Maritime Cyber4Work

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Maritime Cyber4Work: Building Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity 

A Regional Alliances and Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate (RAMPS) Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development project

Project Leadership Team: Dr. Sarah Lee, Dr. Nick Rahimi, Dr. Aleise McGowan

Maritime Cyber4Work is a cybersecurity education and workforce development program designed to address the critical shortage of cybersecurity governance professionals in the Gulf Coast's maritime and critical infrastructure sectors. This innovative partnership between USM, Mississippi Coding Academies, and regional employers will develop the next generation of cybersecurity leaders equipped to secure smart ports, maritime logistics systems, and blue economy infrastructure.

The Mississippi Coding Academies are a non-profit organization, established in 2017, that brings statewide reach with established employer partnerships, extensive expertise in non-traditional learner engagement and CompTIA bootcamp delivery, and proven ability to deliver industry-aligned training and certification preparation. This partnership ensures program accessibility across underserved rural communities. 

The Maritime Cyber4Work program delivers workforce development:

Tier 1. Foundation Certification Bootcamps - CompTIA Security+ and  CySA+ certification training delivered through Mississippi Coding Academies partnership
Tier 2. Advanced Cybersecurity Governance Certificate Program - 18-credit graduate-level certificate focusing on cybersecurity policy, risk management, and compliance. 

Assessment: The program will collect and analyze comprehensive data on current cybersecurity governance skill gaps in maritime and critical infrastructure sectors, available supply of qualified cybersecurity professionals in Mississippi and Gulf Coast region, and impact of governance training on organizational cybersecurity maturity. Program data will contribute to CyberSeek's national database by providing detailed job role requirements for maritime cybersecurity positions, salary and career progression data, and regional demand patterns for cybersecurity governance skills.