The National Security Collaboration Center Advances Cybersecurity

Brig. Gen. Guy Walsh, ANG (Ret.), presented to the chapter attendees during their December Luncheon at the Scobee Planetarium. Gen. Walsh is the founding executive director of the National Security Collaboration Center (NSCC), located at the University of Texas San Antonio (UTSA). The NSCC is a core initiative in UTSA's Downtown Campus expansion, which will advance research, education and workforce development in cybersecurity, data analytics and cloud computing while securing the creation of an emerging high-tech corridor to support San Antonio's future. "With the promotion of government, university and industry partnerships, kids will be involved at a younger age," said Gen. Walsh. There is a dire need for more cybersecurity professionals due to the current global supply shortage. It is projected that by 2022, the workforce will need 1.8 million additional employees to accommodate the shortfall. UTSA enrolls 32,000 students with 15 percent having military affiliation. The creation of the School of Data Science at UTSA, coined as "Military Campus USA," was created to support all three cyber operation fundamentals. San Antonio is the nation's seventh largest city and second largest cyber hub; it is uniquely positioned to lead in the cyber research and workforce development. Gen. Walsh also laid out the future of the center. "We want to be the front door to the 16th Air Force, Port San Antonio and the National Security Agency." He explained that we need to keep the conversation going regarding policy. "The technology is there, it's just the policy that's lacking." He concluded that the NSCC builds on UTSA's leadership with over 3,500 graduate and undergraduate students in the fields of technology, all while having the nation's number one cybersecurity program. The center will be able to address critical workforce needs by producing multidisciplinary cyber scholars prepared to work in all facets of cybersecurity.