Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano delivered two speeches at San Jose State University and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) during her recent trip to California as part of the ongoing Department of Homeland Security Campus Lecture Series. Her address at San Jose State focused on expanding the cybersecurity workforce and “the Department’s current efforts to secure cyberspace and develop the cyber workforce.” The Secretary said, “Our Fiscal Year 2013 budget includes significant new funding to support federal civilian departments and agencies in developing capabilities that will improve their cybersecurity posture and thwart advanced, persistent cyber threats.”

The Secretary also talked about the Department of Homeland Security’s sponsorship of the U.S. Cyber Challenge. This is a program “that works with academic and private sector partners to identify and develop cybersecurity talent to meet our growing needs. One part of the Cyber Challenge involves intensive summer camp experience for the best and the brightest cyber talent.” Noting that San Jose State will be hosting one such camp this coming August, the Secretary went on, “Students will participate in training sessions and exercises on topics ranging from network intrusion detection to forensics. The camp will culminate with a ‘capture the flag’ competition in which campers use their newly acquired knowledge to battle live attacks from hackers.”

The Secretary’s talk at UCLA focused on the department’s continuing “commitment to leveraging international partnerships to strengthen security and expedite legitimate trade and travel.” The Secretary reiterated that DHS works closely with international partners, ranging from foreign governments to major multinational organizations and global businesses, “to strengthen the security of global trade and travel upon which our nation’s economy and communities rely.”