The U.S. Army has introduced a pilot program that aims to hire and train technology professionals from the private sector as lieutenants for cyber operations in a bid to increase the number of the service branch’s cyber personnel, FCW reported Tuesday.
The Cyber Direct Commissioning Program seeks civilian talent to help the Army Cyber Command develop tools that can support operations of the Cyber Mission Force and fulfill gaps in 14 skill areas such as software operations, security engineers, software designers and product managers.
The program is meant to open opportunities for non-military cyber professionals to join the Army and help the service branch produce cyberspace technology platforms and services.
Lt. Gen. Paul Nakasone, Army Cyber Commander, said the program will run for five years and annually recruit five officers tasked to report at Army installations in either Georgia and Maryland.
Nakasone added he expects the command to hold its first board gathering in January and start to commission eligible participants for the officer training program in February.
