The Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC) said the recent release of its new white paper regarding the establishment of a cyber workforce framework seeks to address industry personnel shortfalls.
The document, “Growing a Stronger Federal Cyber Workforce” was released at a virtual event sponsored by Dakota State University (DSU).
Sen. Angus King (I-ME) and Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) serve as CSC co-chairs.
“Without talented cyber professionals working the keyboard, all the cutting-edge technology in the world cannot protect the United States in cyberspace,” King and Gallagher noted in the report’s executive summary. “If we do not take action now to ensure that our talented and experienced workforce continues to grow, we are leaving our country vulnerable to future cyber attacks.”
The report determined the development of a federal cyber workforce strategy should include federal departments and agencies possessing flexible tools for organizing and managing the workforce to adapt to each organization’s individual mission while providing coherence; focus on the programs making public service an attractive prospect to talented individuals; draw from a broad array of educational backgrounds and create opportunities for employees to gain knowledge and experience as they work; and take a nuanced view of retention, recognizing enabling talent to move flexibly between the public and private sectors enables a stronger cyber workforce overall.
“We need to focus on growing cyber talent among those in the earliest stages of their K-12 schooling, but we also need mentors–diverse mentors–who allow our young people to envision a fulfilling career for themselves in the cyber workforce,” CSC Commissioner Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI) said during the DSU event. “We can’t post an entry-level cyber job and expect individuals applying to have three years of experience.”