Readout: National Cyber Director Visits Western Pennsylvania to Highlight Local Partnerships Providing New Learning Opportunities for Students and Resources for Educators

Visit Showcases the Power of Public-Private Partnerships to Boost Cyber Jobs and Offers Free Resources to Protect K-12 Schools from Cyber Attacks

September 17, 2024

This week in Western Pennsylvania, White House National Cyber Director Harry Coker, Jr. highlighted investments from the Biden-Harris Administration that are opening up opportunities and providing good-paying cyber jobs, as well as highlighted tools available to K-12 school districts that can help keep their systems, students, and communities safe from cyber threats.

On Monday morning in Homestead, Pennsylvania, National Cyber Director Harry Coker, Jr. led a roundtable discussion focused on challenges and opportunities in K-12 cybersecurity. Hosted by the Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU), the roundtable discussion, with more than 65 state officials, school administrators, and IT professionals, promoted no-cost services and other resources to improve the cybersecurity of school districts, including the benefits and ease of use of a free service called Protective Domain Name System (PDNS).

This widely attended event provided a unique opportunity for Alleghany school districts and other Intermediate Units from around Pennsylvania to discuss the cybersecurity challenges they face and for Federal and state officials to learn about how they can better support school districts. Intermediate Units in Pennsylvania play a critical role in supporting local school districts and the Director appreciated engaging with the Alleghany County education community. Dr. Robert Scherrer and Richard Platts, AIU’s Executive Director and Chief Technology Officer, played essential roles in organizing the event and identifying concrete next steps that the group could take to further protect students, teachers, and schools.

Director Coker moderated the conversation, which included AIU leadership; Andy Ritter, the Deputy Chief Information Security Officer of Pennsylvania; Megan Incerto, Regional Engagement Program Manager from the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC); members of the Pennsylvania State Police and National Guard; and representation from more than 20 school districts.

“It was tremendously valuable to hear from those on the front lines in Pennsylvania about their challenges. We understand the threats facing schools across the Nation, and were pleased to share the many resources available to schools from the Federal Government and our partners.” said National Cyber Director Harry Coker, Jr. “We must shift the bulk of responsibility of defending cyberspace off the shoulders of schools and school administrators, and onto organizations that are best positioned to reduce risk. We are here to help – help Alleghany County schools with resources that can provide protection in the short-term and help thinking strategically about ways to improve our security posture and address challenges in the long term.”

On Tuesday in Hermitage, Pennsylvania, Director Coker visited the Pennsylvania Cybersecurity Center (PCC) as part of the nationwide Cybersecurity Workforce and Education Roadshow to share how the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda is supporting Pennsylvania’s cyber ecosystem. Director Coker’s visit highlights the power of public-private partnerships to help increase access to good-paying, meaningful cyber jobs and grow the area’s cyber workforce.

Director Coker talked in-depth about the opportunity to strengthen national security and increase economic prosperity by building the nation’s cyber workforce. He highlighted best practices in western Pennsylvania, including strong partnerships between schools, training institutions, and employers. In Pennsylvania, as in other parts of the nation, there is a strong demand for cyber talent.

Over 37,000 Pennsylvanians are currently employed in cyber careers, yet there are still an estimated 12,000 open cybersecurity jobs in the Commonwealth, including over 3,000 open jobs in western Pennsylvania.

Director Coker toured PCC’s facilities where students gain hands-on training to prepare them with the skills they need to immediately contribute to the cyber workforce. After the tour, Director Coker spoke with current and former PCC students and learned about the innovative best practices employed by PCC and its partners to build a pipeline for the local cyber workforce. He talked about our newly launched Service for America campaign which encourages Americans to take up a career in cyber. “Whether in the Federal Government or in industry, in a career in cyber, you can serve our great Nation,” Coker said.

“The Pennsylvania Cybersecurity Center has shown us what a true grassroots approach looks like,” said Coker. “You all are identifying, training, and hiring cyber talent and you’re doing it right. PCC has reached out and targeted high school, college students, and adult learns who are looking for that second career in cyber. More importantly, PCC is meeting people where they are at in their lives. You have built a program for all working people. Here at PCC, you have created a curriculum that allows for online night schools led by a live instructor from the area. And, because you know that many of your students need a flexible schedule, you record your classes too. PCC is making sure their students are put into a situation where they can get their certificate and find success.”

Following his remarks, a panel of members of the local cyber workforce ecosystem, including representatives from PCC, local institutions of higher learning, and employers discussed how they work together to create opportunities for the region’s young people and mid-career professionals interested in getting into cyber.

The Director’s full remarks are available here.

In line with the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy released last July, Director Coker saw firsthand at PCC how a focus on skills-based, hands-on learning opportunities positions students at a significant advantage in the workforce. A testament to the relevance of its program, last year, the PCC received a $1.15 million grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission’s (ARC) Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative.

The Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda has delivered significant financial support for Pennsylvania, including:

• Investing in expanding the digital infrastructure across Pennsylvania: specifically with over $1.1 billion to provide affordable, reliable, high-speed Internet access in the commonwealth. Households can check their eligibility, sign up, and find fully covered Internet plans at GetInternet.gov

• Investing in efforts to promote digital inclusion and advance equity: specifically with $27 million through Digital Equity Act programs in the commonwealth

• Investing in cybersecurity planning activities across the Commonwealth: specifically with $1.2 billion going to Pennsylvania to help the Commonwealth with the necessary planning to prepare for, respond to, and prevent cyber attacks

Non-Federal organizations are also investing in the region’s cyber workforce. Today, ONCD is pleased to announce two new commitments that will deliver new learning opportunities to students and jobseekers across the region:

Pennsylvania Cybersecurity Center

Pennsylvania Cybersecurity Center (PCC) commits to completing its new cybersecurity center and cyber range, located within the eCenter at LindenPointe in Hermitage, PA in 2025. This facility will be the first cybersecurity center hosted in a LEED® Silver Certified building in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Designed to support the growing demands of the cybersecurity sector, the center will offer in-person classes, camps, and programs, as well as a state-of-the-art cyber range for training and penetration testing. This innovative space will cater to PCC students, universities, and local companies, providing a high-performance environment for advancing cybersecurity skills and knowledge.

Mercyhurst University

Mercyhurst University in Erie, PA announces the first-ever cyber dual enrollment program for autistic high school students in western Pennsylvania in partnership with the PCC. Mercyhurst has over a decade of experience supporting neurodivergent college students and will deploy that experience in partnership with PCC to increase interest in cyber careers among neurodivergent high school students. Through cyber coursework and support programming, the partnership will bolster PCC’s efforts to create a technology and innovation ecosystem to address cybersecurity and technology challenges and will facilitate neurodivergent Americans’ entry into cyber careers.