Nearly a dozen Federal agencies and prominent tech-focused companies are joining forces to bring recent college graduates into government cybersecurity positions for two-year terms as part of the Cybersecurity Talent Initiative announced today by the Partnership for Public Service.
Under the initiative, current college students will be guaranteed a placement with one of 11 participating Federal agencies for two years. After completing those two years of services, participants will be eligible for cybersecurity positions at Microsoft, Mastercard, and Workday, as well as up to $75,000 in student loan assistance once they join the private sector. The Partnership for Public Service will manage the program.
For participants in the program, starting salaries will range between $47,000 and $90,000, and will be paid by the agency. Participants will also receive leadership development courses and mentors from the public and private sector.
“The federal government has fallen more and more behind in the race for cyber talent, and this program will help get it back on track,” said Max Stier, president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service.
The skills gap in cybersecurity and IT continues to be one of the main issues for Federal IT. The Federal Cyber Reskilling Academy, established in November 2018, aims to reskill current Federal workers outside the IT field for cyber analyst positions.
Participating agencies in the Cybersecurity Talent Initiative include:
- Central Intelligence Agency
- Department of Defense
- Department of Energy
- Department of Health and Human Services
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Federal Election Commission
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Naval Intelligence
- Small Business Administration
For agencies and companies interested in participating in the Cybersecurity Talent Initiative, the door is still open.
“We invite more corporations and government agencies to join us in this critical endeavor and give the best and brightest talent an opportunity to get a step up, enhance their skills and pave their own career paths,” said Ron Green, chief security officer at Mastercard.