Florida’s Cybersecurity Training Program Names New Leader

(TNS) — The University of South Florida’s Cyber Florida will have a new leader beginning next week. The university appointed J. Michael McConnell, who served as director of the National Security Agency between 1992 and 1996, as executive director. Cyber Florida was established by the state Legislature in 2014 and is tasked with making Florida the “cyberstate.”

“Through education and problem-solving research, we can address the critical need to train a more skilled cybersecurity workforce and create new technologies to protect our nation’s infrastructure,” McConnell said a release.

According to the university, McConnell will work between Tampa and Washington, D.C. to “leverage his relationships” with communities such as national and homeland security, law enforcement, intelligence and business.

Sri Sridharan, Cyber Florida’s current director, will retire in June.

©2020 the Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Fla.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.