Jim Flyzik

UMUC Professor Opens Doors in the Hallways of Power

By Stefanie Johnson
Special to FYI Online

Not every student—no matter how brilliant—has the opportunity to share his or her ideas and insights with the country’s leaders. But then, not every student has the opportunity to study with Jim Flyzik, adjunct professor in UMUC’s Graduate School and currently chair of the committee on homeland security for the Information Technology Association of America, representing more than 400 companies in the information technology (IT) industry.

Along with many years of teaching experience, Flyzik brings to the classroom 28 years of experience as a top government security expert, having served most recently as senior advisor on IT matters to Tom Ridge, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Prior to that, he served for five years as chief information officer (CIO) of the Department of the Treasury and as vice chair of the Federal Government CIO Council. He also acted as chair of the Government Information Technology Services working group under then-Vice President Al Gore, and received the Distinguished Rank Executive Award from President Bill Clinton in 1999.

Last year, Flyzik used this high-level government experience to open some extraordinary doors for his students. When the Department of Homeland Security asked Flyzik for research on cutting-edge IT technologies, Flyzik turned to his UMUC graduate students. The students researched and wrote white papers that were submitted directly to the Department of Homeland Security, addressing topics like wireless security and biometrics.

“It was a great opportunity for the students,” Flyzik said, “because they knew that the papers they wrote were going to be read and perhaps even used. And I get a lot of satisfaction knowing that I’m helping some students move forward.”

Flyzik was confident that UMUC students would excel when given the opportunity. He attended a University System of Maryland institution himself, earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration and computer science, as well as an MBA, from University of Maryland, College Park. And he also served as one of the early architects of UMUC’s graduate information assurance program.

UMUC administrators contacted Flyzik about 15 years ago and asked him about creating a new course in information security.

“I sketched out what a program would look like on paper," Flyzik said. The first course he developed—“Information Risk Assessment and Security Management”—is now a part of the graduate information assurance track.

“I agreed to teach the course for one semester,” he said, “and I’ve been here now for 15 years.” In 1998, UMUC honored Flyzik with the Stanley J. Drazek Excellence in Teaching Award.

Flyzik officially retired from government work in December 2002, and now serves as a partner at the consulting firm of Guerra, Kiviat, Flyzik, and Associates, Inc.