Radford University receives second Commonwealth Cyber Initiative Award to expand cybersecurity workforce development in Southwest Virginia

Radford, VA (08/26/2025) — Radford University has been awarded a $60,000 grant from the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI), marking the university's second award from the organization. The funding will support the continuation and expansion of the Professional Accelerated Cyber Education (PACE) program, an innovative workforce development initiative led by the university's Vinod Chachra IMPACT Lab.

Originally launched in 2024 with CCI seed funding, the PACE program provides flexible, online, competency-based cybersecurity training to working professionals across Southwest Virginia. In its first year, the program enrolled 62 participants in an introductory course aligned with the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity. With the 2025 continuation funding, PACE will scale its efforts by advancing a portion of those completers into the full 18-credit cybersecurity certificate stack, preparing them for industry-recognized credentials such as CompTIA Security+, Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) and SANS GIAC GPEN.

"This award reflects our continued commitment to addressing the cybersecurity workforce shortage in Virginia, especially in rural and underserved regions," said Tom Bennett II, the senior director of business operations and planning for the division of economic development and corporate education who has served as the interim executive director of the IMPACT Lab. "By expanding access to affordable, on-demand cyber education, we're strengthening not just individual career pathways, but the digital resilience of the region as a whole."

"CCI SWVA is proud to continue our partnership with Radford University and the Vinod Chachra IMPACT Lab," said Dr. Gretchen Matthews, director of the CCI southwest node. "The success of the initial PACE project made the decision to extend our support an easy one. We believe the program will continue to make a meaningful impact on cybersecurity workforce development across the region."

The 2025 continuation also includes a stakeholder engagement component, with a workshop planned to assess employer and learner feedback on the program's effectiveness and job relevance. Through this initiative, Radford aims to institutionalize PACE as a scalable model for regional cybersecurity education.

The program aligns directly with CCI's workforce development priorities by offering:

Accelerated, flexible online delivery

Competency-based instruction and credential alignment

A targeted focus on Southwest Virginia's workforce and employers

This award strengthens Radford University's position as a leader in cybersecurity workforce innovation and expands the university's impact in preparing Virginia's future-ready digital workforce.

Radford University

Radford University receives second Commonwealth Cyber Initiative Award to expand cybersecurity workforce development in Southwest Virginia

Radford University

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