Bellingham, WA: The National Cybersecurity Training & Education Center (NCyTE) hosted at Whatcom Community College (WCC) is excited to announce a new partnership between WCC and the U.S. Cyber Command Academic Engagement Network (USCYBERCOM AEN).

Out of the 84 colleges and universities chosen to join the Network, only 14 are community colleges. The U.S. Cyber Command created the USCYBERCOM AEN to build a stronger cybersecurity workforce, increase cyber applied research and innovation, expand cyber-focused analytic partnerships, and enrich strategic cyber dialogue.

“Partnerships are the key to successfully managing the threats to cybersecurity in our country, and around the world”, says Dr. Kathi Hiyane-Brown, President at Whatcom Community College. “Building a strong cybersecurity workforce will help ensure that industry across all sectors can find the talent required to meet this on-going challenge. We are honored to join the U.S. Cyber Command Academic Engagement Network.”

The partnership will provide NCyTE and WCC access to:

• Communications about changes in the cyberspace domain that may impact students, programs, research, and partnerships
• Exclusive webinars about USCYBERCOM’s most pressing technical and non-technical problems, and how to benefit from key DoD programs that impact cyberspace
• Guest lecturers from USCYBERCOM on cyberspace strategy, policy, law, innovation, and workforce issues

“Cyber Command’s goal for the AEN is to strengthen our relationships and communication with these participating institutions,” said David Frederick, Executive Director at CYBERCOM. “This will improve and sustain our efforts to meet cyberspace educational requirements and workforce needs.”

About NCyTE: The National Cybersecurity Training & Education (NCyTE) Center is funded by the National Science Foundation. NCyTE's mission is to increase the quantity and quality of the cybersecurity workforce throughout the nation. NCyTE Center is based in Bellingham, WA at Whatcom Community College. For more information visit www.ncyte.net.

About Whatcom: Whatcom Community College in Bellingham, WA is regularly recognized as one of the top community colleges in the nation for student outcomes. The College, a destination for cybersecurity, healthcare and business studies, offers two bachelor of applied science degrees, transfer degrees, career and workforce preparation, online courses, and community education classes. New high school graduates, laid-off workers, seasoned employees, future university students — all students count on WCC to support their academic and career goals. For more information, visit www.whatcom.edu.

Contact: Toyo Garber, NCyTE Center Marketing & Communications Manager, TGarber@whatcom.edu, 360-383-3176