Carroll Community College has opened its new Cyber Range, which will simulate cyber-attacks and give students hands-on learning opportunities in cybersecurity concepts and operations.
The opening of the new Cyber Range marks the community college’s launch into Maryland’s Cyber Workforce Accelerator (CWA) program. The CWA was established in 2024 by the Maryland Association of Community Colleges and BCR Cyber, and it provides cyber ranges to all 16 Maryland community colleges for program and community college training.
State and local dignitaries, industry leaders, and members of the college community attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday. They celebrated a major milestone in the college’s commitment to preparing students for careers in cybersecurity and information technology (IT).
“Today marks more than a celebratory opening of the Cyber Range, it reinforces the College’s commitment to preparing our students and our region for the future of cybersecurity, technology, and workforce innovation,” said Dr. Rose Mince, president of Carroll Community College, in a statement
The community college will now have on-site access to the BCR Cyber Series 3000 Cyber Range training system via dedicated remote workstations. This access will help educators develop cybersecurity curriculum for their courses. Students will be able to learn and test their knowledge with their fellow students under the guidance of professors in a hyper-realistic, stimulating environment. The CWA program helps place students in industry jobs once they finish their studies.
“The Cyber Workforce Accelerator program, with its cutting-edge cyber ranges, will be a game-changer for cybersecurity education in Maryland,” said Brad Phillips, executive director of the Maryland Association of Community Colleges, in a statement. “We are proud to support this initiative at Carroll and its positive impact on its students and the state’s economy.”
Ed Ngere is president of the Cybersecurity Student Club at Carroll Community College and attended the ceremony. He recently earned first place in a regional cybersecurity competition, reflecting the caliber of talent coming from Carroll’s cybersecurity program.
“There is a significant need here in Maryland for skilled IT and cybersecurity professionals. Community colleges play a vital role not only in helping meet this need, but also in helping to facilitate meaningful employment for job seekers,” said Michael Spector, president of BCR Cyber, in a statement. “We are excited about the launch of the cyber range at Carroll and the opportunities it presents.”
BCR Cyber created a public-private consortium of more than 40 industry partners to make sure training programs stay up-to-date with current cybersecurity standards. The consortium provides BCR Cyber with guidance on industry requirements and needs.
“The cyber range training provided through the Cyber Workforce Accelerator grant is the perfect supplement to the in-classroom curriculum that our students receive in our program,” said Matt Day, the community college’s program director for Cybersecurity, Computer Science, and Computer Information Systems, in a statement.
More information about the Cyber Workforce Accelerator is available at Carroll Community College’s website.
