CyberWatch Program Recognized by President Obama and Senator Mikulski
March 15 2012 - 11:59AM
Business Wire
CyberWatch, a cybersecurity education consortium funded by the
National Science Foundation (NSF), was touted in separate speeches
by President Barack Obama and Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD)
recently for its vital work preparing community college students to
enter the cybersecurity workforce.
Before a speech on Feb. 13 at Northern Virginia Community
College (NOVA), President Obama was introduced by CyberWatch
student Mike Phillips. The president later told Mike’s story in his
speech, saying, “Mike had to start all over again. He's got a knack
for computers. So he figured he’d try a career in cybersecurity,
where there is a lot of hiring. Luckily for Mike, NOVA is home to a
program called CyberWatch.”
The president added that when Phillips graduates with an
associate degree from the program he will have access to a network
of more than 40 CyberWatch partner companies and government
agencies.
Sen. Mikulski praised CyberWatch in a Feb. 23 speech at Prince
George’s Community College (PGCC), where the program is
headquartered, and toured a cybersecurity education classroom.
“Prince George’s County is the epicenter of cybersecurity
education, not just in the state of Maryland, but in the nation,”
Sen. Mikulski said. “The funds I put in the federal checkbook for
National Center of Academic Excellence student scholarships and the
PGCC CyberWatch program will help prepare Maryland students for
jobs that will make our country safer and Maryland's economy
stronger."
Established in 2005, CyberWatch provides cybersecurity
curriculum development, faculty professional development, student
development and career guidance to nearly 90 community colleges and
universities. The PGCC-based headquarters serves as the catalyst
for sharing best practices, methodologies, curricula, course
modules and materials with academic institutions across the country
that wish to develop a cybersecurity curriculum. The organization
is currently pursuing NSF recognition as a National Center for
Advanced Technological Education.
“Employers time and again tell us that there are cybersecurity
jobs waiting for individuals who have the right skills,” said
CyberWatch Director Casey O'Brien. “We believe the support
expressed by the president and senator speaks to the importance of
our mission and how we’re accomplishing it.”
For more information, visit www.cyberwatchcenter.org/.