Commonwealth of Kentucky Phase III
Abstract
Continuing uncertainty in the defense manufacturing sector since 2011 – driven by the Budget Control Act of 2011 – has placed Kentucky s defense manufacturers in the position of having to choose to leave the defense sector and focus instead on commercial manufacturing in order to provide some revenue stability and predictability which would allow longer-term planning and investment in capital equipment purchases and workforce development. Further contributing to this threat is the peril of foreign espionage. Thus, cybersecurity has now emerged as a critical and needed capability in the defense manufacturing sector. Those without a robust cybersecurity posture risk losing revenue, future business, or their competitive advantage to third-party players and hostile foreign governments. These dual threats of fiscal uncertainty and foreign espionage can disproportionally effect Kentucky s defense firms. This grant is Phase III of our effort to diversify Kentucky’s defense sector, in alignment with the Economic Adjustment Assistance for State Governments Program, assisting in adjustments required by major reductions in Department of Defense (DOD) spending. During the period of the grant, funding provides a start-up seed program developing cyber talent. A program producing 110 to 190 graduates, with approximately 20% bachelor’s or master’s students and 80% non-degree seeking students. The funding designs and develops the program so that it is ready for implementation and evaluation. Grant funding is used for exam certification fees, not for tuition, while placing students with defense contractors and sub-contractors. The purpose of the degree program is to embed practical experiences through an apprenticeship as a form of on-the-job training or workplace learning. As a result, Kentucky will draw upon experiential learning with defense contractors, primes and their sub-contractors. All program revenue earned will be recognized and applied for the future of the program, an additional three years after grant funding. Under this grant, the Kentucky Commission on Military Affairs, seeks to bolster Kentucky s defense supply chain cybersecurity resilience through business assistance programs and to support the growth and sustainment of its cybersecurity workforce through cybersecurity-related education curricula, training and apprenticeship programs.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 09, 2020
- Source ID
- HQ00052010003
Entities
People
- Stacey Shane
Organizations
- Kentucky Commission on Military Affairs
- Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation
- Office of the Secretary of Defense