A July 26 Gazette article details how Maryland will receive $15 million in funding from the federal government for cybersecurity initiatives, including a cybersecurity center to serve as a bridge between the private sector and federal, state, and local governments.

The lion’s share —$10 million — would go toward launching a National Cybersecurity Center for Excellence at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, as part of an upcoming federal appropriations bill. The center will support the cybersecurity requirements of federal agencies, state and local governments, academia and private businesses, officials said.

“The idea is that we will have it as a civilian gateway to private industry to get involved with cybersecurity,” said Rachel MacKnight, an aide to U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D) of Baltimore, chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science. “You can’t do this at [the National Security Agency] or any of the military agencies, but you can do it at NIST.” 

MacKnight said the center will help build the state’s cybersecurity work force and develop the industry, creating many jobs.