DOD to Strengthen Cyber Workforce With New Academic Engagement Office

The Office of the Chief Information Officer within the Department of Defense has set up the Cyber Academic Engagement Office as a central hub for collaboration on cyber initiatives between the DOD and academic institutions.

The office’s establishment comes in response to Section 1531 of the National Defense Authorization Act, Defense .gov reported.

Mark Gorak will head the CAEO while maintaining his responsibilities as the principal director for resources and analysis.

Gorak will oversee the coordination and funding for academic engagement programs, analyze performance in cyber education, establish related policies and procedures and evaluate the programs’ effectiveness.

According to the Pentagon, the CAEO is a crucial step toward enhancing the nation’s cybersecurity posture by developing the next generation of cyber professionals.

The initiative also aligns with the DOD CIO’s Cyber Workforce Strategy 2023-2037, which seeks to address the proliferation of cyberthreats and the greater need for workforce development within the Pentagon.

The strategy focuses on developing the cyber workforce using four pillars, namely, identification, recruitment, development and retention, guiding the DOD in its mission of cultivating the world’s most capable cyber workforce.