Brenda Marie Rivers
Microsoft, financial services provider Mastercard and enterprise software vendor Workday have signed up for a public-private initiative that aims to build the country's cybersecurity talent pipeline.
The Cybersecurity Talent Initiative, managed by the Partnership for Public Service, will offer recent graduates an opportunity to gain experience working for cyber defense programs in the government and commercial sectors, Mastercard said Tuesday.
Participants will be deployed at a federal agency over a two-year period to join leadership development activities and exchange insights with cybersecurity professionals.
Mastercard added that participants will also have a chance to secure full-time employment with the program’s industry partners and receive a maximum of $75K to relieve student loan debt upon the initiative’s conclusion.
The Department of Defense, CIA, Office of Naval Intelligence and the Federal Election Commission are among the government organizations that support the program.
Interested parties can submit applications through Oct. 18.
Agencies intend to announce offers in the spring of 2020 and participants are scheduled to commence their federal service by the summer or fall next year.
