Neel Mehta 
The U.S. Army Reserve has teamed up with six universities and private companies to form a cyber warrior network in an effort to address cyber threats.
Chief of Army Reserve Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Talley inked the partnership with the University of Colorado, Drexel University, George Mason University, Norwich University, University of Texas at San Antonio and University of Washington Tacoma at an event on Capitol Hill, the Army said Tuesday.
Talley said the program is intended to develop soldiers’ cyber skills and fulfill the government’s demand for cyber warriors that will serve in the Reserve and private sector, Lisa Ferdinando writes.
He noted a Government Accountability Office estimate that indicates the government is in need of 40,000 cybersecurity professionals, according to the Army.
Talley said the private-public partnership intends to hire cyber warriors, connect cyber professionals with employers and advance interest in a cybersecurity career among students, Ferdinando writes.
Lt. Col. Scott Nelson, Cyber P3 program manager, added that the partnership provides opportunity for active-component soldiers who are separating to join the Army Reserve for a career in cybersecurity.