The Griffiss Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing technology and developing talent for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), has awarded the Texas A&M Cybersecurity Center $2M to establish the Texas A&M Virtual Institute for Cyber and Electromagnetic Spectrum Research and Employ (VICEROY) for the Southwest Region. The Texas A&M University Consortium includes Texas A&M University as the lead institution, along with its partner schools Prairie View A&M University and Texas A&M University – San Antonio.
The VICEROY program is designed to enhance the educational experience by creating a pipeline of cyber talent that is capable of leading the future cyber landscape. To achieve this goal, the program will mobilize each university’s cyber resources and focus on the following areas:
- Programs leading to certifications and cyber-related degrees;
- Targeted strategic foreign language proficiency training
- Programs focused on the mathematical foundations of cryptography;
- Programs related to data science;
- Development of cyber talent and early interest in cyber careers; and
- Training and educational programs to expand the pool of qualified cyber instructors.
The Texas A&M VICEROY Consortium will provide students in the VICEROY program with opportunities to enhance their cyber skills through a range of experiential learning initiatives. These include summer cyber programs, capture the flag (CTF) competitions, and immersive cybersecurity engineering experiences in both information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT). Additionally, the program will offer courses that focus on key cyber skill subjects such as cryptography, reverse engineering, data science, and foreign adversaries. To further support students, the program will provide preparation courses, financial assistance, and incentives to pursue DoD 8570.01M specified cyber domain certifications, as well as mentorship from Armed Forces and DoD strategic partners. Finally, the program will offer support for students seeking internships within the DoD.
“We are excited to provide our students with unique opportunities to gain experience in the cyber domains and contribute to the future of national security,” said Justin Leiden, Program Director, Texas A&M University Cybersecurity Center and architect who has been instrumental in the development of the VICEROY program.
Dr. Drew Hamilton, Director of the Texas A&M Cybersecurity Center and professor in the Computer Science Department, will serve as Lead Principal Investigator. The VICEROY program is expected to begin in Fall 2023.