Massachusetts community college names upcoming cyber center after congressman
Leaders at Springfield Technical Community College in Massachusetts on Tuesday announced that a forthcoming cybersecurity center will be named in honor of Rep. Richard E. Neal.
Neal, a former mayor of Springfield, led a funding effort in 2023 that resulted in $3 million of congressionally directed spending to establish the center, according to a press release from the college.
“This is a great honor, one that I am particularly proud of knowing that this Cybersecurity Center for Excellence will have a profound impact on local students for years to come,” Neal said in the release. “As one of just two cybersecurity centers in the state, this technological hub will invest in the brightest young minds in our region, giving them the resources needed to learn how to combat these threats, and shoring up the resiliency of our cybersecurity in western Massachusetts.”
The Richard E. Neal Cybersecurity Center of Excellence was also made possible by a $1.46 million state grant and $500,000 from the City of Springfield. The center is expected to open later this year and is anticipated to help advance cybersecurity awareness, education and innovation. The 6,000-square-foot facility will include a cyber range and a security operations center, which is intended to support the cybersecurity needs of municipalities and small businesses throughout the state, the release said.
Students who train at the center will have access to internships meant to springboard their careers as the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. The college offers degrees and certificates in cybersecurity, programming and computer systems engineering.
“Congressman Neal has long been a supporter of STCC, of Springfield and our regional needs,” John B. Cook, Springfield Technical Community College’s president, said in the release. “We are grateful for his dedication to driving innovation and excellence in cybersecurity and for leading the collaboration that is making this center a reality.”
