Assurance in artificial intelligence becomes focus of Commonwealth Cyber Initiative workshop
December 18, 2019, VTNews
Figuring out when we can trust AI, and when we probably shouldn’t, is a field called AI assurance. It’s becoming increasingly critical as AI takes on greater roles in areas like transportation and national security, where trustworthiness has a direct impact on safety.
For that reason, research and development in AI assurance is a central priority for the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI), a statewide network that accelerates research, innovation, commercialization, and talent development in advanced cybersecurity technologies.
ODU awarded $3 million to boost cybersecurity workforce
December 18, 2019, Virginia Pilot
Old Dominion University will get $3 million to help create a cybersecurity program to boost entrepreneurship and workforce development in Hampton Roads.
The Virginia Research Investment Committee approved the funding for the ODU-led Coastal Virginia Center for Cyber Innovation during its Dec. 10 meeting. The center’s executive director, Brian Payne, said it’s a welcome step toward spurring economic development and growing a talent pool of workers and entrepreneurs.
Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) Launches in Virginia
December 13, 2019, George Mason University
The Commonwealth Cyber Initiative recently launched which is a network that engages institutions of higher education, industry, and government, along with non-governmental and economic development organizations to cyber-related research, education, and engagement.
State funding approved for cyber research nodes, including one run by VCU
December 10, 2019, Richmond Times Dispatch
Virginia has fulfilled its initial budget promise for a statewide cybersecurity research initiative by approving $10 million in state funding for four regional research operations, including one led by Virginia Commonwealth University.
Director of Irish communications network picked to lead cybersecurity initiative in Virginia
October 31, 2019, Richmond Times Dispatch
An ambitious state-funded initiative to boost higher education research of cybersecurity and related technologies has named its first full-time leader, a former Virginia Tech professor who leads a similar telecommunications research network in Ireland.
Researcher to lead Virginia cyber initiative,
October 31, 2019, Virginia Business
Ireland-based networks expert has been named head of Virginia’s Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI).
Luiz A. DaSilva will join CCI in March as its first executive director. He will be based at the Virginia Tech Research Center in Arlington.
Luiz DaSilva named inaugural executive director for Commonwealth Cyber Initiative
October 31, 2019, VTNews
An internationally recognized expert in networks who currently leads an initiative that applies the expertise of 250 researchers across 10 universities in Ireland will lead the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI).
Commonwealth Cyber Initiative hosts researcher workshop to increase cross-state collaboration
November 6, 2019, VTNews
Members of the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) met for a researcher workshop on Oct. 11 to network and learn about the research activities occurring at each of the universities in the network. CCI will leverage Virginia’s diverse and innovative universities, research excellence, the ecosystem of industry, and the density of cybersecurity talent.
Brian K. Payne column: A key ingredient to a strong economy
October 15, 2019, Richmond Times Dispatch
October was first designated as “National Cybersecurity Awareness Month” 16 years ago, long before we even imagined the importance of the topic or its relevance to our everyday lives. Typically, when months are named after a topic or area, we are asked to draw attention to the specific topic throughout the month. Many may wonder what we need to be aware of regarding a topic seemingly reserved for the computer scientists and computer engineers among us.
Testbed for 5G wireless security will accelerate cyber research in Virginia
October 9, 2019, VTNews
A unique 5G wireless test bed under development in Virginia is set to bring that connected future several steps closer to the present.
Cybersecurity growing at colleges
August 15, 2019, Newport News Daily Press
Enrollment at Thomas Nelson Community College, like many other Virginia community colleges, has been down overall for several years. But there’s one bright spot: cybersecurity.
VCU will lead regional cybersecurity research effort that includes UVa
June 17, 2019, Richmond Times-Dispatch
Virginia Commonwealth University will take the lead in creating one of four regional “nodes” in a new statewide network to boost higher education research in cybersecurity, create work-study opportunities for students in the field, and foster new commercial technology to drive economic growth.
Commonwealth Cyber Initiative’s statewide network certified, 5G test bed planned
June 12, 2019, VTNews
Virginia’s ambitious plan to bring together its best talents to bolster the nation’s cybersecurity now has a structure for success in place.
On Tuesday, the Virginia Research Investment Committee certified the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative’s (CCI) statewide network, which will fuse the individual strengths of state institutions of higher education, industry, and government into a unified force to develop the technologies and train the talent to thwart cybercrimes of today and of the future.
‘Cyber moon shot’ ready for launch
May 31, 2019, Virginia Business
By some estimates, cybercrimes are projected to cost businesses worldwide $6 trillion annually by 2021 — and it’s not unusual for a ransomware or malware attack to cost a single business millions.
With cybersecurity threats to our ever-expanding digital world growing by the day, industries and universities are struggling to meet the demand for skilled tech workers. In Virginia alone, state officials say there are 33,000 unfilled cybersecurity jobs.
Enter Virginia’s ambitious, $25 million-plus Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI), which aims to close that gap by creating a highly skilled workforce while also encouraging the development of lucrative technologies and making Virginia a global leader in cybersecurity.
Eric Paterson, Jeffrey Reed to fill leadership roles in strategic university initiatives
May 14, 2019, VTNews
Virginia Tech has announced the appointment of two top researchers to serve in interim leadership roles for two key university initiatives.
Search for executive director launches for Commonwealth Cyber Initiative
March 10, 2019, VTNews
A major cybersecurity initiative that began as a state budget item and grew into a blueprint is becoming a reality.
The Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI), a $25-million effort funded in the 2018-20 Virginia budget, calls on higher education institutions and industry to build an ecosystem of cyber-related research, education, and engagement. The goal is to position Virginia as a leader where cybersecurity meets data analytics, machine learning, and autonomous systems.
An international search is being launched to recruit CCI’s inaugural executive director. The search committee includes stakeholders from across the commonwealth who helped develop the CCI blueprint. Isaacson Miller has been retained to support the recruitment.
Plan for Commonwealth Cyber Initiative approved, moving forward
December 16, 2018, VTNews
A major Virginia cybersecurity initiative is moving from planning to implementation stages.
As Amazon lands, Virginia ready to launch ‘cyber moon shot’ with universities
December 6, 2018, Richmond Times Dispatch
The Virginia Tech “innovation campus” is set to be created in Alexandria about a mile from the site of half of Amazon’s HQ2.
Before Virginia used the promise of a $1.1 billion investment in higher education to land Amazon’s new headquarters in Arlington County, the state already was preparing what one lawmaker called “a cyber moon shot” to boost university research in cybersecurity and related high-tech fields.
CyberX is ready to launch.
Commonwealth Cyber Initiative marks end of Phase 1 planning, moves to next steps
October 2, 2018, VTNews
Stakeholders representing critical aspects of cybersecurity converged at a milestone in the plan for Virginia’s Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) last month in Arlington.
Meeting of executive committee marks important step in Commonwealth Cyber Initiative
September 4, 2018, VTNews
The Commonwealth Cyber Initiative Executive Committee held its first meeting last week – an important step in a collaborative effort to create and submit a blueprint for the project to the Virginia Research Investment Committee by Dec. 1.
Virginia state budget includes $25 million for Virginia Tech-led Commonwealth Cyber Initiative
June 7, 2018, VTNews
The 2018-20 Virginia budget signed by Gov. Ralph Northam today includes $25 million for the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative that will leverage public institutions of higher education to build an ecosystem of cyber-related research, education, and engagement to position Virginia as a world leader in cybersecurity at the confluence with data analytics, machine learning, and autonomous systems.