Contributing to Cybersecurity Training Initiative for Military Veterans

(ISC)² Contributing to Cybersecurity Training Initiative for Military Veterans   

Initiative provides free cyber training program for veterans living in Virginia

Clearwater, FL, November 11, 2016 —In an on-going effort to fill the workforce gap in cybersecurity, (ISC)²^® is pleased to announce its participation in the Cyber Vets Virginia program, a new initiative to provide military veterans with access to cybersecurity training and skill development in the state of Virginia.

In a statement today at the Commonwealth's Veterans Day Ceremony, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe announced the launch of the innovative job training program as part of Virginia’s continued commitment to help veterans transition back into civilian life, and help them fill high-paying jobs in Virginia’s workforce.  

“Every year we set aside Veterans Day to honor all the men and women who have served and sacrificed in uniform for our country,” said Governor McAuliffe, speaking at today’s Veterans Day Ceremony. “As a proud father of a Marine and the son of a World War II veteran, I deeply appreciate the sacrifice, dedication and service of our veterans, as well as the sacrifices and strength of their families and loved ones. Whether it is functionally ending veteran homelessness, expanding employment opportunities through Virginia Values Veterans program, or improving medical services for combat-related injuries like PTSD, we will continue our efforts to make Virginia the best place for our service members, veterans, and their families.”

“I am also pleased to launch Cyber Vets Virginia to help our veterans build the skillsets they need to be successful in the new Virginia economy. We currently have 17,000 open cyber jobs in Virginia, and our veteran community is extremely well-suited to help close the workforce gap in this growing industry. We will continue to work with our partners and the private sector to build innovative pathways for job training and career development for veterans in Virginia.”

The Cyber Vets Virginia initiative is a unique cyber training collaboration between the Commonwealth and private sector leaders, including CISCO, Amazon Web Services (AWS), (ISC)² and the Institute for Veterans and Military Families’ Onward to Opportunity program (O2O). The initiative provides a free, cyber training program for veterans living in Virginia who are interested in careers in the cyber industry.

“We are very pleased to participate in Cyber Vets Virginia,” said David Shearer, chief executive officer of (ISC)². “Our military veterans are uniquely qualified for careers in cybersecurity, and we hope that they will enthusiastically participate in this terrific training program in Virginia.”

 Speaking on the importance of Cyber Vets Virginia, Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs John Harvey said, “Our veterans have the talent, knowledge, skills, and abilities that translate well to nearly every industry in the Commonwealth. With the launch of Cyber Vets Virginia, the Governor continues to demonstrate his commitment to ensuring that our veterans have high quality employment and educational opportunities. They deserve nothing less.”  

Cyber Vets Virginia also provides veterans with a consolidated resource for information related to cybersecurity opportunities in the Commonwealth, including cyber education at Virginia community colleges and four year institutions, information on financial support, and tools to help veterans build a career track in the cyber workforce. In addition to educational resources, Cyber Vets Virginia will serve as the pilot platform for the Commonwealth’s inaugural cyber jobs portal, CyberJobs.virginia.gov. The portal aims to create a pathway for former military service members to navigate employment opportunities in Virginia’s cyber sector.

“Cybersecurity is a key pillar in the new Virginia economy and filling the cyber workforce pipeline is critical to sustaining long-term industry growth in the future,” said Secretary of Technology Karen Jackson. “The launch of both the pilot program Cyber Vets Virginia and the Cyber Jobs Portal underscores our commitment to cyber security and our desire for our veterans to be part of the New Virginia cyber workforce.”

For more information on the Cyber Vets Virginia initiative, please visit cybervets.virginia.gov

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About (ISC)²

 (ISC)² is an international nonprofit membership association best known for its award-winning Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP^®) certification, with additional certification and education programs that holistically address security. Our membership, 120,000 strong internationally, is made up of sought-after cyber, information, software and infrastructure security professionals who are making a difference and helping to advance this new industry. Our vision to inspire a safe and secure cyber world reaches the general public through a commitment to social responsibility via our charitable foundation – The Center for Cyber Safety and Education^TM. For more information on (ISC)², visit http://www.isc2.org, follow us on Twitter or connect with us on Facebook.   

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Media Contact:
Maria Forrest

Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, (ISC)²

mforrest@isc2.org