May 2020 Talent & Training

Cyber Warrior Diversity Program

Maryland’s Cyber Warrior Diversity Program was recently expanded to increase the diversity of the cybersecurity workforce in the state. This program provides funding to Maryland’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities and to UMBC Training Centers to provide participants with entry level cybersecurity training and certifications, and to connect graduates to apprenticeship opportunities in the field. This program currently has 214 participants engaged in training across the participating HBCUs. Successful participants in the program will earn CompTIA’s valuable A+, Network+ and Security+ certifications.

Cyber Apprenticeships

While technology apprenticeships have been a common practice in other countries for some time, here in the United States they are building momentum to help create a pipeline of talent from non-traditional sources. Apprenticeships can help identify and nurture talent who otherwise may be overlooked, including incumbent employees performing other job roles who can be upskilled into high- demand roles within the organization. Many organizations are currently piloting apprenticeship programs with a plan to scale them up throughout the year.

If you are interested in learning more about the Cyber Warrior Diversity Program or cyber apprenticeships, please contact Kent Malwitz at UMBC Training Centers at kmalwitz@umbctraining.com.

The Future of Internships in a Socially Distanced World

A number of businesses in the Greater Baltimore region have begun to explore what internships look like as the majority of employees continue to telework and high school, college, and graduate students determine how to handle the critical skill and portfolio-building experiences remotely.

Hawkeye MedTech, a Maryland Innovation Center (MIC) incubator company, has partnered with Lockheed Martin to launch a remote STEM internship program. Learn more about their partnership and how the Fort Meade Alliance is helping companies find well-qualified candidates in the COVID-19 era.