INI Announces Education Partnership with US Cyber Games to Bridge the Cybersecurity Workforce Gap

Carnegie Mellon University’s Dr. Dena Haritos Tsamitis, director of the Information Networking Institute (INI) and the Barbara Lazarus Professor of Information Networking, has announced that the INI has signed on as an official education partner of the US Cyber Games®,  the nation’s leading program that brings talented cybersecurity athletes, coaches and industry leaders together to build an elite US Cyber Team® for global cybersecurity competition.

“Despite the current headlines about layoffs at major tech companies, there is still a talent gap for skilled and creative cybersecurity experts,” said Haritos Tsamitis. “The US Cyber Games shares the INI’s vision to build a better, more diverse cybersecurity workforce needed to protect our systems against cyberattacks. We look forward to working together to develop the next generation of Cyber Athletes.”

The US Cyber Games was founded by Katzcy, a certified Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB), in cooperation with the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) program at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The Season III program will launch on June 1, 2023 and is currently accepting registrations for Cyber Athletes.

 “While education, certification, and apprenticeship are important training instruments, games provide a safe and legal place to practice offensive and defensive techniques in a real-world environment with others,” said Jessica Gulick, US Cyber Games Commissioner and Katzcy CEO. “Working together with leading education partners in cybersecurity like the INI helps to ensure our mission to develop the next generation of a diverse and well-qualified community of cybersecurity talent.”

INI Alumnus Sears Schulz was recently named head captain of the Season II US Cyber Team.

Schulz is part of a team of 30 Cyber Athletes who will represent the USA at various global scrimmages and the International Cybersecurity Challenge (ICC) taking place at the IC3 games in San Diego, CA August 1-4, 2023. Sears was also CTF captain of the first-ever Season I US Cyber Team that traveled to Greece in July 2022 representing the USA at the 2022 ICC.

 About the US Cyber Games

US Cyber Games® is committed to inform and inspire the broader community on ways to develop tomorrow’s cybersecurity workforce. Our mission is to bring together elite cyber athletes, coaches, and industry leaders to help scout, train, and send a US Cyber Team® to take the gold at the International Cybersecurity Challenge (ICC). US Cyber Games is led by Katzcy, in cooperation with the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) program at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).