Gov. Asa Hutchinson with students at Jacksonville High School, which received a $377,812 Military Affairs grant to develop a cyber security curriculum with the Little Rock Air Force Base Community Council.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Monday a $377,812 Military Affairs Grant Program award to the Little Rock Air Force Base Community Council and Jacksonville High School to develop a first-of-its-kind cyber security training curriculum.
“Successful cyber students will finish their diploma along with two important certifications,” Hutchinson said in a news release. “These graduates will be able to continue their education at several state colleges or universities, join the military as a cyber warrior, or join the workforce as a trained cyber technician.”
Over a four-year course of study, the new cyber curriculum at Jacksonville High School will partner Airmen Cyber Warriors and educators from Arkansas State University-Beebe with Jacksonville High School students as they earn certifications. The program will also identify internship opportunities for students to practice skills on real world networks.
Most of the grant money will be used to buy, install and certify hardware and to build a cyber-range. The grant will also satisfy matching funds requirements from several sources to total approximately $800,000, according to the release.
The grant program is run by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. Last month, the City of White Hall received a $70,000 grant for conducting a Joint Land Use Study on the Pine Bluff Arsenal.
Also, Hutchinson first announced his Military Affairs Initiative that the grant is under in 2015; the initiative is designed to support and grow military installations in Arkansas.
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