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.

CAE Workforce Development Grant Press Conference

UWF Awarded $9 Million NSA Grant to Lead National Cybersecurity Workforce Development Program

The University of West Florida was selected by the National Security Agency to lead the National Cybersecurity Workforce Development Program, CyberSkills2Work. Funded by a $9 million, three-year NSA National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) grant, the program focuses on training and placing transitioning military, first responders, and veterans into cybersecurity work roles in our nation’s Critical Infrastructure Sectors via a coalition of 10 institutions designated by the NSA as National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (CAE-C).

Learn more about the program and read the latest press release. Employers interested in hiring program graduates or organizations interested in supporting the program, please complete the interest form.

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.

UWF CyberSuccess Program

UWF CyberSuccess, sponsored by Regions Foundation, provides free cybersecurity training and career development for eligible veterans to prepare and transition them into rewarding cybersecurity jobs along the Cyber Coast. Learn more and apply now at https://uwf.edu/regionscybersuccess.

Cybersecurity Education in Critical Infrastructure Protection (CECIP) Project

Cybersecurity Education in Critical Infrastructure Protection (CECIP) Project is a workforce development and training collaboration with the University of Memphis. The focus of the project is to design and develop four training courses related to the protection of our critical infrastructures and offer a certificate-based workforce development program for the specific cybersecurity work roles in critical infrastructures with emphasis on transitioning military personnel, transitioning first responders, and other qualified adult learners.

NCAE-C Cybersecurity Faculty Development Program

The NCAE-C Cybersecurity Faculty Development Program project is a coalition among seven institutions, led by Dakota State University. The UWF project addresses the critical shortage of qualified faculty in cybersecurity and related disciplines via scenario-based teaching workshops for faculty and training programs for veterans. Applications are now being accepted for the 2022 cohort for our Cybersecurity Faculty Development Program. Visit Cybersecurity Faculty Development Program for more details.

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 which are optional for the class), required fees (including health care), and a stipend to cover room and board.