CyberCorps Scholarship for Service: Fostering Cybersecurity Professionals in Rhode Island

迫切需要提高政府工作人员的能力，以便在他们自己的组织中实施网络安全，并支持他们所服务的公民。联邦政府制定的战略计划，包括《2014年网络安全增强法案》、《2018年国防授权法案》和《美国国家网络战略》，都要求提高网络安全专业人员的质量和数量。该项目通过支持计算机科学专业的学生在罗德岛大学（URI）完成其网络安全专业科学硕士（PSM）学位，直接解决了增加准备加入政府工作队伍的网络安全专业人员数量的目标。自2013年以来，URI已被指定为国家安全局/国土安全部网络防御教育学术卓越中心（CAE）和CAE研究中心，是罗德岛唯一拥有这两种指定的机构。考虑到URI与罗德岛社区学院的合作关系，以及该州潜在的网络安全工作岗位数量，URI在设立服务奖学金项目方面处于有利地位。海军水下作战中心和海军战争学院网络研究所位于罗德岛州，州政府内部也有机会。URI的网络安全PSM学位旨在通过培训先进的技术技能和专业技能，为学生准备网络安全劳动力的具体目标。该项目为总共20名学生提供奖学金，以通过URI的五年制课程完成PSM，同时支持本科生和研究生，或仅支持研究生。URI奖学金计划计划采用有针对性的招聘方法，以促进代表性不足群体的参与，从而增加网络安全劳动力的多样性。该计划包括与国家技术妇女中心以及URI的计算机妇女协会和黑人工程师协会分会合作。URI网络安全学者的经验包括本科课程和研究、研究生课程、以网络安全职业准备为重点的活动计划和网络安全实习。课程还涉及专业技能，包括项目规划、沟通和组织行为方面的培训。学者还可以选择获得网络安全专业认证，并参加相关活动和专业会议。项目团队计划在网络安全社区内传播经验教训和网络职业准备材料。该项目由CyberCorps®服务奖学金（SFS）计划支持，该计划为建立或继续网络安全奖学金计划的提案提供资金，并与美国国家网络战略保持一致，以培养优秀的网络安全劳动力。毕业后，奖学金获得者必须在联邦、州、地方或部落政府组织的网络安全部门工作，工作时间与奖学金支持时间相同。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

There is an urgent need to enhance the capacity of government workforces to implement cybersecurity both in their own organizations and in support of the citizens that they serve. Strategic plans outlined by the federal government, including the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014, National Defense Authorization Act of 2018, and the US National Cyber Strategy, call for an increase in the quality and quantity of cybersecurity professionals. This project directly addresses the goal of increasing the number of cybersecurity professionals prepared to join the government workforce by supporting Computer Science students working to complete their Professional Science Master’s (PSM) degree in Cybersecurity at the University of Rhode Island (URI). URI has been designated as both a National Security Agency/Department of Homeland Security Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) in Cyber Defense Education and a CAE-Research since 2013 and is the only institution in Rhode Island with either designation. URI is well positioned to mount a Scholarships for Service program given their partnership with the Community College of Rhode Island and the number of potential cybersecurity jobs available within the state. The Naval Undersea Warfare Center and Naval War College Cyber Institute are located in Rhode Island, and there are also opportunities within state government. URI’s PSM degree in Cybersecurity is designed with the specific goal of preparing students for the cybersecurity workforce through training in both advanced technical skills and professional skills.. This project provides scholarships for a total of 20 students to complete their PSM either through URI’s five year program with support while both undergraduate and graduate students, or as graduate-only students. The URI scholarship program plans a targeted recruitment approach to promote the participation of underrepresented groups and therefore increase diversity in the cybersecurity workforce. The plan includes working with the National Center for Women in Technology as well as URI’s chapters of the Society for Women in Computing and Society for Black Engineers. The experience for URI cybersecurity scholars includes a combination of undergraduate coursework and research, graduate coursework, a program of activities focused on cybersecurity career readiness, and a cybersecurity internship. Coursework also addresses professional skills including training in project planning, communication, and organizational behavior. Scholars also have the option to obtain professional certifications in cybersecurity and to attend relevant events and professional meetings. The project team plans to disseminate lessons learned and cyber career readiness materials within the cybersecurity community. This project is supported by the CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service (SFS) program, which funds proposals establishing or continuing scholarship programs in cybersecurity and aligns with the U.S. National Cyber Strategy to develop a superior cybersecurity workforce. Following graduation, scholarship recipients are required to work in cybersecurity for a federal, state, local, or tribal Government organization for the same duration as their scholarship support.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.