By Rory Dulock | Staff Writer

The Central Texas Cyber Range hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday to mark the start of the multimillion-dollar center’s partnership with Baylor and McLennan Community College to provide research and training for cybersecurity.

Provost Nancy Brickhouse said the CTCR will focus its efforts on applied research and education to address cybersecurity needs on the local, national and international levels.

“The Central Texas Cyber Range will be a nationally recognized cyber resilience and security renovation hub, specializing in applied research and educational training,” Brickhouse said. “Its mission is to perform transformational applied research in cybersecurity, educate and train future leaders in cybersecurity, provide trusted cybersecurity analysis and consulting for government and corporate sponsors, and promote cybersecurity to our community.”

Brickhouse said the CTCR will hopefully help fill the 3.5 million open job opportunities in the cybersecurity field globally.

“Texas and the nation have a critical shortfall of cybersecurity talent,” Brickhouse said. “In Texas alone, it is estimated that there are over 40,000 open [cybersecurity] jobs … The lack of work-ready talent in cybersecurity represents a serious threat to our nation’s security and our economic well-being.”

While Baylor made a significant investment in building out the Baylor Research and Innovation Collaborative for the Cyber Range, Brickhouse said a lot of the funding came from the help of Rep. Pete Sessions (TX-17).

“Thanks to Congressman Sessions and his legislative team, Baylor and [McLennan Community College] have received about $2.5 million from the U.S. Department of Education to purchase the technology you’ll see in the Cyber Range,” Brickhouse said. “As well as support staffing for the various cybersecurity initiatives … being developed and offered.”

Sessions said the CTCR will allow Baylor and McLennan Community College to lead the way for advancements in the cybersecurity field.

“What we’re taking part in is not just something here at Baylor University or [McLennan Community College], but rather an opportunity for [Baylor] and MCC to begin further development of people who will be involved not only in this industry, but protecting our nation,” Sessions said.

The CTCR will produce well-trained cybersecurity workers who will help the industry, Sessions said.

“We much recognize that a quality education at Baylor University and MCC means that leading-edge professors and ideas will not just roam this BRIC building but actually be taught to people who will come with experience and integrity to the market places to help leading-edge companies,” Sessions said. “Not just to plug holes, but to develop our future — that is what computer science is all about.”

Baylor and McLennan Community College hold the designation of a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security. More than $3.5 million was funded to build the 3,000-square-foot CTCR addition to the BRIC.