White House National Cyber Director visits FTCC to spotlight best practices building the nation’s cyber workforce

By Stephanie Meador, posted Mar 20, 2024 on BizFayetteville.com

White House National Cyber Director Harry Coker Jr. visited FTCC to address the community and spotlight best practices for building the nation’s cybersecurity workforce. Photo by GFBJ

Today, March 20, White House National Cyber Director Harry Coker Jr. joined leaders at Fayetteville Technical Community College to speak to students, educators, local employers, cybersecurity leaders and members of the military and Veteran community to spotlight best practices for building the nation’s cybersecurity workforce.

“I’ve come to understand that everything comes down to people in cybersecurity. We need to find, hire, develop, empower and inspire more people to help us build more than half a million open cybersecurity positions that exist in our nation today,” stated Director Coker during today’s presentation.

Director Coker’s visit to FTCC served in part to encourage Veterans, military-connected spouses and students who don’t necessarily have a four-year college degree to pursue good-paying jobs in cybersecurity.

“The only way we can defend the foundation of our modern way of life is to ensure that everyone has a pathway, should they choose, to a career in cybersecurity. And, from what I've seen today, I can confidently say that North Carolina has the talent and North Carolina has the desire to serve. That being said, we must ensure that more of you have the training, encouragement and pathway to these jobs,” remarked Coker.

Fayetteville Technical Community College is the third largest community college in the 58-unit state system. FTCC, a recognized National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, is a co-founder of the Carolina Cyber Network.

The Carolina Cyber Network is a coalition of 18 two-year and four-year colleges and universities in North Carolina that focuses on training workers for the critical cybersecurity needs of the state’s public and private sectors.

Director Coker also met with members of the Carolina Cyber Network, a coalition of 18 two-year and four-year colleges and universities in North Carolina that focus on training workers for the critical cybersecurity needs of the state’s public and private sectors. FTCC is a co-founder of the CCN. Coker’s visit is the kickoff to a two-day convening of the CCN and its member schools at FTCC on Thursday and Friday, March 21-22.

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