A new bill establishing the Cyber Warrior Diversity Program at Baltimore City Community College, Bowie State University, Coppin State University, Morgan State University, and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore took effect July 1, 2018.

Maryland Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford and Maryland Higher Education Commission Secretary James D. Fielder announced the partnership at a recent press conference held at Coppin State University in Baltimore.

Coppin State President Maria Thompson was joined by Aminta H. Breaux, president of Bowie State University and David Wilson, president of Morgan State University.

Maryland Senator Barbara Robinson, one of the bill’s co sponsors, and industry  representatives from the technology sector also participated in the press conference.

According to the bill, beginning 2020, and each year after, the Governor will include appropriation of $2.5 million in the Maryland Higher Education Commission budget to provide grants to the state’s historically black colleges and Baltimore City Community College for their cyber warrior diversity programs.

By December 1, 2019, Baltimore City Community College, Bowie State, Coppin State, Morgan State, and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore are required to hold a National Cyber Warrior Diversity Conference.

Over the next five years, computer and information technology occupations are projected to add about 557,100 new jobs in cloud computing, big data, and information security, the Bureau of Labor Statistics says.

Last spring, Northrop Grumman Corporation entered into a Department of Defense Mentor-Protégé agreement with Digit All City, located in Baltimore, to develop the Cyber Warrior Diversity Program at Morgan State University and Coppin State University.

The training in computer networking and security is designed to prepare individuals to defend information systems and networks and provide certifications in A+, Network+ and Security+, in accordance with the defense department Cyber Workforce Management Program.