National recognition positions UMA as a leader in cybersecurity training and workforce pathways
UMA, a designated National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, has been awarded a $200,000 grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology to expand Maine’s cybersecurity workforce with a focus on protecting critical infrastructure.
Maine currently has more than 2,300 unfilled cybersecurity jobs, according to CyberSeek, leaving employers unable to fill nearly a third of available positions. This initiative will help close that gap by expanding training pathways that include new microcredentials in industrial control systems and operational technology, registered apprenticeships, and intensive boot camps.
Led by Henry Felch, professor of cybersecurity and computer information systems and director of the Maine Cyber Range at UMA, the project will also expand and formalize the Maine Cybersecurity Alliance and broaden access to certification testing and cyber range simulations. UMA will train 40 to 60 participants, with a goal of placing at least 70 percent in cybersecurity positions within six months of program completion.
UMA is one of 18 institutions nationwide selected for funding through NIST’s Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development program. The award will fund UMA’s project, Building Maine’s Cyber Workforce Through Regional Pathways. The two-year, $434,820 initiative is supported by this federal grant and institutional contributions.
“Maine’s geography and dispersed infrastructure create unique cybersecurity challenges, particularly for water systems, healthcare providers and rural utilities,” said Henry Felch. “This initiative will provide targeted training that strengthens our workforce and helps protect the systems communities rely on every day.”
The project brings together a coalition of partners that includes the Maine National Guard, Greater Augusta Utility District, Tyler Technologies, Southern Maine Community College, Northern Maine Community College and several career and technical education schools. These partners will contribute to curriculum development, apprenticeships and advisory board service.
“By investing in cybersecurity education and workforce development, we are investing in the security and resilience of our communities,” said UMA President Jenifer Cushman. “This award recognizes UMA’s leadership in creating accessible pathways into this vital field and reinforces our role in preparing Maine’s workforce for the future.”
Through the initiative, UMA will expand training on the SimSpace cyber range, open a new Pearson VUE certification center to increase access to industry exams, and strengthen outreach to learners from diverse and underserved communities, including those in rural areas. Outcomes will be shared at UMA’s annual Cybersecurity Workforce Summit, at national conferences such as NIST’s National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education Conference and Expo, and through published case studies. The long-term goal is to create a model that other rural regions across the country can replicate.
The program period runs from October 2025 through September 2027.