WASHINGTON, D.C. – Department of War (DoW) Cyber Academic Engagement Office (CAEO) officials recently met with academic experts from universities and colleges, designated as National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C), to build upon existing relationships and facilitate increased collaboration.
Established in June 2024 in accordance with the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, the CAEO was created to serve as the consolidated focal point for cyber-related activities carried out between the DoW and academia.
Program leads representing the DoW Cyber Service Academy (DoW CSA), the Virtual Institutes for Cyber and Electromagnetic Spectrum Research and Employ (VICEROY), the Senior Military College Cyber Institute Program, the University Consortium for Cybersecurity (UC2), and National Defense University’s College of Information and Cyberspace (CIC) attended, alongside leaders from CAE Cyber Offense, Cyber Defense, Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Research programs.
Speaking to leaders from government and academia, CAEO Director Mr. Mark Gorak emphasized the collective responsibility to build a cyber workforce capable of meeting rapidly evolving threats.
“Over the past year, we’ve spent time deliberately examining each program within the Cyber Academic Engagement Office—not just to understand what academic engagement is today, but to challenge ourselves to think about what it must become,” said Gorak, who also serves as the principal director for DoW CIO Resources and Analysis (PDCIO R&A).
“My office’s role is oversight, and our mission is in lockstep with yours. We must inspire the next generation cyber workforce. We want to do what we can to make sure your programs are successful.”
The nation’s cyber workforce continues to face a significant shortage. At its peak, experts estimated the gap to be as many as 750,000 unfilled positions across private industry and federal, state, local and military organizations, according to Gray Decision Intelligence, an analytics company that helps clients develop data-informed institutional strategies for students, schools, and their constituents.
While that number has declined in recent years, workforce shortfalls remain a pressing concern as government and industry step up efforts to expand awareness of — and access to — cyber careers.
That withstanding, this meeting of experts gave the DoW’s academic programs and partners the opportunity to share their ongoing efforts.
The institutions spoke to their process for aligning curricula to DoW qualification standards to ensure they are producing a qualified workforce to meet national needs. Whether they received their NCAE-C designation for their program(s) in cyber defense, cyber offense, cyber research, or artificial intelligence, these colleges and universities are aligning their courses to the Department of Defense Cyber Workforce Framework. NCAE-C institutions are active DoW partners in developing the talent to ensure the U.S. maintains a decisive cyber advantage.
In likeness, NCAE-C institutions are helping meet a nationwide trend. As Gray Decision Intelligence reported, the demand for cyber degrees is growing. In 2017, more than 12,000 students graduated with varying degrees in cyber. That number more than doubled by 2022 to more than 26,000. The organization suggests a surging demand at community colleges where students can acquire certifications and degrees to join the workforce more quickly than at four-year institutions.
Matt Isnor, the Cyber Workforce Development Division Chief, who focuses on developing qualifications and identifying cyber work roles that will further enhance the military’s ability to conduct cyber effectively notes:
“This is one team, one fight. Working with our academia partners ensures they know how we identify the qualifications, knowledge, and skills needed for someone to join the Department of War. Conversely, they are informing us what they need to contribute to national security. This works both ways.”
From the perspective of one academic partner present, Mr. Jiri Jirik, director for the Education Pathways National Center at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, Ill., stated students need to understand cyber is much more than what they see from the entertainment industry.
“There is a huge disconnect about cyber among our next generation,” said Jirik. “They must grasp cyber is much more than the hacking they see from the movies. It’s in healthcare, banking systems and all the way down to the local government level. This meeting today just reassures the cyber academia community and the Department of War are all in agreement in how we are moving forward.”
Scott Nelson, acting principal director for the CAEO, said the meeting underscores the critical role academia plays in shaping the next generation of cyber talent, noting that the effort to strengthen the nation’s security is ongoing.
“What matters most is what happens next,” said Nelson. “The goal of today is for these discussions to turn into action—into partnerships, shared initiatives, and continued engagement that strengthens how we align education, research and workforce development with real mission needs.”
The conversations from the forum will continue this spring in Pittsburgh, PA., at the CAE-C Symposium. More than 1,000 cyber professors, deans, and program leaders will gather for a week of collaboration and knowledge-sharing. Participants from academia, government, and the military will explore ways education, research, and experiential learning can evolve alongside the cyber workforce framework—supporting innovation while preserving the creativity and diversity of the CAE-C community.