CyberSkills2Work
PI: Paul Wagner (The University of Arizona)
Co-PI: Shengjie Xu (The University of Arizona)
Funding: University of West Florida, U.S. Department of Defense, $210,792
Project Dates: 2025-2028
Summary:
The CyberSkills2Work grant initiative focuses on expanding access to industry-relevant cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI) training that directly aligns with workforce needs. Through hands-on learning, employer engagement and clear pathways to employment, the initiative helps learners build practical cyber skills that translate into real-world jobs. The University of Arizona is part of a national coalition of universities supporting this program.
Department of War Cyber Service Academy
PI: Josh Pauli (The University of Arizona)
Funding: National Security Agency, $261,446
Project Dates: September 1, 2025 – August 31, 2026
Website: www.cyber.mil/dod-workforce-innovation-directorate/csa
Summary:
The objectives of the Cyber Service Academy are to promote higher education in all disciplines of cyber, to enhance the Department of War’s ability to recruit and retain cyber and IT specialists, to increase the number of military and civilian personnel in the DoW with this expertise and, ultimately, to enhance the nation’s cyber posture.
CyberAI Curriculum Mapping and CLARK Development
PI: Paul Wagner (The University of Arizona)
Co-PIs: Robert Honomichl, Ryan Straight, Shengjie Xu, Li Xu (The University of Arizona)
Funding: Towson University, National Security Agency, $53,193
Project Dates: 2025
Summary:
As one of only six institutions nationally validated as a CyberAI Program of Study, the University of Arizona contributes vetted, standards-aligned materials to a national repository to support consistency and quality across post-secondary education. This contribution reflects both national recognition of our expertise and a commitment to advancing scalable, high-impact CyberAI education nationwide.
Arizona Cybersecurity Clinic: Supporting Communities and Small Businesses by Conducting Risk and Vulnerability Assessments through Student Experiential Learning Opportunities
PI: Paul Wagner (The University of Arizona)
Co-PIs: Robert Honomichl, Shengjie Xu (The University of Arizona)
Funding: Tides Foundation, Google, Inc., $1,000,000
Project Dates: 2024-2030
Website: cyberacademy.arizona.edu
Summary:
The Arizona Cybersecurity Clinic at the University of Arizona is a community-focused experiential learning initiative where students and faculty provide free cybersecurity services, such as vulnerability assessments and security audits, to small businesses, nonprofits, schools and other local organizations that may lack the resources for professional cyber support. Established with support from Google’s Cybersecurity Clinics Fund and part of the broader Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics, the clinic helps protect community partners from online threats while enabling students to gain real-world skills and career-ready experience in cybersecurity.
National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy 3.0
PI: Paul Wagner (The University of Arizona)
Co-PI: Robert Honomichl (The University of Arizona)
Key Personnel: Nicole Kontak (The University of Arizona)
Funding: University of Arkansas Little Rock, National Security Agency, $827,219
Project Dates: 2024-2027
Summary:
The National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy (NCTA) is a U.S. graduate-level program that prepares high school educators to teach cybersecurity by offering a 12- to 18-credit graduate certificate with coursework in cybersecurity fundamentals, network security and teaching methods tailored for the secondary classroom. By equipping teachers with both technical knowledge and pedagogical skills, the academy aims to expand and strengthen cybersecurity education nationwide so more students can access rigorous, high-quality cybersecurity learning opportunities.
2024 DoD Cyber Scholarship Program and Capacity Building: SAFE LEARN: Security Assessments for Experiential Learning in Ecosystems with Area and Regional Needs
PI: Paul Wagner (The University of Arizona)
Co-PI: Robert Honomichl (The University of Arizona)
Funding: National Security Agency, $342,794 ($146,760 for SAFE LEARN)
Project Dates: 2024-2026
Summary:
An expansion project of the Arizona Cybersecurity Clinic in collaboration with Grand Canyon University, Estrella Mountain Community College, and Pima Community College.
2024 DoD GenCyber Grant
PI: Robert Honomichl (The University of Arizona)
Co-PI: Paul Wagner (The University of Arizona)
Funding: Dakota State University, National Security Agency, $89,973
Project Dates: 2024-2026
Summary:
The University of Arizona GenCyber program in 2025 provided middle school students with a free, hands-on introduction to cybersecurity, covering core concepts like digital safety, cryptography and ethical computing in an engaging campus-based setting. As part of the national GenCyber initiative, the program aimed to spark early interest in cybersecurity careers while broadening access to foundational cyber education for diverse learners.
The 502 Project: Building Gateways to the Cybersecurity Community
PI: Paul Wagner (The University of Arizona)
Funding: University of South Florida, National Security Agency, $29,988
Project Dates: 2024
Summary:
The 502 Project is a nonprofit initiative building a free, inclusive cybersecurity community platform that connects students with mentors, experts, organized challenges and events to help bridge the gap between early interest and formal pathways into cybersecurity careers. It aims to centralize volunteer mentorship, skill-building opportunities and networking across education, industry and community groups so aspiring cybersecurity professionals—especially high school students—can explore and advance in the field more easily.
Middle School CTE Accelerator
PI: Robert Honomichl (The University of Arizona)
Co-PI: Paul Wagner (The University of Arizona)
Funding: Luminary Labs, LLC, $85,000
Project Dates: July 1, 2023 – January 31, 2024
Summary:
The University of Arizona was one of five institutions selected to host a Middle Grades CTE Accelerator program. This initiative was closely related to the CyberNet Academies, which were funded by the Office of Career and Technical Education. The Middle Grades CTE Accelerator was designed to work with 10 middle school teachers in the Tucson area to provide cybersecurity education curriculum, pedagogical best practices and ongoing mentoring. The professional development consisted of 80 hours of online instruction and 40 hours of face-to-face instruction. Participants were also provided a technology package to continue their work on cybersecurity topics.
Cybersecurity High School Innovations
PI: Robert Honomichl (The University of Arizona)
Funding: City University of Seattle, National Security Agency, $21,294
Project Dates: October 1, 2022 – December 31, 2023; October 1, 2023 – August 17, 2024
Summary:
The Cybersecurity High School Innovations (CHI) program was designed to provide cybersecurity education and professional development to 40 high school teachers each year. Each year, the program consisted of five weeks of online instruction, a week-long summit in Seattle and year-long mentoring. The CHI project was initially designed to serve high school teachers from a seven-state region. Although Arizona was not one of the initial states in the project, it was added during years two and three of the grant.
