Center for Cybersecurity

Securing your future. Protecting our world.

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.

National Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE-C) Regional Hub

The University of West Florida has been designated by the National Security Agency as the National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-C) Regional Hub for the Southeast, in partnership with CyberFlorida at the University of South Florida and Forsyth Technical Community College.

Success of National Cybersecurity Workforce Development Program Highlighted at Washington, D.C. Showcase

The Center for Cybersecurity and other NCAE-C Coalition members highlighted the success and impact of the National Cybersecurity Workforce Development Program at a showcase held in Washington, D.C. on May 11th.

Cybersecurity leaders addressed the program’s role in meeting the cybersecurity workforce challenge and program partners and graduates shared their perspectives on the program. Since its inception 3 years ago, the coalition has developed 28 training pathways to provide FREE training that has prepared over 1,700 veterans, transitioning military, and first responders for cybersecurity jobs in critical infrastructure sectors. CyberSkills2Work is made possible by a grant from the National Security Agency's NCAE-C program.

See the press release or visit CyberSkills2Work.org to learn more about the program and its impact.

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. Read more about our workforce development initiatives.

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. Funded by a $9 million, three-year National Security Agency grant, the program provides training and 100% scholarships to eligible participants by a coalition of 10 institutions designated as National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (CAE-C).

UWF CyberSkills2Work Program

As a part of the National Cybersecurity Workforce Development Program, the UWF CyberSkills2Work 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.

CyberSkills2Work Florida Program

The CyberSkills2Work Florida, offered by the University of West Florida’s Center for Cybersecurity, is an intensive cybersecurity training program designed to help individuals launch or advance cybersecurity careers. The program provides FREE cybersecurity training and career development for eligible Florida residents to prepare and transition them to rewarding cybersecurity jobs. Learn more and apply now at https://uwf.edu/CyberSkills2WorkFL.

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 CySP Program

In 2001, the National Defense Authorization Act for 2001 established the DoD Cybersecurity Scholarship (formally renamed as DoD CySP in 2018). 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.

GenCyber Returns For 2023!

We are excited to announce the return AND expansion of the GenCyber program for 2023. In addition to the traditional summer camps for rising grades 7-10, the Center will also be debuting the GenCyber Experience, a half-day camp on April 15th and 22nd to introduce 6th-12th graders to the world of cybersecurity and give them hands-on experience using the tools used by professionals in the industry. Both of these offerings are funded by a grant from the National Security Agency and National Science Foundation.

Details about the GenCyber Experience and GenCyber Summer Camps can be found here. Space is limited, so register today.