Happy New Year! My name is Susana Barraza and I’m the new NICE Program Manager. I bring to NICE a background in Hispanic Serving Institution-STEM success programs, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Economics. In my new role at NICE, I will be serving as staff liaison for the NICE Community Coordinating Council, Working Groups, Communities of Interest, and the NICE Interagency Coordinating Council. I am eager to dive into my role as we start the new year!

In this winter’s newsletter, the featured article describes the pathway created to address the cybersecurity workforce demand through the NICE Strategic Plan and the Revised NICE Framework. In addition, the Government Spotlight lays out the Presidential Management Fellows Program – a great opportunity designed to respond to the needs of an evolving cybersecurity workforce. In our Industry Spotlight, the Aspen Cybersecurity Group highlights steps that the private sector can take to strengthen the cybersecurity talent pipeline in 2021. Our Academic Spotlight focuses on cybersecurity education through technological and engineering literacy standards. I hope you enjoy these articles, and I look forward to working with all of you in our vibrant NICE community in the year ahead.

Susana Barraza
Program Manager, NICE

Leeza Garber, Esq.

This issue’s interview is with Leeza Garber, an attorney who specializes in privacy and cybersecurity law, a cybersecurity consultant, and co-founder of Can. Trust. Will., a best hiring practices LLC focused on cybersecurity hiring. Just some of the topics Ms. Garber touches on in this conversation are her career; finding, hiring, and keeping employees; and advice for new learners entering into cybersecurity.

Organization: Privacy & Cybersecurity Attorney; Co-Founder of Can. Trust. Will., LLC; Adjunct Professor at Drexel University's Thomas R. Kline School of Law (Information Privacy Law) and Guest Lecturer at The University of Pennsylvania's The Wharton School (Internet Law)

Category: Oversee & Govern

Work Roles: Cyber Legal Advisor, Executive Cyber Leadership, Privacy Compliance

Academic Degrees: Bryn Mawr College, cum laude, B.A. 2008, University of Pennsylvania Law School, J.D., 2011, The Wharton School, Certificate in Business and Public Policy, 2011

Certifications: None

Cybersecurity Education through Technological and Engineering Literacy Standards

By Philip A. Reed, President, and Steven A. Barbato, Executive Director and CEO, of the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association

A new set of standards for technological and engineering literacy is available to better define a level of literacy expected of learners from pre-K through 12th grade.

Steps for Strengthening the Talent Pipeline in 2021

By David Forscey, Managing Director, Aspen Cybersecurity Group

As the country enters a period of significant transition, the time is ripe for industry and government to rethink our approach. Outdated concepts of what constitutes “cybersecurity talent” are preventing thousands of employers from taking advantage of this enormous talent pool.

Presidential Management Fellows Program Helps Identify Cybersecurity Leaders

By Arianne Jolene Gallagher, Director, Presidential Management Fellows Program, OPM’s Center for Leadership Development

To help respond to this evolving need in the workforce, the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program sought to evaluate the level of cybersecurity aptitude and attitude among its finalists.