News 2019: UMass Dartmouth and Air National Guard sign cybersecurity education and workforce development agreement

News 2019: UMass Dartmouth and Air National Guard sign cybersecurity education and workforce development agreement
UMass Dartmouth and Air National Guard sign cybersecurity education and workforce development agreement

University and 102nd Intelligence Wing at Joint Base Cape Cod will collaborate on program development

Congressman, Chancelor, Colonel, and Dean pose

UMass Dartmouth and the 102nd Intelligence Wing of the Air National Guard today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop education and workforce training in cybersecurity for personnel at Joint Base Cape Cod and university students.

The partnership will bring together 102nd Intelligence Wing staff and UMass Dartmouth faculty to collaborate on the development of cybersecurity undergraduate and graduate programs, certificates, and concentrations. In addition, base staff engaged in cybersecurity efforts will serve as mentors for interested university students. UMass Dartmouth will also provide educational programs for the 102nd’s cybersecurity professionals, including a mobile training team that will deliver one-week courses at the base. UMass Dartmouth and the 102nd will also collaborate to make students aware of cybersecurity career opportunities with the Air National Guard.

“This partnership is a great opportunity to showcase how the Department of Defense can collaborate with academic institutions to tackle our nation’s most pressing security issues, and I am proud that this is happening in Southeastern Massachusetts,” said Congressman William R. Keating, whose district includes Cape Cod and much of the SouthCoast and South Shore. “In order to protect our nation’s networks, we will need a qualified workforce prepared to combat highly sophisticated cyber adversaries. The agreement signed today is exactly the type of cooperative effort that will achieve this important goal while preparing the next generation for success.”

“We are excited to work with the 102nd Intelligence Wing to strengthen the cybersecurity of our nation,” said UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Robert E. Johnson. “UMass Dartmouth is fully committed to making sure our men and women serving in the armed services are future ready with the skillset and mindset to support the sanctity and security of the American dream.”

“The 102nd Intelligence Wing is excited to partner with UMass Dartmouth and we look forward to working with the University on a range of cybersecurity issues. We see tremendous opportunities to develop our cyber Airmen by collaborating with academia while simultaneously helping the University grow tomorrow’s cyber workforce,” said Colonel Virginia I. Gaglio, 102nd Intelligence Wing Commander.

The agreement was signed by Chancellor Johnson and Colonel Gaglio just prior to a presentation to students by Colonel Gaglio on current and future cybersecurity challenges facing the nation and how the 102nd works to defend the U.S. from cyber threats.