Page 118 - Cyber Defense eMagazine October 2023

I was one of those four panelists who spoke before Congress and shared cyber training strategies we’ve
successfully utilized during my time with NPower - a national nonprofit that provides free tech and cyber
training to young adults, veterans and their spouses.

Here’s a closer look at some of the training strategies I shared with Congress and why it could help us
create a new cyber security pipeline by mid 2024.

Create Cyber Training Bootcamps

It is important to acknowledge that nobody becomes a cyber warrior overnight. However, there are
sources of talent and available training programs that can speed up qualifying individuals for such roles.

I have been involved with technology education for over five years following 26 years on active duty in
the military. I know a few things about training, training management, and the bootcamp model. I’ve also
seen how we have young adults and military connected individuals who could constitute a viable pipeline
of tech and cybersecurity talent.

With NPower, we have created a boot camp environment that trains veterans and young adults with cyber
skills in as little as 18 weeks. Yes, it will take time to train future cyber warriors for deeper challenges, but
not as much time and certainly not as much money as required to earn a 4-year degree.

For the last four years, my team with NPower California has recruited young adults in San Jose and Los
Angeles California for 16-18 week bootcamps. This training is free of charge. It consists of 3 or 4 industry
recognized certifications, social support to break down any existing barriers preventing one from passing
the course, and a concurrent professional development curriculum to address the job search - such as
writing a resume, posting a strong LinkedIn profile, and the finer points of professional communication.

At the end of that experience, we help to place our graduates into tech jobs. We have a success rate of
well over 80 percent, and this is an approach others can duplicate.

In the case with NPower, our business model does not just “train to technology,” it improves personal
and professional lives in a holistic way. It capitalizes on young adults and military connected personnel.
Those who master tech fundamentals are invited to take advanced courses such as Cyber and/or Cloud.

Find New Cyber Talent in New Terrain

One of my recruiting pitches is – “if you can play War Thunder or Madden Football for 6 hours at a time,
chances are, you have the ability to learn tech fundamentals and cybersecurity.” Anyone with teenage
kids at home probably agrees with this.

But in seriousness, the real question is, do you have the desire and the motivation to see it through? In
my experience, young adults from underserved communities and military connected personnel are prime
candidates for training and job placement in the tech ecosystem. By and large, they have the right stuff
to complete a tech bootcamp.

Cyber Defense eMagazine – October 2023 Edition 118
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