University of Central Florida Receives $1.5 Million for Cyber Lab

The University of Central Florida has received a $1.5 million donation from Lockheed Martin to develop a cyber innovation lab.

The innovation lab, which is scheduled to open in 2019, aims to train future cyber talent for aerospace and defense companies. The 970-foot lab – serving as a classroom, learning hub, and practice center – will train more than 350 students taking cyber programs at the university.

“Our contribution is an investment in the future of students at UCF, the city of Orlando and the broader aerospace community,” director of Lockheed Martin’s Cyber Defense, Range, and Resilience organization, Tom Warner said.

“The nation is facing a challenge filling the pipeline of cyber talent, and we see it as our duty to partner with communities, our customers and academia to create resources that inspire and prepare young people for a career in this critical field.”

A recent study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology has found a severe shortage of cybersecurity workers in the country. The study said more than 13,000 cybersecurity jobs were vacant in the state of Florida alone.

While commending the Lockheed’s move to donate for innovation lab, university president Dale Whittaker said, “this state-of-the-art space will help better prepare our students to safeguard and strengthen our country’s systems and networks.”

The lab will be inaugurated publicly in February 2019 during the Cyber Security Summit.