Innovative Program Answers Urgent Need to Protect Computer Systems
More than 600 students and veterans registered for the New Jersey Governor’s CyberChallenge, a cybersecurity competition that will identify New Jersey’s best cyber warrior talent, Brookdale Community College officials announced today.
The goal of the competition is to guide students into college training courses and, ultimately, into high-level security jobs. Organizers had hoped 250 students and veterans would register, but more than 600 responded to invitations from New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education Rochelle Hendricks.
“Brookdale Community College is taking the lead to help protect the security of our state and nation by creating the country’s first CyberCenter initiative,” said Secretary Hendricks. “This unique public/private partnership builds a clear pathway from classroom to workforce, providing a much-needed training opportunity for New Jersey students to gain entrance into this important and highly employable field.”
President Obama declared last year that the United States is facing a severe shortage of cybersecurity workers. The shortage of well-trained people is so great that Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has called it her greatest problem. Large- and medium-sized companies have been frustrated by their inability to hire enough trained cybersecurity professionals.
In response to this urgent need, Brookdale Community College, in collaboration with the CyberAces Foundation and with the support and involvement of Governor Chris Christie and the Secretary of Higher Education, is hosting the New Jersey Governor’s CyberChallenge.
The Governor’s CyberChallenge has two parts—an entry-level, on-line competition taking place during the next two months, and a State Finals event to be held at Brookdale Community College on March 23, 2013. The Challenge is part of a four-phase pilot program that is aligned with and supports recent recommendations made by the national Department of Homeland Security Taskforce on CyberSkills.
