Jennifer Kleman

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So far Jennifer Kleman has created 52 blog entries.

Student Spotlight: Kailyn Roach

Kailyn Roach

Student: Kailyn Roach

School: Jupiter High School

District: Palm Beach County

Meet Kailyn Roach, a standout cybersecurity student at Jupiter High School in Palm Beach County, Florida. Kailyn has recently accepted a position as a programming intern with Neuro Building Systems.

Over the past three years, she has actively participated in the CSHS cybersecurity program and consistently competed in academic competitions, excelling in science and technology courses. With an impressive 4.96 GPA, Kailyn also shines outside the classroom as a competitive soccer player—earning the President’s Cup three years in a row—and holds multiple certifications in Java, JavaScript, and various engineering disciplines.

Beyond academics and athletics, Kailyn enjoys surfing, skiing, and practicing martial arts. Passionate about entering the field of cybersecurity, she hopes to contribute to advancements in ophthalmology by bridging the gap between medical professionals and the technology that supports them.

Do you teach a great student who should be featured in our Student Spotlight?
Please complete the form below!

Student Spotlight: Kailyn Roach2025-06-17T15:54:41-04:00

Teacher Spotlight: Christopher Aaron

Christopher Aaron

Teacher: Christopher Aaron

County: Nassau

Chris Aaron is a standout teacher in Nassau County. This year marks a double milestone: it’s Chris’s first year as an educator and the district’s inaugural year offering cybersecurity and network security courses. He holds a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity management and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in the same field.

Chris says, “Cyber education plays a vital role in equipping individuals to navigate the digital landscape securely and responsibly, empowering them to protect themselves and their data from evolving threats.”

Chris shares that one of the most rewarding aspects of teaching cybersecurity is seeing students grow in their confidence in staying safe online. Supporting this development is especially fulfilling in a constantly evolving field and full of opportunities for continued learning and advancement.

We are so grateful for Chris’s dedication to cybersecurity education and his commitment to students across Florida.

Would you like to be featured in our Teacher Spotlight? To nominate yourself or another deserving teacher, complete the interest form below!

Teacher Spotlight: Christopher Aaron2025-06-12T09:04:59-04:00

NIST Report Progress

Photo of Dr. Sriram Chellapan

Sustainable, Hands-on and Multi-disciplinary Cybersecurity Skills Training to Meet Workforce Needs of Critical Infrastructure Sectors in Florida

A Report of Project Progress by Cyber Florida at USF

In Spring 2024, Cyber Florida was awarded a two-year, $200,000 grant from National Institute of Standards and Technology for their project – “Sustainable, Hands-on and Multi-disciplinary Cybersecurity Skills Training to Meet Workforce Needs of Critical Infrastructure Sectors in Florida” as part of their Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate (RAMPS) Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development (RAMPS Program).

The overall goals of the project are a) solicit core cybersecurity workforce needs both within and across various critical infrastructure (CI) sectors in Florida; b) analyze and summarize findings across entry level workforce needs; c) design a semester-level and practical/ hands-on cybersecurity training program for students that is to meet entry-level CI workforce needs; d) connect the first cohort of trained students to critical infrastructure sectors via interns and full-time positions; e) evaluate outcomes across multiple metrics including student self-assessment, industry expert assessment, program sustainability and scalability across institutions and CI sectors in FL.

Based on survey responses, we identified tangible gaps in entry level workforce needs across CI sectors in Florida in a broad sense, and started designing a 14 weeks hands on training program for students. The program was also designed keeping in mind the components of the Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity (NICE Framework) published on March 5, 2024 by NIST. The framework is publicly available at and contains Task, Knowledge, and Skill (TKS) Statements; Work Role Categories and Work Roles; and Competency Areas in the realm of cybersecurity workforce. The framework is available at https://www.nist.gov/itl/applied-cybersecurity/nice/nice-framework-resource-center.

We recruited our first cohort of five students for this semester-level program from the newly formed Bellini College of AI, Cybersecurity and Computing (CAICC) at the University of South Florida in January 2025. The five students went through our 14 week program centered on three foundational pillars – a) Basic Security Blue Team Level 1 (BTL1) Training for one month; b) Industrial Control Systems Foundational Course via the Aligned Realistic Cyberattack Simulation (ARCS) platform offered by SimSpace for one month; and c) ICS/SCADA Security Essentials course offered by the SANS institute. Students are eligible for a BTL1 certificate, and a Global Industrial Cyber Security Professional Certification (GICSP) in Industrial Control Systems upon completing a) and c). In addition, throughout the program, students are exposed to backdoors and breaches exercises, participate in mock security operations center (SOC) intelligence briefs, and also read state of the art research papers and trends in cyber centered critical infrastructure protection.

Multiple critical infrastructure entities in Florida participated in student engagement activities in Spring 2025. These include Tampa Airport, Tampa General Hospital, Talquin Coop and Seminole Electric. We have our next cohort of students starting in Fall 2025, and you are welcome to engage with Cyber Florida/ our students in the program. Post training, we expect our students to meet internship and entry-level workforce requirements in cybersecurity for critical infrastructure sectors in Florida.

NIST Report Progress2025-06-04T13:01:30-04:00

CIPP Update: June 2025

CI Mapping

Cyber Florida has employed geospatial analytics and cybersecurity assessments to improve visibility into Florida’s vital infrastructure, enabling more effective coordination, risk mitigation, and rapid response efforts across state agencies.

Leveraging advanced technology to identify critical infrastructures significantly improves state leadership’s situational awareness and decision-making in all-hazards planning and preparedness.

Critical Infrastructure Protection Program Timeline

CIPP Update: June 20252025-06-04T12:43:42-04:00

Student Spotlight: Lucien Civil

Student: Lucien Civil

School: Barbara Goleman Senior High School

District: Miami-Dade

Since joining Barbara Goleman Senior High School, Lucien has become a cornerstone of the cybersecurity magnet program. His dedication to mastering cyber skills is unparalleled. He consistently takes the initiative to explore networking and hacking projects at home and shares his progress enthusiastically.

Beyond his technical pursuits, Lucien shines as a senior member of the Barbara Goleman Band, inspiring younger musicians with his leadership. His dual passion for music and cybersecurity fuels his innovative approach to problem-solving.

According to Lucien, he wants to go into cybersecurity to “utilize his problem-solving skills to solve complex security issues.” Lucien plans to pursue a degree in electrical engineering at FAMU after graduation.

Do you teach a great student who should be featured in our Student Spotlight?
Please complete the form below!

Student Spotlight: Lucien Civil2025-05-28T09:40:16-04:00

Teacher Spotlight: Tim McAllister

Teacher: Tim McAllister

County: Clay

Meet Tim McAllister! Tim is a top cybersecurity teacher in Clay County, Florida. Now entering his third year of teaching, Tim’s journey began at SUNY Maritime College in the Bronx, NY, where he honed his skills aboard various vessels, including tugboats, oil tankers, and dredges. Early on, he recognized how technology and the internet transformed navigation, administration, and record-keeping.

During his deployments around the world with the U.S. Navy, cybersecurity emerged as a mission-critical priority. This knowledge inspired him to establish a cyber team within his Navy JROTC unit at the school where he now teaches, leading them to compete in CyberPatriot for the first time this year.

Tim is excited to integrate Cyber Florida’s offerings into his classroom, helping students explore the vast capabilities, advantages, and vulnerabilities of cyberspace—and sparking their interest in pursuing dynamic careers in the cyber field.

Thanks for all you do, Tim!

Would you like to be featured in our Teacher Spotlight? To nominate yourself or another deserving teacher, complete the interest form below!

Teacher Spotlight: Tim McAllister2025-05-21T15:50:06-04:00

Cyber Florida Partners with Idaho National Laboratory

General McKenzie and Zach Tudor

Strategic partnership between Idaho National Laboratory and Cyber Florida bolsters cybersecurity, nurtures talent

May 20, 2025—Tampa, Fla—The Center for Cybersecurity at the University of South Florida, commonly known as Cyber Florida, and the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) have agreed to collaborate on critical infrastructure cyber mitigation and workforce development.

INL and Cyber Florida signed a memorandum of understanding to formalize the collaboration late last month.

One of INL’s primary focus areas is securing the nation’s critical infrastructure, while Cyber Florida positions Florida as a national leader in cybersecurity through education, research and outreach.

This agreement allows the state to use INL’s world-class critical infrastructure resiliency and cybersecurity capabilities focused on enhancing local, state and national preparedness in alignment with the Trump administration’s executive order titled, “Achieving Efficiency Through State and Local Preparedness.” The collaboration will focus on cybersecurity risk mitigation, operational technology and industrial control systems, defense industrial base sector cyber risk, workforce development and more.

“Cyber Florida is committed to fostering innovation and developing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals,” said retired Marine Corps Gen. Frank McKenzie, executive director of Cyber Florida. “This partnership with the Idaho National Laboratory underscores our shared dedication to strengthening our nation’s critical infrastructure and advancing the workforce needed to meet emerging cyber threats. Together, we are preparing for the future of cybersecurity in both the public and private sectors.”

INL and the state of Florida have previously collaborated to enhance cybersecurity for critical infrastructure sectors such as energy and transportation. In 2023, Cyber Florida and INL implemented the Critical Infrastructure Risk Assessment, leveraging the Department of Homeland Security’s Cyber Security Evaluation Tool, developed by INL, to analyze the cyber readiness of Florida’s 16 critical infrastructure sectors. The study, conducted on behalf of the Florida Legislature, offered recommendations to improve risk-based decision-making, inform state-level policy and support funding. The same year, INL signed a separate agreement with the state of Florida’s Department of Management Services alongside Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez.

“As states increasingly take on the responsibility of protecting both physical and cyber infrastructure, INL is poised to support local risk-informed decision-making across the country,” said Zach Tudor, associate laboratory director for National and Homeland Security at INL. “Florida’s critical infrastructure network is vast and expansive, and our collaboration aims to enhance its resilience and security ensuring the state’s critical functions remain dependable.”

About Idaho National Laboratory
Battelle Energy Alliance manages INL for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy. INL is the nation’s center for nuclear energy research and development, and also performs research in each of DOE’s strategic goal areas: energy, national security, science and the environment. For more information, visit www.inl.gov. Follow us on social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.

About Cyber Florida at USF
The Florida Center for Cybersecurity at the University of South Florida, commonly referred to as Cyber Florida at USF, was established by the Florida Legislature in 2014. Its mission is to position Florida as a national leader in cybersecurity through comprehensive education, cutting-edge research, and extensive outreach. Cyber Florida leads various initiatives to inspire and educate current and future cybersecurity professionals, advance applied research, and enhance cybersecurity awareness and safety of individuals and organizations.

Media Contacts
Jennifer Kleman, 863-398-5610, jennifer437@cyberflorida.org
Lisa Wilmore, 616-540-8348, lisa.wilmore@inl.gov

Cyber Florida Partners with Idaho National Laboratory2025-05-21T08:23:45-04:00

Cyber Florida Partners with CyberUSA

Cyber Florida at USF Partners with CyberUSA, Strengthening National Cybersecurity Collaboration

May 20, 2025—Tampa, Fla—Cyber Florida at USF has partnered with CyberUSA, marking a significant step toward enhancing national cybersecurity coordination and resilience. This partnership will focus on information sharing, workforce development, and critical infrastructure protection.

Cyber Florida at USF, established by the Florida Legislature and housed at the University of South Florida’s Tampa campus, is dedicated to positioning Florida as a national leader in cybersecurity through comprehensive education, cutting-edge research, and extensive outreach. The organization works across public and private sectors to lead workforce development programs, advance applied research, and conduct outreach to enhance cyber safety and resiliency throughout the state.

“CyberUSA is thrilled to partner with Cyber Florida,” said Adam Rak, executive director of CyberUSA. “Their leadership in cybersecurity education and innovation will greatly enhance our collective efforts to strengthen the nation’s cyber defenses.”

James Jacobs, director of partnerships & policy at Cyber Florida, emphasized the significance of the collaboration: “Partnering with CyberUSA enables us to collaborate across the country in efforts to enhance cybersecurity. We are excited to share our expertise with CyberUSA.”

Ernie Ferraresso, senior director of Cyber Florida, emphasized the strategic importance of the partnership. “In our interconnected world, cybersecurity is a shared responsibility. Our partnership with CyberUSA underscores our commitment to collaborative solutions that protect our state and nation’s digital infrastructure.”

About Cyber Florida at USF
The Florida Center for Cybersecurity at the University of South Florida, commonly referred to as Cyber Florida at USF, was established by the Florida Legislature in 2014. Its mission is to position Florida as a national leader in cybersecurity through comprehensive education, cutting-edge research, and extensive outreach. Cyber Florida leads various initiatives to inspire and educate current and future cybersecurity professionals, advance applied research, and enhance cybersecurity awareness and safety of individuals and organizations.

For more information about Cyber Florida, visit https://cyberflorida.org/

About CyberUSA
CyberUSA is a trusted forum where American organizations can collaborate on solutions to protect us all. By transcending local, state, and national security silos, we ensure that leaders and practitioners have the best possible resources to safeguard their assets.

CyberUSA membership amplifies cyber defense effectiveness through a community of communities that scales and accelerates information sharing to an unprecedented level. Membership provides access to reliable resources available nowhere else, including a national threat-sharing platform. The organization is dedicated to proactive coordination of public and private efforts to shape the education, innovation, and policy landscapes at the regional and federal levels.

For more information about CyberUSA, visit https://www.cyberusa.us/

Media Contacts

Cyber Florida: Cyber Outreach Manager Jennifer Kleman, APR, CPRC jennifer437@cyberflorida.org

CyberUSA: ‍CyberUSA Public Relations Jennifer Priest jpriest@virtualinc.com

Cyber Florida Partners with CyberUSA2025-05-21T08:24:04-04:00

Teacher Spotlight: Dan Trembley

Teacher: Dan Trembley

School: Dunbar High School

County: Lee

Introducing Dan Trembley, a true educational trailblazer in Lee County! Since 2005, Dan has been a founding force behind the Academy for Technology Excellence at Dunbar High School, instrumental in shaping the future of information and cybersecurity professionals. His visionary approach empowers students to earn prestigious professional credentials before graduating high school. Beyond the standard Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite certifications, Dan’s protégés have achieved impressive credentials from top industry leaders such as Certiport, Cisco, CompTIA, IBM, and Microsoft.

As a distinguished National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy graduate, Dan holds a Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity from the esteemed JB Speed School of Engineering at the University of Louisville. His expertise and dedication have earned h   im accolades from renowned organizations like the Texas Computer Educators Association, Microsoft EduCon, and the International Society for Technology in Education. Dan’s commitment to excellence has also made him a 2025 Cyber.org Educator of the Year finalist. We are immensely proud of Dan’s invaluable contributions to cybersecurity education and his profound impact on students across Florida!

Would you like to be featured in our Teacher Spotlight? To nominate yourself or another deserving teacher, complete the interest form below!

Teacher Spotlight: Dan Trembley2025-04-15T10:19:50-04:00

CyberLaunch 2025

CyberLaunch Logo 2025

Florida’s Largest High School Cyber Competition Breaks Records, Inspires Futures

Nearly 1,000 high school students, teachers, and chaperones from across the state descended on the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando on April 4 for Cyber Florida’s annual CyberLaunch, the nation’s largest in-person, state-sponsored high school cybersecurity competition. And the excitement on the competition floor? Unmatched!

Hosted by Cyber Florida, CyberLaunch 2025 brought together students from 99 schools across 49 districts, including Florida’s five largest school districts and its smallest—LaFayette. In just its second year, CyberLaunch has grown into a premier showcase of talent and opportunity, offering a platform for students to shine and discover future careers in cybersecurity.

I would like to take this opportunity and thank all of Cyber Florida for putting this together.
It really is a wonderful opportunity and platform for the cybersecurity students of Florida to shine.
— Maria Halley Hernandez, John A. Ferguson Senior High School
The Ultimate Cyber Kickstart

Designed to familiarize high school students with the exciting world of cybersecurity, CyberLaunch featured a hands-on capture-the-flag (CTF) style challenge, inspiring keynotes, breakout sessions for educators, and opportunities for students to interact with industry professionals to gain insights into cybersecurity careers.

This year’s event also welcomed 18 career and technical education administrators from 12 school districts, highlighting growing support from school systems eager to expand cybersecurity learning in classrooms.

CyberLaunch 2025 wasn’t just about what happened in one day—it was the culmination of weeks of preparation. Participating teachers and students received access to a library of practice materials and classroom-ready activities that helped demystify cybersecurity concepts and build skills leading up to the big day.

Thank you for an amazing event. My students smiled the entire way home.
We plan on starting an IT Club next Sept.
– Capt. Tim McAllister, Orange Park High School
A Mission in Motion

CyberLaunch is more than a one-day event—it’s a key part of Cyber Florida’s mission to cultivate a robust cybersecurity workforce and create opportunities for every Florida student. Thanks to support from the Florida Legislature and private donors, Cyber Florida ensured that access to this event was obtainable by making the event free to all students and schools.

And the outcomes speak for themselves: students walked away energized, curious, and, in many cases, ready to learn more about the field, and start IT/cybersecurity clubs if they didn’t have one in place already. Teachers gained tools to help bring cybersecurity into their classrooms. And Florida took another big step forward in building digital resilience from the ground up.

And the Winners Are…

After an intense day of solving puzzles, cracking codes, and working as a team under pressure, a few schools rose to the top. We’re proud to announce the winning teams of CyberLaunch 2025:

Advanced level
1st Place: John A. Ferguson Sr High, Miami-Dade
Teacher: Maria Halley Hernandez
Students: Michael Lopez, Sabrina Chile, Rachel Diaz

2nd Place: 2: East River/Boone High Schools, Orange
Teacher: James Mitchell
Students: Zane Strait (Boone), Brady Graham (Boone), Jamal Santiago (Boone), Bi Trinh (East River)

3rd Place: John A. Ferguson Sr High, Miami-Dade
Teacher: Maria Halley Hernandez
Students: Fabio Martin, Gabriel Barreto Otero, Dominic Hung, Angelo Isasi

Intermediate level
1st Place: Hialeah Gardens, Miami-Dade
Teacher: Rein De Armas
Students: Daniel D. Alvarez, Jean M. Hernandez, Luis E. Lovera

2nd Place: Crooms Academy of Information Technology, Seminole
Teacher: Halima Fisher
Students: Mikhail Tyukin, Anish Miryala, Alyssa Durand, Zane DeReamer

3rd Place: Suncoast Polytechnical High School, Sarasota
Teacher: Stephen McCormack, Lucinda Schlotterback
Students: Lucas Mattos, Maria Kadochnikova, Ben Kuzmik, Szymon Stead-Topor

Beginner level
1st Place: Angeline Academy of Innovation, Pasco
Teacher: Michael Marchesano
Students: Chris Workentin, Logan Prescott, Malakai Jefferson, Christopher Devoe

2nd Place: Timber Creek High School, Orange
Teacher: Daniel Foster
Students: Eoghan Riley, Tomas Lopez Devia, Matthew Nguyen

3rd Place: iPrep Academy North, Miami-Dade
Teacher: Yoel Monzote
Students: Raiya Cohen, Brianna Louissaint, Ariadna Monzon

These standout students demonstrated critical thinking, collaboration, and technical excellence under pressure—and we can’t wait to see where their cyber journeys take them next.

We are so grateful for all the time, energy, and care you put into making this event such a meaningful experience for the students.
It was truly impressive, and very much appreciated.
– Christine Ackerman, Middleburg High School
Looking Ahead

CyberLaunch will return with even more opportunities, more resources, and more students ready to make their mark. Whether you’re a teacher looking to bring cybersecurity into your classroom or a student curious about coding, hacking, and solving digital problems, Cyber Florida’s Operation K12  is your starting point.

To stay informed about next year’s competition, resources, and updates, follow Cyber Florida on social media and visit cyberflorida.org.

A HUGE thank you to our generous and amazing sponsors for supporting this important event!

Universe Sponsor
USF Youth Experience
Orbit Sponsors
AFCEA Central Florida chapter
Bluum
Certification Partners
CompTIA
HP
Prodigy Learning
Teaching Digital Natives
Liftoff Sponsors
EC-Council
Knowledge Pillars
Launchpad Sponsors
Certiport
Dark Enterprise Inc
Guardian Cyber
Marcraft
Siemens
UTeach UTexas
Starbase Supporters
Crespo AI
EDVision
Jamal Rodman
USF World
Zscaler Inc

CyberLaunch 20252025-04-11T14:50:59-04:00

CONTACT US

Cyber Florida at USF
4202 E. Fowler Avenue, ISA7020
Tampa, FL 33620

Office meetings by appointment only

PRIVACY POLICY

Copyright 2024 The Florida Center for Cybersecurity at the University of South Florida. Information on this website is made available for general educational purposes only and should not be used in lieu of obtaining competent legal advice from a licensed attorney or cybersecurity professional with sufficient expertise necessary to address your specific needs. Use of this website does not create any special or fiduciary relationship between you and the Florida Center for Cybersecurity or the University of South Florida.