In 2017, six universities (five NCAE-C and one candidate) joined together (“Power of 6”) to establish a pilot program to demonstrate their ability to develop cybersecurity talent pathways for women and underrepresented students for civilian and military positions in the Department of Defense (DoD). Norwich University, University of North Georgia, The Citadel, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, and Virginia Military Institute share a common identity as senior military colleges but had never previously teamed to create and fund academic, experiential, and research opportunities for cybersecurity students.
In 2018, the “Power of 6” built bipartisan Federal support of Senators and Congresspersons to insert language in the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act to establish DoD Cyber Institutes. In 2019, the “Power of Six” gained federal appropriations support to fund this pilot effort to help fill the cybersecurity workforce gap. Using a common framework, the Cyber Leader Development Program, the “Power of Six” successfully completed their first pilot program year and are fully engaged in Phase II!
Panel focus: Now in Phase II (2022-2024), the DoD Cyber Institute team is excited to share their pilot program insights on outreach activities, collaboration with government and military organizations, student professional development and experiential opportunities, and strategies for other NCAE-Cs to develop similar cybersecurity opportunities for students and faculty.
The panel moderator, Dr. Sharon Hamilton, Colonel (Retired, US Army), Norwich University, has led the “Power of 6” team since its inception in 2017 and is the Principal Investigator and Program Director for this initiative and grant.
Panel members will consist of Dr. Hamilton and two cybersecurity leaders from NCAE-C universities partnered in this pilot program.
- Dr. Bryson Payne, University of North Georgia, Professor, Cybersecurity
- Colonel (SC Army National Guard) Linda Riedel, Citadel DoD Cyber Institute (CDCI) Deputy Director, Operations and Outreach
