New cybersecurity research and training facility opens in Texas

A new cybersecurity research and training facility opened in Texas this month to provide professional development opportunities and address other industry needs. 

The Central Texas Cyber Range center was created in partnership between Baylor University and McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas. The center, based on Baylor’s campus, will specialize in applied research and education, according to a press release.

“We believe that Central Texas can be a leader in developing a qualified workforce to address this pressing need for cybersecurity research and training in our state and in our nation, and the Central Texas Cyber Range is an important step forward in this pursuit,” Baylor President Linda Livingstone said in the release. 

The Central Texas Cyber Range aims to address cybersecurity training and education for every skill level. A proposed degree in cybersecurity with a pathway from McLennan Community College to Baylor is already in the works. The center is also planning other programming and outreach opportunities with nearby schools.

Over the summer, the Central Texas Cyber Range hosted its first summer camp for high school students, and nearly 70% of the participants were from underrepresented communities, according to the release. Outside of professional development opportunities for both the private and public sectors, the center hopes to host community-focused seminars to bridge gaps between workforce needs and community training opportunities.

“Our faculty and students are excited about the partnership with Baylor University as we work together to nurture future leaders in Central Texas who will make a difference in combating cybersecurity threats and in developing new research and techniques to respond to these threats,” McLennan Community College President Johnette McKown said in the release. 

Both Baylor and McLennan Community College hold designations as National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defence by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security. The center’s research draws from the expertise of faculty from both campuses in areas of cyber resilience and security innovation.