January 7, 2000

FACT SHEET 

                              THE WHITE HOUSE

                       Office of the Press Secretary

  _______________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                   January 7, 2000

                                FACT SHEET

         Federal Cyber Services Training and Education Initiative


The President announced today a $25 million funding proposal for the
Federal Cyber Services (FCS) Training and Education initiative led by OPM.
The demand for information technologists and information security
specialists has grown faster than the supply. In both the public and the
private sector, there is a dearth of qualified new professionals in
information security.  The National Plan for National Information
Infrastructure, which details the FCS initiative, calls for the following
five programs to address this challenge.  Vigorous implementation of these
programs will help address the current shortages of information security
personnel.

-    A study by the Office of Personnel Management to identify and develop
competencies for federal information technology (IT) security positions,
and the associated training and certification requirements.

-    The development of Centers of IT Excellence to establish competencies
and certify current Federal IT workers and maintain their information
security skill levels throughout their careers.

-    The creation of a Scholarship for Service (SFS) program to recruit and
educate the next generation of Federal IT managers by awarding scholarships
for the study of information security, in return for a commitment to work
for a specified time for the federal government.  This program will also
support the development of information security faculty.

-    The development of a high school recruitment and training initiative
to identify promising high school students for participation in summer work
and internship programs that would lead to certification to Federal IT
workforce standards and possible future employment.

-    The development and implementation of a Federal INFOSEC awareness
curriculum aimed at ensuring computer security literacy throughout the
entire Federal workforce.

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