Charles DeSassure is a leader in cybersecurity education and implementation. He is a founding faculty of the Tarrant County College Cybersecurity Program and was instrumental in helping Rose State College become the first community college in Oklahoma approved to offer a Bachelor of Applied Technology (BAT) Cybersecurity degree.  

At Rose State College, he is responsible for overseeing the Business and Information Technology (BIT) Division and Professor of Computer Information Technology (CIT) and Cybersecurity.  His career has been successful, spanning community colleges in Texas, Virginia, and Oklahoma. His past work includes being a STEM dean, department chair, Achieve the Dream campus data coordinator, faculty association president, and tenure professor. A collaborative academic leader, he believes students deserve access to and support resources to be successful in higher education. A former South Carolina public school teacher for three years, he served ten years in the private sector as an information technology (IT) professional, providing computer networking and security solutions to clients nationwide. He has had experience as an MIS manager, information and field systems analyst, LAN administrator, and microcomputer specialist/programmer.

DeSassure holds a doctorate in computer science with a specialization in cybersecurity and information assurance from Colorado Technical University, a master's in information and resources management from Webster University, a bachelor's in business administration management from Claflin College (now Claflin University), and an associate's in computer technology from Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College. He also received a graduate certificate in higher education leadership and administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. DeSassure completed the Harvard University Management Development Program (MDP), the National Council on Black American Affairs (NCBAA) Leadership Development Institute, Stanford University Advanced Computer Security Program, North Texas Consortium Leadership and Renewal Academy (CLARA), and the University of Central Oklahoma Educators' Leadership Academy (ELA). He is also a Certified Workforce Development Professional (CWDP).

He is active in many professional and community organizations and wrote the International Project SEED (Sigma Economic Empowerment Development) initiative, which is part of the Bigger and Better Business Program for Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. The initiative focuses on financial management and homeownership.

Specialization/Teaching/Research Interest
Cybersecurity and Information Assurance
Enterprise security management and infrastructure
Information security risk management
IT organizational and leadership
Secure computer programming
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