Future cybersecurity entrepreneurs go to camp

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January 2022

A Message from the Executive Director

Earlier this month, 24 university students from across Virginia worked on real-world problems at our first Innovation Boot Camp to help build the skills they need to become cybersecurity entrepreneurs. Students spent a week in Northern Virginia collaborating in teams and working with cybersecurity organizations, which tasked the students to find solutions to some of the real-world challenges they face.

I was extremely impressed by the students who used their creativity and determination to solve mission-critical problems. The students hailed from the College of William & Mary, George Mason University, Lord Fairfax Community College, Old Dominion University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Military Institute, and Virginia Tech.

Thank you to the Computers and Information Technology Company (CACI), Virginia Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) for sponsoring problems and working closely with the student teams. BMNT Inc. did a great job developing and delivering the curriculum. Participating organizations were clearly impressed by the students and at the end of the camp asked for their resumes in order to explore internship opportunities.

Save the date for the
very first CCI Symposium!

We plan to hold our first CCI Symposium, April 4-5, in Richmond. Researchers will meet colleagues from across the state, network, and find new collaborators. We will also offer professional development sessions. More information about registration is forthcoming.

I’m especially looking forward to presenting at the event the inaugural CCI Impact Award, which recognizes an individual, team, group, or organization, who through their CCI activities has conducted breakthrough cybersecurity research or innovation, or developed a creative means to improve cybersecurity workforce opportunities for our industry partners and students. While we’ve only been in operation for two years, CCI has had a measurable impact on cybersecurity in Virginia and farther afield. Nominations for the award are open until Feb. 28.

Get ready for the Experiential Learning Call for Proposals on March 1

Our experiential learning programs give students a hands-on, challenging, and fun way to build critical skills to become successful members of the cybersecurity workforce after they graduate from one of CCI’s 41 higher education institutions. This will be our third year of funding proposals that enhance students’ essential skills. We are particularly interested in projects that expose students to experiences in industry. Learn more about the 2020 and 2021 scalable experiential learning funded projects and other funded projects on the research section of our website.

SEE OPEN CALLS FOR PROPOSALS

INNOVATE Cyber launches third cohort

This month the standout program INNOVATE Cyber launched its third cohort. This semester, 54 undergraduate students from 14 different institutions across Virginia will work within a team to identify a challenge or issue related to cybersecurity. Using the design thinking approach to problem-solving, they are empowered to express their ideas, think creatively, and research within a high-impact team environment to identify solutions. Design thinking focuses on creating innovators—a human-centered method for creative action that leans heavily on empathy, observation, interviewing, and brainstorming.

INNOVATE Cyber facilitator, Dr. Karen Sanzo (Old Dominion University), and INNOVATE Cyber graduate assistants Greg Fowler and Luke Patton (both law students at the College of William and Mary) are leading the effort. Student designers are taught how to engage in field work (observing or asking questions of cybersecurity stakeholders), dig into key topics and identify root cause issues, challenge assumptions, lend a diverse perspective to the issue identified, and develop innovative solutions to identified problems. The design thinking teams will present their work at a final showcase April 19. This is a great event to meet up-and-coming cybersecurity professionals.

CCI researchers working to prepare civilians for DoD cybersecurity workforce

Virginia Tech recently received a $2.8 million grant from the Department of Defense to continue developing the Department of Defense (DoD) Senior Military College Cyber Institute (SMC2I). The new round of funding builds on last year’s $1.5 million grant. The institute is preparing undergraduates to work in the Department of Defense cyber workforce.

CCI-affiliated researchers are working on this project that also will help address Virginia’s shortage of qualified cyber professionals. CCI played a key role in recruiting Stephanie Travis, who is the new director of the Senior Military College Cyber Institute. CCI Southwest Virginia provided funds for her to develop and execute a vision for deepening engagement in Southwest Virginia. Stephanie designed new experiential learning opportunities at the Virginia Military Institute and Virginia Tech with plants to branch out to other Virginia regions. Laura Freeman, principal investigator of the grant and the director of the National Security Institute’s Intelligent Systems Division, also leads CCI’s artificial intelligence (AI) assurance efforts and testbed work.

Check out our
new presentation template

Looking for a CCI PowerPoint template or, for those Linux users, a Google Slides template? We have you covered on our brand resources section where you’ll find CCI’s logos, brand guidelines, presentation templates, map, and more.

We’re off and running in 2022 with more to come.