NICE Track 2 Coalition Task Force

Building a National Coalition in Support of Cybersecurity Formal

Education

Center for System Security and Information Assurance (CSSIA), Colloquium for Information Systems
Security Education (CISSE), CompTIA, Cyber Security Education Consortium (CSEC), CyberWatch, EC-
Council, (ISC)2, and the SANS Institute will host an organizational meeting on Friday November 5th,
2010, at Prince George’s Community College, in Largo, Maryland. This will be a working meeting to
address the NICE Track 2 initiative. This task force will be comprised of leaders from academia, including
state and national K-12 education organizations and higher education institutions and associations, non-
profit Internet security providers, and government and industry cybersecurity professionals. The task
force will focus on identifying effective strategies, career paths, instructional models and online
academic tools and technologies that can be used by the K-20 community, and expose gaps in existing
cybersecurity formal education programs. The task force seeks to build a public-private coalition to
comprehensively address the NICE Track 2 initiative. The mission of the NICE Track 2 initiative is to
bolster formal cybersecurity education programs from kindergarten through graduate school, with a
focus on the science, technology, engineering and math disciplines to provide a pipeline of skilled
cybersecurity workers for the private sector and government.

Leaders in promoting STEM education, postsecondary cybersecurity education, and the cybersecurity
industry with a stake hold in the future information assurance workforce are cordially invited to join our
Task Force and participate in our first organizational/working session as we establish our goals and
membership.
At the meeting, members will discuss the scope of the NICE Track 2 Coalition Task Force initiative,
establish goals for this coalition, assign roles, and choose the means of communication and venues to be
used to solicit input from the membership and community. One key to success is that the coalition must
represent the broadest possible participation and buy-in from all of the stakeholders in information
assurance education.

The ideas generated at the meeting will be used to create a Project Plan Working Draft of a Position
Paper outlining the main elements of a comprehensive Cybersecurity Formal Education track. It is
understood that the Project Plan Working Draft sets a framework for the Task Force, and is meant to be
a fluid document and is expected to change over time as the Task Force progresses with its work and
folds in under the larger NICE initiative.

About The NICE Initiative

The National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) has evolved from the Comprehensive National
Cybersecurity Initiative, and extends its scope beyond the federal workplace to include civilians and
students in kindergarten through post-graduate school. The goal of NICE is to establish an operational,
sustainable and continually improving cybersecurity education program for the nation to use sound
cyber practices that will enhance the nation’s security.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is leading the NICE initiative to ensure
coordination, cooperation, focus, public engagement, technology transfer and sustainability.

The National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) will be represented by four Tracks.

Track 1: National Cybersecurity Awareness

Lead: Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

The National Cybersecurity Awareness track is being led by the Department of Homeland Security. To
boost national cybersecurity awareness, DHS will use public service campaigns to promote cybersecurity
and responsible use of the Internet, and make cybersecurity a popular educational and career pursuit for
older students.

Track 2: Formal Cybersecurity Education

Co-Lead Department of Education (DoED) and Department of Science and Technology Policy
(OSTP)

The Department of Education and the Office of Science and Technology Policy are leading the Formal
Cybersecurity Education track. Their mission is to bolster formal cybersecurity education programs
encompassing kindergarten through 12th grade, higher education and vocational programs, with a focus
on the science, technology, engineering and math disciplines to provide a pipeline of skilled workers for
the private sector and government.

Track 3: Federal Cybersecurity Workforce Structure

Lead: Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

The Office of Personnel Management is responsible for the Federal Cybersecurity Workforce Structure
track to ensure that federal agencies can attract, recruit and retain cybersecurity employees.

Track 4: Cybersecurity Workforce Training and Professional Development

Tri-Leads: Department of Defense (DoD), Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI),
Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The Cybersecurity Workforce Training and Professional Development track is led by the Department of
Defense, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Department of Homeland Security. Its
mission is to intensify training and professional development programs for existing federal cybersecurity
workforce. This track is divided into four subtracks that cover:

• Subtrack 1: General IT Use (Co-Leads: DHS, Federal CIO Council)

• Subtrack 2: IT Infrastructure, Operations, Maintenance, and Information Assurance (Co-Leads:
DoD, DHS)
• Subtrack 3: Domestic Law Enforcement and Counterintelligence (Lead: DoJ)
• Subtrack 4: Specialized Cybersecurity Operations (Lead: NSA)

Registration
Please register to attend the NICE Track 2 Coalition Task Force organizational meeting by visiting
http://cyberwatchcenter.org and follow the NICE Track 2 Coalition menu. The agenda, transportation and
accommodations logistics, and other details concerning the meeting are also posted on the website.
There will be no fee to attend this meeting. Attendees will be responsible for their own travel and lodging.

We look forward to seeing you on November 5.

Sincerely yours,

Dr. Robert J. Spear

Director of CyberWatch

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Disclaimer
This event is neither organized nor endorsed by NIST/NICE. This event is organized by leaders in
education and industry with an interest in promoting STEM education, and/or post secondary
cybersecurity education with a stake hold in the future cybersecurity workforce. Sponsors for this event
include Center for System Security and Information Assurance (CSSIA), Colloquium for Information
Systems Security Education (CISSE), CompTIA, Cyber Security Education Consortium (CSEC),
CyberWatch, EC-Council, (ISC)2, and the SANS Institute.