Special to the Herald-Mail |
Allegany College of Maryland, Garrett University and Hagerstown Community College received a $617,400 grant from the Senator George C. Edwards Fund for a $686,000 project to implement two cyber ranges through the Cyber Workforce Accelerator program and help prepare cybersecurity students for careers using real-world, cutting-edge simulations.
Created by the Maryland Association of Community Colleges (MACC) and BCR Cyber, the Cyber Workforce Accelerator program aims to expand Maryland’s workforce development efforts by providing the state’s community colleges with the BCR Cyber Series 3000 cyber range and access to advanced experiential training and educational technology to train and certify thousands of entry-level IT and cyber professionals.
Grants from the fund will facilitate the procurement, configuration and deployment of cyber ranges, as well as necessary infrastructure upgrades, enhancements and staff training.
Delivery of the Cyber Range and the start of training are scheduled for April 1, 2025.
“This will be a game-changer for our students,” said Hagerstown Community College President Jim Klauber. “Cybersecurity majors will learn how to effectively identify and respond to cyber threats. Employers will be able to watch students work through the simulations, giving students an opportunity to showcase their skills and employability.”
The Senator George C. Edwards Fund is a four-year, $50 million program aimed at stimulating economic growth in Washington, Allegany and Garrett counties.
“This Cyber Range project will enhance Western Maryland’s competitiveness and generate investment return for this fast-growing industry. This is a great partnership between our three community colleges,” said Jake Shade, executive director of the Senator Edwards Foundation.
BCR Cyber will create a public-private consortium of more than 35 cybersecurity companies and government agencies to lead the development of course content and recruit new employees who will be trained at the community college’s cyber range.
Each school will have a centre with five workstations where students will complete around 40 hours of training as their graduate work, followed by up to 10 hours of hands-on testing in simulated cyber threats.
BCR Cyber has trained thousands of people to work in the cybersecurity industry.
“There aren’t enough skilled professionals to fill the cybersecurity talent shortage here in Maryland and across the nation,” said Michael Spector, president of BCR Cyber. “Partnering with these community colleges through our accelerator program is an effective way to not only create high-paying career opportunities, but also attract more students to an industry that desperately needs them.”
Recently, MACC, in partnership with BCR Cyber, was awarded $935,680 through the Maryland Department of Commerce’s Build Our Future Grant Pilot Program to fund a Cybersecurity Workforce Accelerator.
The grant leverages $2 million in Congressional Directed Appropriations secured by Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, which was allocated to the Accelerator as matching funds in the FY25 budget earlier this year.
The total amount awarded to the accelerator so far this year is $3.6 million.
For more information about the program, visit www.bcrcyber.com.
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