Howard Community College (HCC) in Columbia, Md., has broken ground on its new Workforce Development and Trades Center which will incorporate cybersecurity modules into skilled trades occupational training across a range of disciplines.
Representatives from the White House Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD) – including National Cyber Director Harry Coker – attended the Sept. 30 groundbreaking ceremony. According to ONCD, all programs housed in HCC’s new center will teach students how to identify and respond to potential threats within their trades – a recognition that cybersecurity is not something just for IT staff to handle, but rather is a critical part of every job function across all industries.
“We are just over a year into implementing the National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy, and we know we still have work to do,” Coker said. “We need more Americans to see cyber careers as attainable to them, whatever their background or circumstances. Today, we’re taking an important step with this groundbreaking, this convening, this dedication to the students and the future in Howard County.”
ONCD highlighted that another best practice reflected at the center and in HCC’s programs is a skills-based approach to hiring, which shifts the focus away from whether a candidate has a degree to whether they have the skills to complete the job. HCC’s focus on hands-on training at the center through its registered apprenticeship programs provides real-world experience so that graduates can be job-ready on day one after they graduate.
“I’ve talked to many students here today, and hundreds more across the country, that understand that a career in cybersecurity is one with purpose, one that allows you to keep your community safe, one that contributes to not only our nation’s security – but also protects our economic prosperity and technological innovation,” said Coker.
At the groundbreaking, Coker announced that the Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology awarded HCC a $200,000 grant as part of the Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development program. The funding will support apprenticeships in the cyber sector, as well as the establishment of a cyber clinic to provide nonprofits in Howard County with cybersecurity support.
“My hope for the future is that students who learn in this center see a path to service in the Federal government. Because we need you. And I hope that the value of their skills is recognized by public and private sector employers in all parts of the nation,” Coker said.
