Durant receives funding for Commonwealth Cyber Initiative Traineeship Program (CCI)

Durant Receives Funding For Commonwealth Cyber Initiative Traineeship Program (CCI)

Liza Wilson Durant, Associate Dean, Strategic Initiatives and Community Engagement, College of Engineering and Computing (CEC), received $425,647 from the Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority for: “Commonwealth Cyber Initiative Traineeship Program (CCI).”

This program began June 10, 2024. It will conclude on July 31, 2024.

George Mason University and Northern Virginia Community College, Workforce Development Division (NOVA) are providing training for the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative traineeship program in cybersecurity. The 7-week program (210 instructional hours) includes training in Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Database Design, SQL, Networking, Security, and AWS Basics. The training program is followed by placement in a 12-week apprenticeship with an industry partner to provide real-world experience.

It is part of a larger effort to develop and diversify data analytics and cybersecurity expertise in the Virginia workforce. 

CCI trainees are also receiving career placement support from George Mason University and NOVA.

Funding for this award began in June 2024 and will end in late May 2025.

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George Mason University is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls more than 40,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. In 2023, the university launched Mason Now: Power the Possible, a one-billion-dollar comprehensive campaign to support student success, research, innovation, community, and stewardship. Learn more at gmu.edu.