Virginia Tech and Cyber Bytes Foundation Announce New Education Partnership in Quantico Corporate Center
Stafford County Higher Education Investments Expand the Stafford Advantage
Communities with a strong higher education presence have a competitive advantage in economic development. Stafford County, Virginia now welcomes the Virginia Tech Richmond Center to the Quantico Cyber Hub in the Quantico Corporate Center, adjacent to Marine Corps Base Quantico.
“This new partnership balances technology training with faculty expertise,” stated Supervisor Tinesha Allen, Griffis-Widewater District. “This parity of formal education and practical experience prepares students to advance rapidly in their chosen technical field.”
Virginia Tech joins an education portfolio that includes the University of Mary Washington (UMW) and Germanna Community College (GCC). Course offerings at all three institutions provide evidence that Stafford County is the “Center for Cyber” in the Commonwealth.
“VA Tech’s faculty brings new Continuing Education Units (CEU’s) courses in data analytics and cybersecurity to Stafford,” remarked Cesar Nader, Chief Executive Officer, XCorp Solutions and Founder of the Cyber Bytes Foundation. “With growing workforce needs in Marine Corps Systems Command, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Navy Criminal Investigation Services (NCIS) and defense contractors, the Quantico Cyber Hub’s focus matches their workforce requirements.”
The state-of-the-art equipment and technology offered at the facility will be utilized by participants as they work together to strengthen and develop a next-gen cyber workforce.
University of Mary Washington Stafford Campus offers programs designed for professionals seeking academic degrees and professional development programs. Included is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) program. The CISSP program has become indispensable for anyone seeking to gain work on government contracts related to cybersecurity. Demand for this certification is expected to dramatically increase in the Stafford region. The UMW program is the only ISC^2 Certified Academic Partner program in the region.
In a recent Go Virginia study, over 3,000 job postings were focused on these high demand occupations.
Germanna Community College has been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. Germanna provides training, associate degrees, and certifications designed as the Tech Talent Pipeline. A “pathway” example is the Cybersecurity Career Studies Certificate Program designed to enhance the student’s competency and provide security expertise to networking specialists.
“The Stafford Advantage for cyber technology includes a triad of exceptional training and education centers whose mission is to develop the 21st century workforce,” stated John Holden, Stafford County Economic Development and Tourism Director.