Jennifer Kleman

About Jennifer Kleman

This author has not yet filled in any details.
So far Jennifer Kleman has created 72 blog entries.

EC-Council 2025 Academia Partner Ambassador Award

EC-Council-2025-Academia-Partner-Ambassador-award

Cyber Florida’s Operation K12 Program Earns EC-Council 2025 Academia Partner Ambassador Award

December 10, 2025—Tampa, Fla—Cyber Florida at USF has been named the 2025 EC-Council Academia Partner Ambassador Award recipient, recognizing the organization’s Operation K12 program for its leadership in advancing cybersecurity education, engagement, and advocacy across K–12 communities. Cyber Florida is the only institution in North America to receive this award for the 2025 cycle.

The Academia Partner Ambassador Award honors institutions that demonstrate sustained commitment to expanding cybersecurity awareness and education within their networks and local communities. Cyber Florida’s Operation K12 program was recognized for its impact-driven approach to introducing cybersecurity concepts to students and educators while strengthening Florida’s long-term cyber workforce pipeline.

“We are deeply honored to receive the 2025 Academia Partner Ambassador Award on behalf of Cyber Florida’s Operation K12 program,” said Dr. Candi L. Ring, Assistant Director, K12 Cybersecurity Education. “This recognition reflects our commitment to expanding cybersecurity education and empowering students, educators, and communities across Florida. At a time when digital literacy and security skills are more essential than ever, we are grateful for partners like EC-Council who share our dedication to preparing the next generation of cybersecurity leaders. This award inspires us to continue innovating, collaborating, and ensuring that every learner has the opportunity to thrive in a safer digital future.”

EC-Council is the world’s largest cybersecurity technical certification body, operating in more than 145 countries and having certified over 400,000 information security professionals. Its certifications are recognized globally and endorsed by government agencies including the National Security Agency and the Committee on National Security Systems.

Cyber Florida was selected based on criteria that include excellence in cybersecurity education, community engagement and advocacy, program leadership, and sustained outreach impact. Operation K12 delivers hands-on learning opportunities, educator support, and community-based programming designed to build cyber literacy and awareness from an early age.

Each year, EC-Council’s Academia division recognizes a select group of institutions and educators from its global network of universities, colleges, technical institutes, K–12 entities, and certified instructors.

“On behalf of EC-Council, I congratulate Cyber Florida at USF on being named the 2025 Academia Partner Ambassador,” said Jay Bavisi, president and group CEO of EC-Council. “Their commitment to cybersecurity advocacy and K–12 engagement plays a critical role in strengthening the future of the cybersecurity ecosystem.”

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.

EC-Council 2025 Academia Partner Ambassador Award2025-12-17T09:14:31-05:00

Classroom to Community: Student-led Project Benefits Seniors

Elder Guide Translators

Dr. Michelle Angelo-Rocha with SOCAP students Waratchaya “June” Luangphairin and Lara Radovanovic

The Student Collaboration Behind Cyber Florida’s Multilingual Elder Fraud Guides

When Cyber Florida’s Security Operations Center Apprentice Program (SOCAP) student intern Waratchaya “June” Luangphairin helped co-author Protecting Against Elder Fraud and Scams in September 2025, she didn’t expect the guide to travel far beyond its initial audience. But just a few weeks after publication, a message landed in her LinkedIn inbox that would set off a wave of collaboration, translation, and community outreach—transforming a single cybersecurity awareness guide into a multilingual project serving Florida’s diverse communities.

Cyber Florida’s SOCAP provides paid internships that give USF students real-world cybersecurity experience. Interns learn to use state-of-the-art monitoring and threat detection tools while supporting public-sector organizations with supplemental cybersecurity services. As part of their work, students regularly publish threat advisories, guides, and scam alerts to help Floridians stay cyber safe.

June’s guide on elder fraud struck a chord—especially with one reader in Miami.

“After we published the cyber elder fraud report, I was contacted on LinkedIn by Marco Padilla, an IT infrastructure manager from Miami,” June explained. “He had shared the guide with his 83-year-old mother, reading it aloud to her since she doesn’t speak English. She found it so valuable that she asked, ‘Why don’t we distribute this to senior care facilities in Miami so more people can stay informed?’”

Marco offered to help translate the guide into Spanish, sparking an idea that grew into something much larger. June relayed his message to her SOCAP teammates and Cyber Florida leadership, and soon a small team formed to bring the vision to life.

Collaboration Across Languages

Working together, June, fellow SOCAP students Lara Radovanovic and Zahid Rahman, along with Cyber Research Analyst Dr. Michelle Angelo-Rocha, expanded the guide into Spanish, Portuguese, and Arabic, languages identified as among Florida’s most widely spoken.

Dr. Salwa Amer, head of USF’s Arabic language program, and Sanae Elmachour, a new SOCAP student, provided an additional review to confirm accuracy and readability of the Arabic translation.

Cyber Communications and Marketing Analyst Sarina Gandy managed the formatting and publication of all versions on the Cyber Florida website’s Threat Room.

Nearly 200 website downloads of the guide have been tracked.

Prior to the translation project, the English guide had been shared with organizations such as the Florida Health Care Association and LeadingAge Southeast to be distributed to their member organizations. Now, every version is freely available online, with audio narrations coming soon.

A Personal Connection to Purpose

“When Marco reached out to me, it caught me by surprise,” June said. “It was a genuine human connection between our technical work and the people it was meant to protect. I realized this is what it’s about—protecting people. Sharing this with my team inspired all of us. Ever since, we’ve been on the lookout for ways to go further—protect more people, in more mediums.”

The SOCAP team is now producing audio versions of each guide, with June reading the English version, Michelle narrating the Portuguese, and Lara and Zahid lending their voices to the Spanish and Arabic editions. Project manager Sarina expects the recordings to be uploaded by the end of 2025 on Cyber Florida’s YouTube channel, with links from the website.

And the work isn’t stopping there. The team has already begun plans for a Haitian Creole translation and hopes to bring the guides directly into the community through senior centers, churches, and programs that serve older adults.

“Collaborating with the students on this project was an excellent experience,” said Michelle. “We met regularly and worked together to ensure the guide in different languages was accurate, clear, and valuable for seniors whose first language is not English. The students fully led the project. I was truly impressed by the students’ initiative, professionalism, leadership, and dedication throughout the process. I am so proud of them!”

June concludes with these thoughts: “I would like to thank everyone for stepping in so quickly and without hesitation. Everyone immediately jumped in, and it made me feel supported, which is why I love working at CyberFlorida. Everybody here is excited and driven by the same purpose: spreading cybersecurity worldwide, starting in Florida.”

What started as one outreach report has evolved into a multilingual, accessible awareness project—proof that even a single message can spark meaningful change when driven by purpose and collaboration.

Classroom to Community: Student-led Project Benefits Seniors2025-12-12T17:47:38-05:00

Cyber Florida 24-25 Annual Impact Report

What did we do during Fiscal Year 2024-2025? Cyber Florida at USF continued to expand its statewide, national, and global impact through innovative programs and strategic partnerships. The Sunshine Cyber Conference brought together experts, educators, and practitioners from across the cybersecurity ecosystem. The second annual CyberLaunch competition engaged high school students statewide, sparking early interest in cybersecurity careers. Our Security Operations Center Apprentice Program (SOCAP) deepened collaboration with both internal teams and external partners, creating valuable real-world training opportunities for students. The Aligned Realistic Cyberattack Simulation (ARCS) Range served as a cutting-edge network defense training resource for Florida’s public-sector workforce. Cyber Florida hosted the Red Dragon Rising II symposium, fostering global dialogue on emerging cyber threats and cooperation. These details and more inside.

Cyber Florida 24-25 Annual Impact Report2025-11-24T11:13:53-05:00

Applications for Spring 2026 CyberWorks Cohort Open

12-week virtual cybersecurity training program accepts Florida’s veterans, first responders, military spouses, government employees

November 1, 2025—Tampa, Fla—Cyber Florida at USF is accepting applications for the Spring 2026 cohort of CyberWorks, its workforce development program designed to prepare Florida’s public-minded professionals for careers in cybersecurity. The new cohort begins in January 2026 and is available at no cost to eligible participants.

CyberWorks is a 12-week, fully virtual training program that guides participants toward earning the CompTIA Security+ certification, one of the most widely recognized credentials for entry-level cybersecurity roles. In addition to technical training, participants gain access to a network of peers and mentors, career-advancement support, and a collaborative learning community.

Cyber Florida welcomes applications from Florida residents who are:

  • Veterans
  • Transitioning military personnel
  • First responders
  • Military spouses
  • Government employees

“Our goal with CyberWorks is to create opportunities for those who serve and support our nation to build new skills, advance their careers, and step confidently into Florida’s growing cybersecurity workforce,” said Cyber Florida’s CyberWorks Assistant Cyber Program Manager Mai Ensmann. “This program is designed to meet learners where they are and help them succeed.”

CyberWorks is funded by the DoW CIO Cyber Academic Engagement Office and the NSA National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity Program.

Those interested are encouraged to apply early, as space in the cohort is limited.

For more information or to apply, visit the CyberWorks page of the Cyber Florida website.

Media Contact: Cyber Outreach Manager Jennifer Kleman, APR, CPRC
mailto:jennifer437@cyberflorida.org

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.

Applications for Spring 2026 CyberWorks Cohort Open2025-12-03T11:53:28-05:00

Inaugural CyberBay Summit a Success!

cyberbay_fav

Thank You for Making CyberBay Summit 2025 a Success!

What an incredible week in Tampa Bay! CyberBay Summit 2025 brought together hundreds of cybersecurity professionals, innovators, educators, and students to explore the future of digital resilience and collaboration.

From thought-provoking keynotes and hands-on technical workshops to the buzzing energy of the exhibit floor, the conversations and connections made this year proved that Florida’s cybersecurity ecosystem is stronger and more united than ever.

A heartfelt thank you to all our attendees, speakers, exhibitors, and sponsors for making this year’s summit possible. Your expertise, enthusiasm, and partnership drive our shared mission to build a safer, more secure digital future for all.

We’re already looking ahead to what’s next, so stay tuned for details on CyberBay Summit 2026. Follow the CyberBay movement on LinkedIn.

Thank you to our friends at Bay News 9 Spectrum News for covering CyberBay Summit 2025.

Cybersecurity experts gather for inaugural ‘Cyber Bay’ event

This news segment was picked up and ran in the Rochester, San Antonio, Buffalo, Austin, and Central Florida Spectrum News markets!

USF University Communications and Marketing covered the event as well: Simulated cyberattack, national security highlight inaugural CyberBay conference.

Inaugural CyberBay Summit a Success!2025-10-29T19:31:00-04:00

Student Spotlight: Jayden Greer

Jayden Greer

Student: Jayden Greer

School: George Jenkins High School

District: Polk County

Meet Jayden Greer! Jayden’s passion for cybersecurity began with an early interest in technology and was further inspired by his teacher’s creation of the Cybersecurity Academy.

Jayden currently holds one cybersecurity certification and is determined to achieve several more by the end of the year. Over several months, Jayden has gained valuable hands-on experience working with the school’s network administrator. After high school, Jayden plans to attend the University of South Florida to pursue a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity and continue developing skills through real-world experience and additional certifications.

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

Student Spotlight: Jayden Greer2025-10-02T09:29:35-04:00

Teacher Spotlight: Jacob Hill

Jacob Hill

Teacher: Jacob Hill

District: Escambia County

Jacob Hill is an innovative educator at Pensacola High School, where he has spent the past four years shaping young minds. He draws on nearly two decades of experience in international business education across secondary and higher education. He currently leads classes in IB Business Management, AP Computer Science, and AP CK Cybersecurity while also directing the school’s Work-Based Learning initiatives.

Seeing immense opportunities in the rapidly evolving field of cybersecurity, Hill launched the program to help students enter a high-demand industry. It equips them with technical expertise and the essential soft skills—critical thinking, creativity, and teamwork—that distinguish future leaders.

Beyond the classroom, Hill’s leadership extends to his roles as FBLA District 1 Director, service on the Florida FBLA State Board, and coaching cross country, empowering students to grow as leaders and individuals. In his downtime, he enjoys cooking and exploring new global cuisines, cheering for Chelsea FC, and designing graphics for school and community events.

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

Teacher Spotlight: Jacob Hill2025-10-01T10:24:12-04:00

The ReX-Files: CyberHerd Documentary

CyberHerd
CyberHerd Documentary Premiere

Photos from the CyberHerd documentary premiere at USF on September 24, 2025

Rex Wilson, brand manager for Cyber Florida

Watch the CyberHerd documentary on the Cyber Florida YouTube channel!

The ReX-Files: The Episode where Rex talks about producing the CyberHerd documentary

More than a competition story, The Making of a Defender shows how solving the nation’s cybersecurity challenges is becoming a pillar of the Tampa Bay community and beyond. As CyberBay grows, this story becomes one of its cornerstones.

In anyone’s professional career, there are only a handful of opportunities to truly elevate people in a lasting way. I’m not talking about the small but powerful kindnesses we practice daily—thank you, Mister Rogers, for teaching us that. I mean something bigger, something rare, where the timing, circumstances, and people all align. Last year, I was given that kind of opportunity.

Just over a year ago, I noticed that the USF CyberHerd (Ya Herd!—they know what I mean) was quietly making big waves in cybersecurity competitions. Despite sharing a home with them at USF, I hadn’t followed them closely. If anything, I was more familiar with their long-dominant Orlando rivals, Hack UCF. But as I dug in, I discovered that the CyberHerd wasn’t just competing with them—they were winning.

That’s when I thought, “Maybe there’s a story here.”

I pitched the idea to my supervisor, Kate Whitaker, and our director, Ernie Ferraresso. They believed in it, brought it to leadership, and just like that, we were greenlit.

With the talented team at Two Stories Media, I began documenting the CyberHerd’s journey for a full year—competitions, practices (so much practice), and everything in between. Anyone who has ever made a documentary knows: you don’t get to script the ending. Sometimes you land the perfect Cinderella moment, other times the pumpkin explodes and lands on your head. This story had a little of both.

What I didn’t expect, though, was how much I would learn along the way. I began to see these students not just as competitors but as something closer to elite athletes—driven, resilient, and focused. Sitting front-row, I realized my job wasn’t just to record their journey; it was to elevate it. To make sure their hard work, sacrifice, and brilliance weren’t lost in the shuffle but instead woven into USF history and the broader CyberBay movement.

The story of the 2024–25 CyberHerd now lives beyond me. It’s captured, told, and preserved as part of something much larger than any one of us. To Waseem, Jacob, Jack, Michelle, Coach Marbin, Sriram, and the rest of the CyberHerd family—thank you for letting me in.

Am I proud of this project? Strangely, no. Pride isn’t the word. What I feel instead is something deeper: gratitude. Gratitude for the chance to help tell your story. Gratitude for the friendships formed. And gratitude for the knowledge that this story will outlast us all.

Your friend in cyber competitions,

Rex Wilson

P.S. – Thank you to our friends at USF Communications and Marketing for publishing this excellent article about the CyberHerd documentary.

The ReX-Files: CyberHerd Documentary2025-09-30T14:20:06-04:00

CyberBay 2025 Report: Securing the Future Together

CyberBay Summit 2025

Survey reveals cost, complexity, talent shortages are leaving SMBs and public sector organizations dangerously under-protected

Tampa Bay, FL — September 25, 2025 — Cyber threats are escalating in scale and sophistication. Yet our defenses remain siloed, expensive, and out of reach for a wide range of organizations. The newly released 2025 CyberBay Report, based on insights from hundreds of IT and cybersecurity professionals, sounds the alarm and issues an urgent call to action for the private sector, educators, and cyber defenders to step forward and lead.

Download the 2025 CyberBay Report.

As artificial intelligence accelerates digital integration, the risks to and both private- and public-sector organizations are intensifying. Small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), which serve as the backbone of the economy, are left with tools they can’t afford, talent they can’t find, and systems that can’t keep up.

A System Under Siege

The CyberBay Report found that:

  • 80.1% report a shortage of skilled professionals
  • 81.3% cite organizational gaps in policy, behavior, and security culture
  • 74.5% say undergraduate curricula are missing essential job-ready content
  • 80.2% say cybersecurity tools are too expensive
  • 71.9% find tools fragmented and poorly integrated
  • 62.9% say professional training programs fall short of evolving demands

The results provide a strategic blueprint for filling gaps in the cybersecurity ecosystem. To protect our infrastructure, economy, and future, we must shift from isolated fixes to system-level transformation.

1. Democratize Cybersecurity Solutions

Affordability and usability are no longer optional. We must build scalable, AI-augmented defenses that even the smallest organizations can deploy.

2. Prioritize Cyber Defense as a Business Imperative

The private sector must lead—not with gated solutions, but with open collaboration, public-private partnerships, and investment in real-world resilience.

3. Elevate Education as a Strategic Asset

Cybersecurity education must evolve from theory-heavy programs to hands-on, threat-ready training that begins early and mirrors real-world challenges. Certification bodies, continuing education platforms, and vocational pipelines must align with the pace of escalating risk.

4. Activate a Culture of Readiness

Cybersecurity requires both the right toolset and the right mindset. Every organization needs policies, leadership buy-in, and cultural norms that reinforce vigilance. Readiness must replace awareness as the new standard.

CyberBay: The Movement Begins in Tampa

CyberBay, the Tampa-based cybersecurity collaborative, is proactively addressing the issue. By unifying private, public, and government sectors, CyberBay is democratizing cyber defense, prioritizing readiness over awareness, and training the next generation to meet the moment.

The inaugural CyberBay 2025 Summit will bring this mission to life. From October 13–15 in Tampa, FL, cybersecurity leaders, educators, technologists, and public sector champions will gather to build the future of cyber defense.

Register now at CyberBay.org and be part of the transformation.

Media Contacts:

Jennifer Kleman
Cyber Florida
jennifer437@cyberflorida.org

Christina Pandapas
Longview Strategies
cpandapas@longviewstrategies.com

printable version of press release

CyberBay 2025 Report: Securing the Future Together2025-09-25T10:00:28-04:00

Strengthen Virtual Currency Investigation Skills with CI240

FirstLine

Virtual currencies are playing an ever-growing role in criminal activity—and investigators need the right tools to keep up. NW3C’s CI240 Intermediate Cyber Investigations: Virtual Currency equips professionals with the knowledge and hands-on experience to investigate crimes involving digital assets.

This immersive course explores:

  • Virtual currency basics
  • Blockchain technology
  • Leading cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin®, Ethereum®, Monero)
  • Stablecoins, DeFi, and NFTs
  • Investigative techniques for tracking, documenting, seizing, and securing cryptocurrency

Participants also practice real-world skills through exercises like opening a Bitcoin wallet, tracing transactions on the blockchain, and identifying services with free/open-source tools.

Why it matters:
Graduates report immediate impact in their work. One investigator tracked fraudulently received funds across the blockchain using only the skills gained in this course. Another has since frozen millions in virtual currency assets and worked closely with NW3C trainers for expert guidance.

Course Details:

  • 1.0 point toward 3CE and 3CI certifications
  • 100% participation required, including an 80%+ post-test score and all in-class exercises
  • Closed captioning available, plus live speech-to-text translation in 100+ languages

Who can attend:
This training is offered at no cost to U.S. state, local, tribal, and territorial criminal justice agencies through U.S. Department of Justice funding. Criminal justice and regulatory professionals worldwide are also welcome through other funding sources.

🔗 Register now: NW3C: Class Details

Strengthen Virtual Currency Investigation Skills with CI2402025-09-25T08:18:09-04:00

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.