Edwards continues its commitment to cyber resiliency with a White House commitment to enhance the cybersecurity workforce as The Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD) welcomes new National Cyber Director, Harry Coker, Jr.
January 18, 2023 – Last month, Harry Coker, Jr. achieved a significant milestone in his career as he was confirmed by the Senate as the National Cyber Director at the White House. A Baltimore resident with an impressive background that includes 17 years of service as a Senior Executive at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and tenure as an Executive Director at the National Security Agency (NSA), Director Coker is a figure of remarkable experience and expertise.
On January 11, the team at Edwards Performance Solutions had the privilege of welcoming Director Coker at the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC). This was his first formal event since swearing in and brought together industry and academic partners to share their vision for cyber workforce development, including a moment of recognition for Edwards efforts. Throughout the day, Director Coker shared the need to make cyber careers more accessible and noted CCBC as “a place that welcomes, fosters, and empowers all students.” This echoes the economic imperative laid out in President Biden’s National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy (NCWES).
The NCWES aims to expand the national cyber workforce, increase diversity, as well as access to cyber education and training. As part of this initiative, many organizations have made pledges to increase the number of well-paying, middle-class cyber jobs, highlighting their overall commitment to the cybersecurity field. In 2024, Edwards is poised to make significant strides in professional training and development.
Edwards, a Maryland-based woman owned small business, remains integrally involved in Maryland organizations that champion cyber education/jobs and legislation, including the Cybersecurity Association of Maryland, Inc. and the Community College of Baltimore County Cybersecurity Advisory Board. As the only organization fully certified to support the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) – a unified standard for implementing cybersecurity across the defense industrial base – Edwards commits to nearly doubling the professionals trained in 2024, enabling more than 1,000 professionals to become CMMC-certified. Additionally, Edwards commits to hire more than 10 junior cybersecurity consultants, using Edwards senior cyber-SMEs for coaching and mentoring, while leveraging the Maryland EARN Program to enhance their skills through free, ongoing education.
This commitment to excellence and growth in cybersecurity is a testament to Edwards dedication to the industry. We are proud to call Maryland home and be part of the commitment to address the skills gap and applaud the White House Committee for acknowledging these efforts.