defense, was delivered in February 2024 and marked the first time the training had been hosted in Sallisaw. Jimmy Nobles with the Cybersecurity Defense Initiative from the University of Arkansas, noted, “This was our first delivery in Sallisaw, and all the staff and instructors were really impressed with the facility and the hospitality of all the CASC staff.”
Student feedback from the course included:
- “I was pleasantly surprised with this course.”
- “Great job, instructors very knowledgeable.”
- “Keep up the good work!”
- “It was awesome and well planned out.”
One participant traveled over 135 miles from Durant, representing the Choctaw Nation, to attend the training.
In November 2024, CASC also piloted a Cybersecurity for Educational Leaders course, attended by seven participants including two Subject Matter Experts contracted with FEMA. Student comments highlighted the value of practical tools and resources:
- “The list of resources was most valuable to me.”
- “Checklist for cybersecurity readiness was very helpful.”
- “The awareness alone—knowledge is power.”
- “Suggestions on easy ways to get started are encouraging.”
A participant traveled approximately 160 miles from the Oklahoma City area to join the session.
The final course of the year, Malware Prevention, Detection, and Recovery, was held December 2–5, 2025. While 29 registered, 13 students attended the workshop. The course provided a deep dive into malware analysis and hands-on technical training using industry-standard tools like Wireshark and debuggers. Feedback included:
- “Instructor knowledge of content.”
- “Wireshark ins and outs were invaluable.”
- “The passed-down experience of the instructors was very beneficial.”
- “Malware and PCAP analysis were extremely beneficial to my current and future roles.”
- “Networking security is critical—this training directly supports my daily work as a network administrator.”
Another participant made the trip from the OKC area to take part in the training.
Jimmy added, “The entire staff that have traveled to Sallisaw CASC have been very impressed with the training room and the overall hospitality of the CASC staff.”
Jaime Henson, Sallisaw Campus Director, said, “Carl Albert State College is proud to provide cutting-edge IT training that supports cybersecurity readiness and resilience for organizations across Oklahoma and beyond. We value the opportunity to collaborate with other educational institutions and training providers, and we’re committed to being a strong, reliable partner in hosting high-impact events like these that serve the needs of our communities and the broader region.”
Carl Albert State College is proud to provide cutting-edge IT training that supports cybersecurity readiness and resilience for organizations across Oklahoma and beyond.
###
