ST. BONAVENTURE — U.S. Congressman Nick Langworthy visited St. Bonaventure University on Wednesday to announce a $475,000 grant for the Cybersecurity Operations Center that will impact both education and local jobs. did.
“This institution is important, it's the jewel of School District 23,” Langworthy said at a press conference at the Walsh Science Center, along with university officials, including Chancellor Dr. Jeff Gingerich and Chancellor Dr. David Hilmy, staff and cyber students. told security students.
“I fought to get this in the spending bill,” he said. “This is a one-time investment. It will make our region stronger.
Gingerich thanked the senator for securing funding for the university's cybersecurity program. “This is an important part of the university’s plan moving forward,” he said.
The seeds for the grant were planted last spring when freshman senators toured the campus. “He has shown a dedication to cybersecurity, and he has shown a dedication to St. Bonaventure,” Gingerich said of Langworthy.
The university president also praised the work of Thomas Buttafaro Jr., the university's director of board, community and government relations, and the grant team that secured the grant through Langworthy's office.
“We are grateful for the hard work of Congressman Langworthy in bringing this important funding to St. Bonaventure and the growing and important field of cybersecurity,” said Hilmy, provost and vice president for academic affairs. said. “This funding will not only benefit the education of Bonaventure students, but will provide them with hands-on experience that will create a better and more capable cybersecurity workforce in Western New York, and especially here in the Southern Tier.”
The Cyber Operations Center strengthens school-industry partnerships in a secure computing environment. The university brings real-life cyber attack materials into a structured closed network environment and uses the materials for hands-on learning about attack prevention and detection/response techniques.
“From the moment we wake up in the morning and check our smartphones to the moment we go to bed and set up our home security systems, we are constantly interacting with technology that is vulnerable to cyber threats,” Langworthy said.
“These threats can impact our banking operations, patient medical records, supply chains – the list is endless,” Langworthy said. “I cannot overstate how important it is for institutions like St. Bonaventure University to take the lead in developing future cybersecurity professionals.”
Cyber Security Ops Center makes it available to public and private organizations to test and practice their own incident response plans. The university also plans to provide workforce development, specialized training, and early education programming for high schools.
“The new Cyber Operations Center will be an excellent example of education, both hands-on and practical, to help local and regional businesses and institutions better protect themselves,” Hilmy said. This grant will help him purchase a computer workstation and software.
Langworthy said he hopes the Cyber Security Center will help provide jobs for local students who want to remain in the South Tier.
“This is what we need now and in the future, and it's essential to our national security. This is an area of exploding importance and need. Imagine the impact on our students. Check it out. This is an investment in our students.”
The impact will extend beyond the university to local partners. Cybersecurity jobs are expected to increase by 35% by 2031.
