Summary
A capable and motivated workforce is a strategic U.S. advantage 1. True to DARPA’s mission to create and prevent strategic surprise and to address the nation’s growing cyber workforce shortage 2, DARPA’s Information Innovation Office is investing in multiple efforts to upskill students’ expertise in cybersecurity subjects.
University Partnerships for Tactical AI and Cyber (UPTAIC)
The UPTAIC seedling aims to establish two new master’s programs at the intersection of AI and cybersecurity.
West Virginia University, supported by Marshall University and Florida International University, will create a curriculum focused on developing and securing trustworthy AI, including applications addressing the cybersecurity of AI robotic systems and AI-enabled power grids.
Dakota State University and Arizona State University will develop courses on the applications of AI for operational cybersecurity through the American Cybersecurity Education Institute that builds on the openly, hands-on learning platform, pwn.college. Additional information
These pioneering programs, the first of their kind, are anticipated to launch in the fall of 2025. They will include online options, making them accessible to thousands of students within the first year.
Cyber Operations Preparedness and Education (COPE)
The COPE Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program aims to push forward the state-of-the-art in rapid and effective cybersecurity training by assessing the scope of the cybersecurity workforce gap within the U.S., determining the feasibility of a new training/education framework, and developing a prototype training platform.
COPE’s vision is to provide revolutionary training technologies to enable a highly effective, well-staffed, and skilled cyber workforce at organizations such as U.S. Cyber Command.
[1] https://media.defense.gov/2022/Oct/27/2003103845/-1/-1/1/2022-NATIONAL-DEFENSE-STRATEGY-NPR-MDR.PDF