Senator Donovan Dela Cruz (D-Launani Valley, Mililani Mauka, Wahiawa, Waipio Acres, Wheeler, Whitmore Village) announced the groundbreaking for Leilehua High School's cybersecurity classroom today.
Senator Dela Cruz secured these funds back in 2017. Construction is scheduled to be completed next year.
This cybersecurity classroom is part of a program designed to help students gain skills needed to be competitive in a rapidly developing local field: cybersecurity and government cyber-tech. The construction of the classroom will also provide local jobs for the community.
This cybersecurity classroom will provide the hardware necessary for schools to realize Senator Dela Cruz’s goal to capitalize on economic opportunity already located in Central Oahu and provide high school graduates with skills for them to be competitive in the workforce.
“This is one step in the plan to diversify our economy,” said Senator Dela Cruz. “We need to develop more opportunities in sectors that have been proven resilient, like cybersecurity. Our schools need to prepare our keiki for the future and create real opportunities for high-demand jobs tied with real employers.”
Senator Dela Cruz has worked with the National Security Agency (NSA), the University of Hawai‘i, Department of Education, and Leilehua Complex to develop a pathway between schools and the NSA, one of our nation’s four “cryptological centers.” The NSA is on the front lines of American intelligence gathering and monitoring various regions for national defense purposes.
Senator Dela Cruz has also worked with the NSA and the Leilehua Complex to host cybersecurity camps, such as GenCyber and Hacker High, to raise awareness about this lucrative career path.