Michigan Governor Rick Snyder announced Monday that the state will open two new cyber hubs at Northern Michigan University and University of Michigan-Flint. The cyber hubs are an extension of the Michigan Cyber Range, which the state described as “the nation’s largest unclassified cyber range.” The new locations will serve as a hub for security training and workforce development, and hosting events, exercises, and training classes.
“This next installment in the Michigan Cyber Range continues the development of a robust statewide cybersecurity community,” Snyder said at the 2018 North American Cyber Summit in Detroit, where he announced the new hubs. “These regional cyber hubs position Michigan to be a leader in driving the next generation of cybersecurity protections and training a workforce able to support cyber initiatives across many industries.”
The new hubs, which are a partnership between the state of Michigan, the two universities, Merit Network, and the Michigan Defense Center, will open in the next six months.
“There are more than 300,000 unfilled cybersecurity-related jobs nationwide and 7,000 in Michigan,” said Steve VandenAvond, program manager and Northern Michigan University (NMU) vice president for Extended Learning and Community Engagement. “Our hub will offer accelerated paths to careers in the industry, augment NMU’s existing cyber defense academic program, and provide training and certification for professionals.”
The new cyber hubs join five existing locations in the Michigan Cyber Range Network, including ranges in Battle Creek, a Macomb Oakland University Incubator in Sterling Heights, Pinckney Community High School, Wayne State University, West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology and at the Detroit Arsenal with U.S. Army TARDEC.
“Michigan is focused on creating innovative solutions to prevent and respond to cyber threats, including building a holistic ‘cyber ecosystem’ in which both the public and private sectors work collaboratively,” said Sarah Tennant, strategic advisory in cyber initiatives at the MEDC. “These new hubs will continue the development of a robust cybersecurity community focused on connecting the interests of the cyber, automotive, defense and aerospace industries.”
