“Cybersecurity is no longer just a tool to protect our technology, but to protect our way of life,” Rogers said. “From sending spies into our education institutions to targeting social media networks to gathering intel from private telecommunication companies, our adversaries will stop at nothing to try to steal our information and dismantle our critical infrastructure. Cybersecurity is the 21^st century battleground, and we can’t counter today’s adversaries without a topnotch cyber workforce.

“I applaud the DOD and NSA’s commitment to this mission. Last week, they announced their Cybersecurity Education Diversity Initiative, which works to increase access to cybersecurity education and expand mentorship programs at Minority Serving Institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This is a great step in the right direction to equip and build up the next generation of cyber experts.”

Rogers has long prioritized addressing the federal cyber-workforce shortage. In March, Rogers spoke with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Christopher Krebs at a Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation Subcommittee hearing about ways to increase the use of recruitment programs to fill cyber-workforce vacancies. In October of last year, during a keynote address at Cyberscoop’s DC CyberTalks, Rogers discussed the legislative landscape on cybersecurity issues and related workforce shortages.