Radford University has been awarded a $60,000 grant from the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative
(CCI), marking the university’s second award from the organization. The funding will
support the continuation and expansion of the Professional Accelerated Cyber Education
(PACE) program, an innovative workforce development initiative led by the university’s
Vinod Chachra IMPACT Lab.
Originally launched in 2024 with CCI seed funding, the PACE program provides flexible,
online, competency-based cybersecurity training to working professionals across Southwest
Virginia. In its first year, the program enrolled 62 participants in an introductory
course aligned with the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Workforce
Framework for Cybersecurity. With the 2025 continuation funding, PACE will scale its
efforts by advancing a portion of those completers into the full 18-credit cybersecurity
certificate stack, preparing them for industry-recognized credentials such as CompTIA
Security+, Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) and SANS GIAC GPEN.
“This award reflects our continued commitment to addressing the cybersecurity workforce
shortage in Virginia, especially in rural and underserved regions,” said Tom Bennett
II, the senior director of business operations and planning for the division of economic
development and corporate education who has served as the interim executive director
of the IMPACT Lab. “By expanding access to affordable, on-demand cyber education,
we’re strengthening not just individual career pathways, but the digital resilience
of the region as a whole.”
“CCI SWVA is proud to continue our partnership with Radford University and the Vinod
Chachra IMPACT Lab,” said Dr. Gretchen Matthews, director of the CCI southwest node.
“The success of the initial PACE project made the decision to extend our support an
easy one. We believe the program will continue to make a meaningful impact on cybersecurity
workforce development across the region.”
The 2025 continuation also includes a stakeholder engagement component, with a workshop
planned to assess employer and learner feedback on the program’s effectiveness and
job relevance. Through this initiative, Radford aims to institutionalize PACE as a
scalable model for regional cybersecurity education.
The program aligns directly with CCI’s workforce development priorities by offering:
- Accelerated, flexible online delivery
- Competency-based instruction and credential alignment
- A targeted focus on Southwest Virginia’s workforce and employers
This award strengthens Radford University’s position as a leader in cybersecurity
workforce innovation and expands the university’s impact in preparing Virginia’s future-ready
digital workforce.