I recently had the opportunity to testify before Congress on how the United States can grow and diversify the cyber talent pipeline. It’s great that members of Congress have this issue on their radar, but at the same time, it’s concerning that we’re still having these discussions. A recent (ISC) Study puts the global cybersecurity workforce shortage at 2.93 million. Solving this problem is challenging, but I offered some recommendations to the House Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Innovation.
Increase the NSF CyberCorps Scholarships for Service Program
The National Science Foundation (NSF) together with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) designed a program to attract more college students to cybersecurity, and it’s working. Ten to 12 juniors and seniors at each of the approximately 70 participating institutions across the country receive free tuition for up to two years plus annual stipends. Once they’ve completed their cybersecurity coursework and an internship, they go to work for the federal government for the same amount of time they’ve been in the program. Afterwards, they’re free to remain federal employees or move elsewhere, yet fortunately, a good number of them choose to stay.
Congress needs to increase the funding for this program (which has been flat since 2017) from $55 million to at least $200 million. Today the scholarships are available at 70 land grant colleges. The program needs to be opened up to more universities and colleges across the country.
Expand CyberCorps Scholarships to Community Colleges
Community colleges attract a wide array of students – a fact that is good for the cybersecurity profession. Some community college attendees are recent high school graduates, ..
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