Dr. David Berkowitz, dean of UAH Graduate Studies, was among over 50 representatives from the partnering entities who met to finalize details.
Michael Mercier | UAH
The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) has partnered with seven other universities and 20 defense contractors nationally to work with the federal government and the U.S. Army Reserve to develop America's future cyber warriors.
A February memorandum of understanding formed the Cyber Private Public Partnership, or Cyber P3i. UAH and the other universities will provide continuing education to U.S. Army reservists to bolster their efforts to defend the nation's military and civilian computer networks against cyber attack while the reservists concurrently are employed with the partnering defense firms.
We’re honored to be a part of the initial group of universities that are going to help develop the cyber corps for the U.S. Army Reserve. It is a testament to our cyber security program and the capabilities of our faculty to be included among these elite universities.
"This is a unique public-private partnership," says Dr. David Berkowitz, dean of UAH Graduate Studies, who was among over 50 representatives from the partnering entities who met April 22 at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs to finalize details of the effort. "The university, industries and government are all playing a pivotal role in creating the future cyber force and cyber warriors."
"It's our understanding in standing up the cyber corps that the reservists will play a critical role in maintaining the cyber core infrastructure," Dr. Berkowitz says.
Besides UAH, university partners include the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Drexel University, George Mason University, Norwich University, the University of South Florida, the University of Texas at San Antonio and the University of Washington.
"We're honored to be a part of the initial group of universities that are going to help develop the cyber corps for the U.S. Army Reserve," Dr. Berkowitz says. "It is a testament to our cyber security program and the capabilities of our faculty to be included among these elite universities."
Defense contractor partners include Boecore Inc., Calibre Systems Inc., Chevron Corp., Lockheed Martin Corp., Microsoft Corp., Professional Project Services Inc., Rackspace US Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc.
Demand for cybersecurity professionals and cyber experienced soldiers far outpaces current inventory, says Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Talley, chief of the Army Reserve.
"The Government Accountability Office estimates there is currently a need for 40,000 cyber security professionals just to satisfy the government's demand," Lt. Gen. Talley says. "Our belief is that the Cyber P3i effort will serve as a seed to enhance these critical efforts and lessen the skilled soldiers shortage gap."
The Cyber P3i program joins a five-year, $4.2 million National Science Foundation-funded full cybersecurity scholarship program at UAH in which students serve a paid internship during the summer semester in a government cybersecurity related position and fulfill a post-graduation scholarship obligation of one year of government service in a cybersecurity related position for each year of their scholarship.