Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Panel
May 19, 2023
9:00 am PST
Join us for an informative panel discussion on cybersecurity apprenticeships at the May NCyTE Membership Meeting. Cybersecurity apprenticeships are a highly effective approach to preparing students for employment, as they offer a combination of classroom instruction and real-world work experience. This creates a valuable pathway to building a strong workforce pipeline for both higher education institutions and employers.
Our panel of experts from the Coastline Community College, US Department of Labor, and CompTIA will share their experiences and offer recommendations for improving or starting an apprenticeship program. This is an excellent opportunity for faculty, administrators, and employers who are interested in developing a strong workforce and preparing students for success in the cybersecurity field.
Even if you are not a member, we encourage you to attend this must-attend event. Register now to secure your spot and gain valuable insights on implementing apprenticeship programs in cybersecurity. Register now!
Panelists:
Tobi West | Professor | Technology Department Chair at Coastline Community College
Professor Tobi West is a tenured full-time faculty member of Cybersecurity and Computer Information Systems at Coastline College in Southern California. She is the director of Coastline’s National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense education and serves on multiple national committees supporting cybersecurity workforce development. Ms. West assisted with the startup of the California Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Program at Coastline College which began in 2017.
In addition to teaching and developing education pathways, she enjoys organizing outreach events such as CyberTech Girls and GenCyber camps to raise awareness about cybersecurity career pathways. Her passion is encouraging and empowering students to find their academic pathways and achieve their career goals. Ms. West is also a Ph.D. student at Dakota State University, studying in the Cyber Defense program.
Richard Braden | Managing Director of Technology Apprenticeships, Strategic Workforce Development CompTIA, Inc.
As the Managing Director of CompTIA Apprenticeship for Tech, Richard Braden enables people to improve their lives through employment in the IT industry. Braden has a passion for developing workforce partnerships and employment opportunities in IT on behalf of underserved communities. Braden joined CompTIA in March 2021. Prior to joining CompTIA, Braden was an executive leader for several leading companies within the software industrials, medical device, legal publishing, and pharmaceutical industries. Most recently, he was the global leader of training and education sales at Honeywell Building Technologies.
Rich is an Adjunct Faculty at the University of MN College of Education and volunteers his time as a job transition instructor for Grace Church in Eden Prairie, MN.
Braden earned his BS and M. Ed. degrees from the University of Minnesota and an MBA from Northern Illinois University. He is a trained Lean Sigma Expert from Honeywell. Braden and his wife Sharon have three adult children and reside in St. Paul, MN.
Kimberly Hague | Business Liaison | US Department of Labor | Office of Apprenticeship
Kimberly Hauge is a business liaison for the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship. The Office of Apprenticeship promotes and oversees quality, accessible apprenticeship opportunities for workers seeking higher-skilled, higher-paying jobs and engages employers seeking to build a qualified, diverse, and inclusive workforce. In her current role, Kimberly also serves as a liaison for cybersecurity, IT and public service Registered Apprenticeship, and coordinates National Apprenticeship Week and other branding and awareness initiatives. Prior to her federal career, Kimberly was a senior policy analyst within the National Governors Association’s Center for Best Practices Economic Opportunity team.
Abigail Allen | Apprenticeship & Training Program Specialist | US Department of Labor | Office of Apprenticeship
Abigail Allen is an Apprenticeship and Training Program Specialist with the US Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship in Region 6, based in San Diego California. She serves as a National Industry Liaison for Agriculture, Telecommunications, and IT/Cybersecurity and the DEIA representative for her region. She is also the main point of contact for apprenticeship in the Pacific Territories and her portfolio includes registered apprenticeship programs in a variety of industries located from Micronesia to Washington DC.
Panel Moderator:
Dr. Costis Toregas
Director | Cyber Security and Privacy Research Institute | The George Washington University
Dr. Costis Toregas is a consultant to the National Cybersecurity Training and Education Center where he is responsible for East Coast representation to academia, industry and government, and international program expansion. He is the Director of the Cyber Security and Privacy Research Institute at The George Washington University, where he manages and conducts education, research and service projects in cybersecurity and privacy. His current research interests include cybersecurity risk assessment and organizational strategies, the role of insurance in cyber risk management, the use of block chain in Disaster Risk Reduction, apprenticeships and exploring a fuller utilization of Community Colleges in cybersecurity work force strategies. He is a Director for the National Cyber League and Women in Cyber Security.
NCyTE is funded by the National Science Foundation grant #2054724.
