(TNS) — Texas Tech University was among 18 recipients from 15 states to receive grants from the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This funding is aimed at strengthening and strengthening the country's cybersecurity workforce.
The initiative will have a major regional impact as Texas Tech University brings the West Texas Cyber Workforce Development Consortium online, according to a news release. The project will involve a public-private partnership and will focus on several goals that will be built over the next two years with a $199,349 grant.
“This program trains K-12 students, undergraduates, graduate students, and professionals in the West Texas region in real-world cyber-physical security applications for critical infrastructure facilities.” said Manohar Chamana, assistant professor and graduate advisor for the Possible Energy Program. Texas Tech University's National Wind Research Institute said in a release. “This includes power systems, renewable energy, water and wastewater, and oil and gas.”
Chamana said the idea is to create an interdisciplinary training alliance across West Texas that brings together academic institutions and industry involved in cyber and physical network systems. Texas Tech University will create a training and job search consortium that includes NextEra energy company, Farmers Electric Co-Op, South Plains Electric Co-Op, West Texas A&M University and UT-Permian Basin.
Statistics show that there were approximately 450,000 cybersecurity jobs in the United States from January 2023 to January 2024, but only 82 positions were available for every 100 jobs during that period.
In a news release announcing the award, Laurie E. LoCascio, Under Secretary of Commerce and Director of NIST, said, “Our economy and national security depend on a highly skilled workforce that can defend against the ever-growing cyber threats. I depend on it,” he said. “By investing in cybersecurity talent, we are not only filling a critical gap; we are building a future where Americans have access to the training they need to secure high-quality, well-paying jobs. I am creating.”
Texas Tech University's program may address several goals, including validation of personal cybersecurity standards, research and development, field testing/demonstration of cybersecurity/cyber-physical security tools, and workforce development in cybersecurity/cyber-physical security. It is expected.
“Many critical infrastructure industries need to ensure cyber-physical security, including information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) security,” Chamana said. “Texas Tech University has the distinction of being the largest comprehensive higher education institution in the western two-thirds of Texas. We aim to establish partnerships with the private companies involved.”
Chamana said Texas Tech University has already trained more than 200 people from local industry and educational institutions since 2020 as part of a program overseen by the Texas Workforce Commission.
“We have established relationships with several local rural cooperatives, wind energy operators and educational institutions,” he said. “These relationships will be leveraged to host workforce development workshops and address current cybersecurity skills gaps needed in local industry.”
©2024 Odessa American (Odessa, Texas). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
