New cyber security, military science workforce programs approved for Nevada students

With three Carson High School NJROTC teams headed this month to the semifinals of CyberPatriot, the Air Force Association’s National Youth Cyber Defense Competition, there is now more room for career development in cybersecurity and military science fields for CHS students, thanks to recent career and technical education programs approved by the state's board of education.

Cybersecurity and Military Science studies will be available to school districts in the 2018-2019 school year. This is a step to ensure that school districts in Nevada offer courses that align with the most sought after jobs, said Greg Bortolin, spokesman for the Nevada Department of Education.

Nevada is embarking on a statewide effort to prioritize career readiness for high school students. As a part of the New Skills for Youth grant from JP Morgan Chase, Nevada was one of the 10 states selected in 2016 to receive a $2 million grant to strengthen career focused education in high schools and postsecondary institutions.

"Students today have more diverse career opportunities than ever before," Dawn Burns, chief strategy officer for New Skills for Youth, said. "By 2020, 64 percent of new jobs will require more than a high school diploma. Yet only half of these jobs will require a four-year college degree. To prepare students, Nevada is investing in improving and expanding career pathways, increasing opportunities for student internships and apprenticeships, developing teacher externships and creating resources to connect curriculum with real-world applications."

Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs are designed to equip students with the skills necessary for high-demand jobs that offer living wages in Nevada. Completing the Cybersecurity program coursework includes fundamentals in computer forensics and cybersecurity lifecycle and provides opportunities to achieve the following industry credentials: IT certification exams such as CompTIA’s A+ and Networking +.

"The need for cybersecurity professionals is growing in Nevada, both in state government and in the private sector,” said Brian Mitchell, Director of the Governor’s Office of Science, Innovation and Technology (OSIT). “In Nevada, the projected growth rate in the number of jobs requiring cybersecurity skills through 2022 is 30 percent. These jobs have an average wage of about $85,000.”

The Nevada Department of Education now recognizes the program of study in Military Science through JROTC as a CTE program. The Military Science program follows the requirements of the Department of Defense, and will cover topics on leadership, personal growth, communication, core values, and citizenship.

Additionally, there is an Automation Technology CTE program in development that integrates mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and robotic systems; programmable logic controllers; and principles of automation as applied in multiple industries. The Nevada Department of Education anticipates Automation Technology CTE will be available in 2019.

In related matters, three teams from the CHS NJROTC in Carson City are headed to the Semifinals of CyberPatriot, the Air Force Association’s National Youth Cyber Defense Competition.

Team One is comprised of Nevan McIlwee, Amber Murray, Angela Marquez-Martinez, Kyle Navarro, Christopher Paluch, and Cristian Ramirez. Team Two is Ryan Cooley, Junior Cronan, Cash Farnworth, Mary Milburn, Pinky Nguyen, and Tai Phan. Team Three is Bryce Ayers, Jared Deselms, Chloe Empeno, Kenny Fox, Manuel Hoyos Velazquez, Aaron Portillo, and Marcus Yeager.

Established by AFA in 2009, the CyberPatriot National Youth Cyber Education Program is designed to excite, educate, and motivate students toward careers in cybersecurity and other science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines critical to America’s future.

CyberPatriot’s core program, the National Youth Cyber Defense Competition, challenges teams of students across the US, Canada, and from DoDD schools abroad, to find and resolve cybersecurity vulnerabilities in simulated environments. At the State level competition, held Jan. 19 thru 21 within the All Service Division, 192 teams competed. CHS NJROTC results include Team Two placing 1st, Team One placing 2nd, and Team Three placing 3rd. The CHS NJROTC teams are among the 58 teams to have advanced to the regional semi-finals round to be held this month.

Led by Coach Chief Petty Officer Daniel Ingram, USN (ret), CHS NJROTC students excelled in the CyberPatriot X All Service Division qualification rounds, demonstrating teamwork, critical thinking skills, and technical knowledge key to a successful career in cybersecurity. Following the Semifinals, the top 13 All Service Division teams will advance to the CyberPatriot X National Finals Competition in Baltimore, MD, with an all-expenses-paid trip to compete for national recognition and scholarships.

Information on these and all CTE programs can be found in the 2018-19 Nevada Career and Technical Education Course Catalog here. Information can be found here on growing in-demand careers in Nevada.