PINCKNEY – Pinckney Community Schools will become the latest Cyber Range Hub – and the only one connected to a high school in Michigan – with its Grand Opening on Dec. 7.
The Pinckney Cyber Training Institute will provide high school and college students as well as I.T. professionals a site to take cyber security courses, earn government recognized and required certificates and engage in cyber security training exercises in an effort to accelerate the supply of qualified cyber security talent in Michigan.
What’s more, the institute can provide software developers access to a secure virtual environment for product development and penetration testing.
“The cyber range is part of an important strategy to help grow kids’ exposure to careers in cybersecurity, but it also will help companies test and harden their products,” said Lisa Katz, Executive Director of Workforce Intelligence Network for Southeast Michigan. “It is a unique public-private partnership that stands to benefit the whole community and helps address an important talent in the region.”
The expansion of the Cyber Range is a critical strategy included in the 2015 Michigan Cyber Initiative, spearheaded by Gov. Snyder. Funding for the Cyber Range Hubs Advance Michigan Defense Collaborative grant was received from the Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment. The grant is made possible through a match funding from the MEDC Defense Center and the focus on cybersecurity as part of the MEDC Cyber Program.
“The Hub at Pinckney High School is an amazing opportunity to work with a community to enhance cyber skills and build a workforce pipeline, said William J. (Joe) Adams, PhD., Executive Director of the Michigan Cyber Range at Merit Network.
MEDC, in a statement, said it was proud to collaborate with Macomb County, the Macomb/St. Clair Workforce Development Board and WIN to continue to deliver the Michigan Cyber Range resource, powered by Merit, to develop and attract Michigan talent and businesses growing in the connected and autonomous space. Once fully operational, the Hub will serve as an economic stimulus for southeast Michigan, MEDC said.
“These investments support the development of the next generation of cyber talent in Michigan and create a safe environment for businesses to test and validate their new technologies,” said Jennifer Tisdale, MEDC Cyber Mobility Program Manager. “These hubs spur on business growth and attraction to our Michigan communities.”
Pinckney Cyber Training Institute Grand Opening Schedule of Events:
4 to 4:30 pm – VIP reception
4:30 to 5:30 pm – Presentation
5:30 pm – Ribbon Cutting
5:30 to 6:30 pm – Demonstrations
6:30 to 8 pm – Open to the Public
For more information, click on www.pinckneycti.org
