Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar announced a $300,000 grant for California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) to enhance its research into the effects of artificial intelligence (AI) on the cybersecurity workforce. Continuing Rep. Aguilar’s focus on strengthening the cybersecurity program at CSUSB, this grant will enable educators at the university to adapt their curriculum as AI technology rapidly evolves.

“As artificial intelligence technology develops, it is crucial that the cybersecurity workforce in the Inland Empire is equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to ensure we can keep up,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “This grant funding is an investment in the future success of the CSUSB students entering the cyber workforce and ensuring that the Inland Empire stays at the forefront of cybersecurity.”

“The grant supports our effort to forecast all the ways AI will impact the cyber workforce and to provide guidance for educators to adjust in real time to the changes with an information website, a series of workshops throughout the next two years,” said Vincent Nestler, Associate Professor, CSUSB School of Cyber and Decision Sciences.

The funding comes as part of the U.S. National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure’s (OAC) National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) pilot award program. The project, entitled “EAGER: NAIRR Pilot Expansion: FA1: AI Horizon: Forecasting Cybersecurity Workforce Evolution and Adaptive Skill Development,” will support efforts to integrate AI technology into cybersecurity by supporting research and educational needs at universities across the country. The grant funding will support the training of approximately 1,000 faculty members and 1,000 students across 470 higher education institutions across the country.

Rep. Aguilar has made strengthening the cybersecurity program at California State University, San Bernardino, a top priority. During his time in Congress, Rep. Aguilar has secured more than $130 million in federal resources for CSUSB’s cybersecurity program as part of his commitment to help connect students to national security jobs and strengthen the Inland Empire’s cybersecurity.