Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Center for Cybersecurity | University of West Florida
Skip to main content
University of West Florida lettermark University of West Florida logo University of West Florida logo
Dr. Eman El-Sheikh

Center for Cybersecurity

Cyber Logo Shield Only

Launching Florida’s Cyber Coast

At the UWF Center for Cybersecurity, we’re bridging the gap from the real world to the cyber world.

The UWF Center for Cybersecurity is a regional hub for cybersecurity education and research, including multidisciplinary programs and certificates, research opportunities, outreach activities, and industry partnerships.

 

USA National Security Agency Seal

National Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE-C)

The University of West Florida has been designated by the National Security Agency as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C).

 

UWF Center for Cybersecurity Awarded $1.3 Million Contract From CISA to Expand Cybersecurity Training

The University of West Florida Center for Cybersecurity has been awarded a $1.3 million contract from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, known as CISA, to further expand the cyber career pathways training through the CyberSkills2Work® Program. The in-depth training program is designed to help participants launch or advance careers in cybersecurity. Read more here.

 

Students in eSoc

Center for Cybersecurity awarded $750,000 NCAE-C Grant to Lead National Cybersecurity Workforce Development Task Force

The UWF Center for Cybersecurity was awarded a $750,000 grant from the National Security Agency National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) Program to lead the National Cybersecurity Workforce Development Task Force. The task force will bring together the eight NCAE-C-funded workforce development programs, including CyberSkills2Work®, an intensive cybersecurity education program led by UWF and designed to help individuals launch or advance cybersecurity careers. Read more here.

 

National Cybersecurity Employers Network for the CyberSkills2Work® Program Goes Live

We are thrilled to launch the National Cybersecurity Employers Network for the CyberSkills2Work® Program. The National Employers Network Portal allows employers to connect with program learners and graduates across the country, and post internship, apprenticeship, and job opportunities.

Employers can connect with 3300+ CyberSkills2Work® learners and alumni across the nation! Learners and alumni can post their resumes and highlight their clearances and certifications to employers.

Joining is FREE! Simply complete the brief application form and we will get back to you.

 

Registration for GenCyber Experience Summer Camps Opens

The first camp, Basic Training, will run from June 2 to June 6 for first-time participants to the GenCyber program.  This camp is designed as an introductory camp and will target new applicants or those with limited cybersecurity experience.

The second camp, Advanced Training, will run from June 9 to June 13 for our returning campers from previous years.  This camp is designed as an advanced concepts and skills camp which will build upon past camp experiences and exercises.

Each camp is FREE and can host a maximum of 35 participants. 

Visit https://uwf.edu/GenCyber for more information.

 

Students in eSoc

Center Offers FREE CyberSkills Exercises

The Center for Cybersecurity is offering hands-on Cyber Skills Exercises on the topics of MITRE ATT&CK and D3FEND and Prompt Like a Pro: A Hands-On Guide to AI Prompting. These one-day virtual sessions will be held on June 18th and July 30th, 2025, respectively, from 8 am - 4 pm (CST). All exercises are FREE for eligible transitioning military members, first responders, veterans, military spouses, and State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial (SLTT) government personnel.

Visit the CyberSkills Exercises page for details and registration information.

 

Educational Security Operations Center.

Open Platform Infrastructure for ICS Security and Regulatory Compliance Training for Faculty Members

The Center for Cybersecurity will host the Faculty Development Workshop on Open Platform Infrastructure for ICS Security and Regulatory Compliance on July 24-25, 2025, in downtown Pensacola. The face-to-face workshop will be offered to 15 faculty participants. It is designed to be a train-the-trainer type of faculty development. The participant will gain an understanding of fundamental techniques in defending Critical Infrastructures, primarily those in the Energy, Water/Wastewater, Transportation Systems, and Critical Manufacturing sectors.

Details and registration at https://bit.ly/ICSWorkshop2025.

 

Workforce Development Programs and Scholarships

The UWF Center for Cybersecurity is a national leader in cybersecurity workforce development and offers several programs and scholarships for training, upskilling, and reskilling.

National Cybersecurity Workforce Development Program (CyberSkills2Work®)

UWF leads the National Cybersecurity Workforce Development Program, CyberSkills2Work®, a nationally scalable and sustainable cybersecurity workforce program to rapidly expand the number of qualified cybersecurity professionals. 

The University of West Florida Center for Cybersecurity received a $2.5 million grant from the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) Program at the National Security Agency to expand the National Cybersecurity Workforce Development Program, CyberSkills2Work®. UWF and the NCAE-C Coalition will expand the program to prepare more than 1,520 newly credentialed cybersecurity professionals over two years.

The White House Office of the National Cyber Director released the ​first-ever National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy, which seeks to transform cyber education. The strategy highlights the UWF-led CyberSkills2Work Program® as a model to facilitate public-private partnerships ​and greater participation by veterans in the cyber workforce.

This program is part of the National Cybersecurity Workforce Development Program, CyberSkills2Work®, and funded by the National Security Agency National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) Program and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

UWF CyberSkills2WorkTM Program

As a part of the National Cybersecurity Workforce Development Program, the UWF CyberSkills2WorkTM program provides free cybersecurity training and career development for eligible transitioning military, first responders, and veterans to prepare and transition them into rewarding cybersecurity jobs in our nation’s Critical Infrastructure Sectors. Learn more and apply now at https://uwf.edu/cyberskills2work.

This program is part of the National Cybersecurity Workforce Development Program, CyberSkills2Work®, and funded by the National Security Agency National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) Program and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

UWF Florida Cybersecurity Training Program

The UWF Florida Cybersecurity Training Program, offered by the University of West Florida (UWF) Center for Cybersecurity, provides FREE upskilling and reskilling cybersecurity training for eligible Florida, state university, state college, K12, county, and city employees. Learn more at https://uwf.edu/cybertraining.

Academic Program Scholarship Opportunities

ACES SFS Program

The NSF CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service (SFS) program aims to recruit and train the next generation of highly skilled cybersecurity professionals. The program's goal is a full student placement in government cybersecurity positions with at least 80 percent of scholarship recipients securing placement in an executive agency. The program emphasizes recruitment, retention, and advancement of underrepresented and underserved populations including women and veterans.

DoD Cyber Service Academy Scholarship Program

In 2001, the National Defense Authorization Act established the DoD Cybersecurity Scholarship (formally renamed the DoD Cyber Service Academy Scholarship Program in 2024). The law is enacted to promote the education, recruitment, and retention of rising junior and senior undergraduate and graduate/doctoral students in cybersecurity studies. Students selected as CyberScholars will receive the full cost of tuition, books (from the institution/degree-specific required book list, not books that are optional for the class), required fees (including health care), and a stipend to cover room and board.

In The News