Cardin Says Workforce Training and Predictability of Federal Budgets Critical to the Success of Maryland Cyber Businesses and Job Growth

Statement

U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, a member of the Senate Small Business and Finance Committees, hosted members of the Fort Meade Alliance and other small and larger Maryland businesses engaged in supporting national and economic security activities for an open discussion about cyber-related workforce development, opportunities for government contracting, and public-private partnerships. Maryland is the national epicenter for America's leading private and public cybersecurity employers and participants in the roundtable at Lockheed Martin's Center for Cyber Excellence are actively engaged in ensuring the success of current and future projects.

"For Marylanders, cybersecurity means a growing base of high quality, high tech jobs on the forefront of protecting both national security and civil rights. Maryland is the place to be for cybersecurity and the federal government should be a valuable partner that brings predictability to the marketplace. Developing a workforce that is proficient in STEM and cyber skills is good for our regional economy and our national security. We need strong public-private partnerships to match skills training with the high-tech cyber jobs available today and long into the future. And we must maintain and modernize our public transportation infrastructure to attract the most qualified businesses and workers to our communities," said Senator Cardin.

"I have made cybersecurity a priority because it is our number one threat in our country. Cybercriminals today are stealing more money than Jesse James every dreamed. This is a serious challenge, and we believe that Maryland is best positioned to take it on. Small businesses are the driving force behind job creation in America and cybersecurity is a prime market for innovation and growth. Our state has benefitted enormously from the hundreds of thousands of new jobs and scientific, medical and technological innovations that this rapidly growing field has brought us."

Senator Cardin added: "As the cybersecurity sector continues to expand, I will do all that I can to ensure that Maryland small businesses reap the economic benefits. Federal budgets are tight and have been unpredictable due to sequestration. Businesses need predictability. I will work to ensure that qualified small businesses are given a fair shot at contracts and subcontracts in the cybersecurity field."

Participants in today's cyber roundtable included the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, Sandy Spring Bank, UMBC, Praxis Engineering, WaveStrike, Anne Arundel Workforce Development, the Chesapeake Regional Tech Council, and others.

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