West Florida News

U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) announced a new cybersecurity training program at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, funded by $2 million in federal funding secured by Rep. Steube. The program will prioritize admission for military veterans, first responders, and critical infrastructure employees residing in Florida’s 17th Congressional District, followed by other qualified district residents.

Rep. Steube made the announcement alongside University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee Regional Chancellor Karen Holbrook and representatives from various veterans groups.

“There are nearly 30,000 unfilled cybersecurity job openings in the State of Florida, representing an in-demand field with great job security into the future. It’s an honor to be part of connecting military veterans and others who have served our community with this new opportunity. I’m thankful to the USF leadership for their foresight and careful planning to execute this new program,” said Rep. Steube. “As your representative, it’s my duty to ensure we can bring as many of your federal taxpayer dollars back to FL-17 as possible, and this project will certainly make a difference for many Floridians and our workforce in Southwest Florida.”

USF President Rhea Law highlighted the increasing need for trained professionals in cybersecurity due to growing threats: “As cybersecurity threats become more prevalent and sophisticated, the need for professionals who are trained in reducing cyber risks continues to grow. The University of South Florida’s expertise and partnerships in the business community make us uniquely positioned to help address this need, and we are proud to offer this innovative certificate program for those who are looking to upskill and advance in their careers,” she said. “We are grateful to Congressman Steube for his leadership in helping secure the funding to create this program and for his continued support of USF, military veterans and first responders.”

Rep. Steube submitted a request during the FY23 Congressional appropriations cycle that resulted in $2 million being allocated for USF’s Corporate Training and Professional Education team. This funding will develop a remote Information Security Governance, Risk, and Compliance Analyst program that will be free of cost for its first cohort of participants.