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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.

 

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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).

 

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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.

 

Registration Open for UWF CyberSkills2Work

Applications are now being accepted for the 2025 cohort of the UWF CyberSkills2WorkTM program, which will feature pathways focusing on System Administration, AI and Machine Learning for Cybersecurity, Defensive Cybersecurity, and AI and Data Management for Cybersecurity. UWF CyberSkills2WorkTM provides FREE cybersecurity training and career development for eligible transitioning military, first responders, veterans, military spouses, women, underrepresented employees, and government employees to prepare and transition them into rewarding cybersecurity jobs in our nation’s Critical Infrastructure Sectors, including defense industrial base, energy, and financial services. To learn more and apply, visit the program page.

 

UWF Night of Cyber Returns October 30th

The annual UWF Night of Cyber will be held on Wednesday, October 30th, in the University Commons Auditorium (Bldg. 22) at University of West Florida Pensacola Campus. This is an opportunity for those interested in a cybersecurity career to learn more about the degrees, programs, and other initiatives offered at the University of West Florida. The evening will include a Cybersecurity Industry and Careers Panel, pizza, refreshments, and prize giveaways. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is not required, but it is recommended. Visit here for more details.

 

 

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.

 

UWF Partners with CISA to Expand CyberSkills2WorkTM and Launch Cyber Skills Exercises

The University of West Florida Center for Cybersecurity received a $1.5 million contract from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, known as CISA, to expand the CyberSkills2WorkTM program, an intensive cybersecurity training program designed to help individuals launch or advance cybersecurity careers. The training will focus on critical infrastructure security and industrial control systems security. UWF Cyber Skills Exercises provide essential cybersecurity knowledge and hands-on skills utilizing the Florida Cyber Range. These 1-day synchronous online sessions are FREE for eligible transitioning military members, first responders, veterans, military spouses, women, underrepresented minorities, and government employees. To learn more, visit the UWF Cyber Skills Exercises page.

 

CyberSkills2WorkTM Program Awarded $2.5 Million Expansion Grant and Highlighted in White House National Strategy

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, CyberSkills2WorkTM. 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 recently 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.

Earlier this year, the team highlighted the success and impact of the CyberSkills2WorkTM Program at a showcase in Washington, D.C. 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.

See the grant expansion press release or showcase press release for additional information. Visit CyberSkills2Work.org or contact cyberskills2work@uwf.edu to learn more about the program. Applications for new training pathways will open up in September 2023.

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 (CyberSkills2WorkTM)

UWF leads the National Cybersecurity Workforce Development Program, CyberSkills2WorkTM, 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).

This program is part of the National Cybersecurity Workforce Development Program, CyberSkills2WorkTM, 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, CyberSkills2WorkTM, 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 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.

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