The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded a team led by the University of Texas at San Antonio (USTA) a $3 million grant to develop and deliver cybersecurity training through the Continuing Training Grants (CTG) Program, the university said Tuesday.
The grant aims to develop and deliver cybersecurity training to support the National Preparedness Goal of a secure and resilient nation, USTA said. The university’s Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security (CIAS) leads the team along with four further university partners that make up the National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium (NCPC).
The NCPC will produce new training courses based on current and emerging cyber threats. Identified courses include those to address information sharing and the operations of an information sharing and analysis organization, malware response and recover, cybersecurity fundamentals, defense, incident response and recovery techniques, and other needed courses, USTA said.
Greg White, director of the CIAS and professor of computer science, and Natalie Sjelin, associate director of training programs for the CIAS, are personally leading the grant effort.
“UTSA is thrilled to have been selected to lead the CTG efforts. Our team continues to work to improve our nation’s cybersecurity through innovative, high-quality training efforts,” White said in a statement.
“We are very excited to begin the development of these trainings to equip our States, Locals, Territories and Tribes with the tools needed to strengthen their cybersecurity posture,” Sjelin added.
DHS awarded the grant to the NCPC following a competitive selection process. The university highlighted that it has previously worked with the department and FEMA on CTG awards since 2004.
“UTSA is leading the charge to ensure our first responders and state and local governments have the ability to prevent and respond to cyberattacks,” Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), the lawmaker whose district includes UTSA, affirmed in a statement.
“With this substantial funding, UTSA will be able to share its expertise more broadly and bolster the safety of communities across the nation,” he added.