Workforce diversity

Raytheon Offers Cybersecurity Scholarships for Underrepresented Communities

Raytheon Technologies’ intelligence and space unit has made $30,000 in cybersecurity scholarship funding available through the International Information System Security Certification Consortium.

As part of its Underrepresented Minorities in Cybersecurity Scholarship program, Raytheon Intelligence & Space will award $10,000 each to three persons from historically underrepresented communities in cybersecurity, ISC2 said Monday.

ISC2 added that the scholarship supports a larger effort to create more science, technology, education and mathematics career paths for historically underrepresented communities.

Jon Check, executive director of cyber protection solutions at RI&S, said that having a diverse cyber workforce is a way to address the rise in cybersecurity threats.

“The lack of diversity in STEM career fields is well documented as well as the business case for greater diversity, which leads to more creative brainstorming, problem solving, and new ideas,” said Check, a member of the Potomac Officers Club.

According to a Raytheon posting, the eligible minorities include but are not limited to women, Black, Native American, Asian American and Pacific Islander, Hispanic and LGBTQ+ communities as well as people with disabilities.

ISC2’s Center for Cyber Safety and Education charitable foundation will administer the funding and select students studying cybersecurity, information security or a similar field.

The funding will be sent to the awardees’ schools with instructions for it to be applied to tuition and fees.

Interested persons have until April 25 to submit an application. Applicants will be chosen based on their passion, merit and financial need, ISC2 said.