A federally funded coalition uniting academia, government, and industry to close America's cybersecurity workforce gap - at no cost to participants.
A nation where qualified cybersecurity professionals protect every sector of critical infrastructure — and where anyone with the drive to serve has a clear path to get there.
CyberSkills2Work unites U.S. colleges and universities to prepare the next generation of cyber professionals. The program provides skills-based training and job-seeking support to transitioning military members, veterans, first responders, government employees pursuing careers in cybersecurity. By connecting trained professionals with employers in critical infrastructure sectors, CyberSkills2Work bridges the gap between workforce demand and qualified talent.
CyberSkills2Work is built on a nationwide coalition of educational institutions, government agencies, and private-sector employers working toward a shared goal: a stronger American cybersecurity workforce.
The program's training curricula are developed and delivered by scholars at colleges and universities designated as National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) — a federal recognition that signals the highest standards in cyber education. The UWF Center for Cybersecurity and AI leads and coordinates the coalition's efforts.
These institutions collaborate with more than 50 organizations in the National Cybersecurity Employers Network, ensuring that training is grounded in real workforce needs. All curricula align with the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Framework, the federal standard defining cybersecurity work roles and the skills required to fill them.
CyberSkills2Work is led by the University of West Florida and funded by the DoD CIO Cyber Academic Engagement Office and the NSA National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity Program. The program was also previously funded by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
This federal investment enables CyberSkills2Work to offer high-caliber, skills-based training pathways and cyber career resources at no cost to accepted participants — removing financial barriers for those committed to entering the cybersecurity field.
The National Cybersecurity Workforce Development Program, CyberSkills2Work, is led by the University of West Florida and funded by the DoW CIO Cyber Academic Engagement Office and the NSA National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity Program.