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Promote Career Discovery Working Group

Focus: 

This Working Group will focus on the NICE Strategic Plan goal to Promote the Discovery of Cybersecurity Careers and Multiple Pathways.  The group will conduct an ongoing environmental scan of programs, projects, and initiatives related to this strategic plan’s goals and objectives to assess the scope and sufficiency of efforts.  The group will also identify gaps where more attention and effort is needed.  The group will identify strategies and tactics to implement the corresponding objectives to this goal.  The group will also develop corresponding metrics to measure progress and success. Promote Career Discovery Working Group charter is available here

This group will focus on the following NICE Strategic Plan goal and objectives:

Goal:  Promote the Discovery of Cybersecurity Careers and Multiple Pathways

Objectives:

  • Identify and share effective practices for promoting cybersecurity career awareness and discovery to diverse stakeholders
  • Increase understanding of multiple learning pathways and credentials that lead to careers that are identified in the Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity (NICE Framework)
  • Develop and utilize proven tools and resources to identify individuals most likely to succeed in a cybersecurity career
  • Provide information and tools about cybersecurity-related career options to those who influence career choices (e.g., teachers and faculty, school counselors, career coaches, career development personnel, mentors, and parents or guardians)
  • Galvanize employers to promote discovery and exploration of cybersecurity career opportunities and work-based learning experiences

Co-chairs

Jimmy Baker Photo
Credit: Jimmy Baker

James "Jimmy" Baker
Cybersecurity Evangelist and Author

Keith Davis
Credit: Keith Davis

Keith Davis
President & CEO
Koinonia Family Life, Inc

Karl Cureton
Credit: Karl Cureton

Karl Cureton
CEO
Council Exchange Board of Trade (CEBOT)
Executive Director
Minority Cyber Inclusion Council

 NICE Program Office staff liaison: Davina Pruitt-Mentle, NICE Lead for Academic Engagement 


Projects

Project Teams will execute upon items contained in the Implementation Plan for the NICE Strategic PlanProject Teams are expected to have a 6 month duration. 

Active Project Teams

Effective Practices to Identify, Track, and Measure Cybersecurity Career Discovery Programs

This project team was formed to implement Goal 1 to "promote the discovery of cybersecurity careers and multiple pathways".

Project Leads: Lorne Joseph and Caitlin Sarian

HOW TO JOIN: Members may indicate their interest in joining a project team either during a regular group meeting or by sending an email to the group at NICEtalent [at] list.nist.gov (NICECareers[at]list[dot]nist[dot]gov). Instructions on how to become a member are located at the bottom of the webpage.

 

Completed Projects

National Cybersecurity Ambassador Program 

Cybersecurity Career Ambassador Program Cover Page Image
Credit: Canva

The National Cybersecurity Ambassador Program was formed to implement Objective 1.1.4 to "create a Cybersecurity Careers Ambassadors program to promote cybersecurity career awareness, exploration, and development."

Project Leads: Connie Bragg, Tish DeVere, and Karl Cureton
View project charter.
Project Deliverable: Cybersecurity Career Ambassador Webpage (Launched October 2023)
Project Deliverable: Cybersecurity Ambassador Flier (October 2023)

Multiple Career Pathways for Cybersecurity Project Team

Identifying Multiple Cybersecurity Career Pathways Image

This project team was formed to implement Objective 1.2 to "increase understanding of multiple learning pathways and credentials that lead to careers that are identified in the Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity (NICE Framework)."

Project Leads: Jeff Grann and Mark Beaudry
View project charter.
Project Deliverable: Identifying Multiple Career Pathways to Build a Diverse Cybersecurity Workforce (May 2023)

Cybersecurity Career Pathway Resources List

Multiple Career Pathways Sign Image
Credit: NICE

The pathways to – and through – a career in cybersecurity are truly innumerable. There is a wide array of starting points, countless combinations of education, training, and learning experiences, and a broad range of job opportunities. This webpage provides a variety of cybersecurity career pathway resources. 

Deliverable: Cybersecurity Career Pathway Resources List (January 2023)

Hosted a Virtual Presentation

Flier_nontraditional_pathways__Webinar_NICE_CCAW.png
Credit: NICE Community

The NICE Promote Career Discovery Working Group celebrated Cybersecurity Career Week with a special panel presentation on non-traditional pathways to enter a career in cybersecurity.

Deliverable: How to Navigate an Unconventional Cybersecurity Career Path Panel
(October 2022)


 

Team Handshake Picture
Credit: Shutterstock

Become a Member

Members of this Community of Interest are part of the broader NICE Community Coordinating Council and will be added to it automatically. Google Groups is used for this group as a resource for communication.

nicecareers+subscribe [at] list.nist.gov (Send an email to Join )

Group Project Picture
Credit: Shutterstock

Get engaged

nicecareers [at] list.nist.gov (Share) your questions, opportunities, and leading practices with the community! If you have ideas or just want to get to know others interested in career discovery, this is the place for you. 

View Mailing List Guidelines 
Calendar Planning Picture
Credit: Shutterstock

Meeting information

This group meets the third Wednesday of every month at 3:30pm ET. All meetings are held via Microsoft Teams unless otherwise indicated. 

View Meeting Schedule

Contacts

FOR GENERAL INFORMATION

  • NICE Program Office
    (301) 975-5048
    100 Bureau Dr.
    Gaithersburg, MD 20899
Created December 1, 2020, Updated January 19, 2024