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Dr. Eman El-Sheikh

Center for Cybersecurity

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Launching Florida’s Cyber Coast

At the UWF Center for Cybersecurity, we’re bridging the gap from the real world to the cyber world.

The UWF Center for Cybersecurity is a regional hub for cybersecurity education and research, including multidisciplinary programs and certificates, research opportunities, outreach activities, and industry partnerships.

 

USA National Security Agency Seal

National Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE-C)

The University of West Florida has been designated by the National Security Agency as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C).

 

UWF Center for Cybersecurity Awarded $1.3 Million Contract From CISA to Expand Cybersecurity Training

The University of West Florida Center for Cybersecurity has been awarded a $1.3 million contract from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, known as CISA, to further expand the cyber career pathways training through the CyberSkills2Work® Program. The in-depth training program is designed to help participants launch or advance careers in cybersecurity. Read more here.

 

Students in eSoc

Center for Cybersecurity awarded $750,000 NCAE-C Grant to Lead National Cybersecurity Workforce Development Task Force

The UWF Center for Cybersecurity was awarded a $750,000 grant from the National Security Agency National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) Program to lead the National Cybersecurity Workforce Development Task Force. The task force will bring together the eight NCAE-C-funded workforce development programs, including CyberSkills2Work®, an intensive cybersecurity education program led by UWF and designed to help individuals launch or advance cybersecurity careers. Read more here.

 

National Cybersecurity Employers Network for the CyberSkills2Work® Program Goes Live

We are thrilled to launch the National Cybersecurity Employers Network for the CyberSkills2Work® Program. The National Employers Network Portal allows employers to connect with program learners and graduates across the country, and post internship, apprenticeship, and job opportunities.

Employers can connect with 3300+ CyberSkills2Work® learners and alumni across the nation! Learners and alumni can post their resumes and highlight their clearances and certifications to employers.

Joining is FREE! Simply complete the brief application form and we will get back to you.

 

GenCyber Experience Saturdays Return

GenCyber Experience Saturdays are back. We will be hosting sessions on April 12th and April 17th.

Breaking the Web (April 12th): You take on the role of a “red teamer” who is on the hunt for website vulnerabilities. This is a hands-on computer lab activity with no previous web programming experience required.

Basic Training (April 19th): In this session you will learn ways to solve common cybersecurity problems based on popular capture-the-flag challenges and online competitions. 

The camps are FREE for 7th to 10th-grade students. Space is limited, so apply TODAY. For more information and to apply, visit https://bit.ly/GenCyberSpring2025.

 

Cybersecurity training class in computer lab

FREE Cybersercurity Strategy Training for Florida Government Personnel

The University of West Florida Center for Cybersecurity and Florida International University Jack D Gordon Institute for Public Policy are offering FREE cybersecurity strategy training. 

Led by UWF cybersecurity and public policy experts Dr. Haris Alibašić and Connar McCasland, these sessions will provide a comprehensive overview of current and emerging cybersecurity threats, the Florida Local Government Cybersecurity Act, and the practical steps needed to build and implement effective cybersecurity strategies and policies. Participants will also explore key topics such as cybersecurity operations, timely incident reporting, and the critical role of leadership in strengthening organizational cyber preparedness.

Attend one of two sessions:

  • In-person: Monday, April 28th, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm CT, Studer Community Institute, Pensacola, FL (add address). Attendees will enjoy complimentary parking, meals, and networking opportunities with fellow public sector leaders.
  • Virtual: Monday, May 12th, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm CT

All sessions are FREE and open to Florida state and local government personnel, including state universities, state colleges, school districts, city, and county employees. For more information, click on the image above.

For more details and to apply to attend click here.

 

Educational Security Operations Center.

Open Platform Infrastructure for ICS Security and Regulatory Compliance Training for Faculty Members

The Center for Cybersecurity will host the Faculty Development Workshop on Open Platform Infrastructure for ICS Security and Regulatory Compliance on July 24-25, 2025, in downtown Pensacola. The face-to-face workshop will be offered to 15 faculty participants. It is designed to be a train-the-trainer type of faculty development. The participant will gain an understanding of fundamental techniques in defending Critical Infrastructures, primarily those in the Energy, Water/Wastewater, Transportation Systems, and Critical Manufacturing sectors.

Details and registration at https://bit.ly/ICSWorkshop2025.

 

Workforce Development Programs and Scholarships

The UWF Center for Cybersecurity is a national leader in cybersecurity workforce development and offers several programs and scholarships for training, upskilling, and reskilling.

National Cybersecurity Workforce Development Program (CyberSkills2Work®)

UWF leads the National Cybersecurity Workforce Development Program, CyberSkills2Work®, a nationally scalable and sustainable cybersecurity workforce program to rapidly expand the number of qualified cybersecurity professionals. 

The University of West Florida Center for Cybersecurity received a $2.5 million grant from the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) Program at the National Security Agency to expand the National Cybersecurity Workforce Development Program, CyberSkills2Work®. UWF and the NCAE-C Coalition will expand the program to prepare more than 1,520 newly credentialed cybersecurity professionals over two years.

The White House Office of the National Cyber Director released the ​first-ever National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy, which seeks to transform cyber education. The strategy highlights the UWF-led CyberSkills2Work Program® as a model to facilitate public-private partnerships ​and greater participation by veterans in the cyber workforce.

This program is part of the National Cybersecurity Workforce Development Program, CyberSkills2Work®, and funded by the National Security Agency National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) Program and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

UWF CyberSkills2WorkTM Program

As a part of the National Cybersecurity Workforce Development Program, the UWF CyberSkills2WorkTM program provides free cybersecurity training and career development for eligible transitioning military, first responders, and veterans to prepare and transition them into rewarding cybersecurity jobs in our nation’s Critical Infrastructure Sectors. Learn more and apply now at https://uwf.edu/cyberskills2work.

This program is part of the National Cybersecurity Workforce Development Program, CyberSkills2Work®, and funded by the National Security Agency National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) Program and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

UWF Florida Cybersecurity Training Program

The UWF Florida Cybersecurity Training Program, offered by the University of West Florida (UWF) Center for Cybersecurity, provides FREE upskilling and reskilling cybersecurity training for eligible Florida, state university, state college, K12, county, and city employees. Learn more at https://uwf.edu/cybertraining.

Academic Program Scholarship Opportunities

ACES SFS Program

The NSF CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service (SFS) program aims to recruit and train the next generation of highly skilled cybersecurity professionals. The program's goal is a full student placement in government cybersecurity positions with at least 80 percent of scholarship recipients securing placement in an executive agency. The program emphasizes recruitment, retention, and advancement of underrepresented and underserved populations including women and veterans.

DoD Cyber Service Academy Scholarship Program

In 2001, the National Defense Authorization Act established the DoD Cybersecurity Scholarship (formally renamed the DoD Cyber Service Academy Scholarship Program in 2024). The law is enacted to promote the education, recruitment, and retention of rising junior and senior undergraduate and graduate/doctoral students in cybersecurity studies. Students selected as CyberScholars will receive the full cost of tuition, books (from the institution/degree-specific required book list, not books that are optional for the class), required fees (including health care), and a stipend to cover room and board.

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