A new war is underway. A war fought among nations, organized terror cells and individual hackers, against our national defense systems. A war against our banking, retail, health and energy business sectors. The sophistication of these attacks continues to advance. Currently 350,000 cyberdefense positions are available in the United States with projections for exponential growth in needed cyberdefense workforce. For many of these cyber positions, the candidates must meet Top Secret Security Clearance level standards. There is a need to expand cyber research, innovation and entrepreneurship to stay well ahead of the “bad guys.” There is great need to ensure the quality of cyberservices, vendors and products in supply chains, manufactured products and cyber insurance ratings.
This proposal asks for the creation of a Tulsa Enterprise for Cyber Innovation, Talent and Entrepreneurship (TECITE.) The backbone of this enterprise is a set of co-located cyber centers of excellence that link industry, federal agencies and The University of Tulsa in a united effort in defense of our information systems. The proposal takes advantage of Tulsa’s low cost of living, ability to recruit and retain young talent and the near downtown Tulsa Opportunity Zone along 6th Street. The proposal leverages The University of Tulsa’s 20-year history as a lead supplier of Top Secret Security Clearance talent to federal agencies and as a national center of excellence in cyberdefense education and research. All of this is an effort to significantly grow additional cyber workforce and innovations in Tulsa.