NIST RAMPS PROGRAM

The Florida Center for Cybersecurity at the University of South Florida is building the Sustainable, Hands-on, Community-driven and Multi-disciplinary Cybersecurity Skills Training Program to meet the growing workforce needs of Florida’s critical infrastructure sectors. This is part of a multi-year grant they received from National Institute of Standards and Technology, as part of their Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development (RAMPS) Program. In partnership with organizations spanning power, water, health, transportation, and government—as well as Idaho National Labs for nationwide outreach—the program integrates a 14-week, hands-on training track for selected USF students, immersive work-based learning experiences, and curriculum enhancements to USF’s ABET-accredited BS in Cybersecurity program. It also welcomes three local high schools—Countryside, Bloomingdale, and Paul R. Wharton—into the RAMPS community to spark early interest in cybersecurity careers. A signature feature of the initiative is its tabletop exercises, which brings together critical infrastructure partners, cybersecurity experts, and our participating students to simulate real-world cyber incidents, strengthen cross-sector collaboration, and showcase student talent while enhancing regional cyber resilience.