When Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York) toured Pace University’s Cyber Range in Pleasantville on Nov. 15, she greeted each student with a handshake and a call to action in safeguarding our national security: “You’re learning something very important for our country.”
The senator – joined by lawmakers, university officials, business leaders and students – was on campus to see first-hand Pace’s state-of-the-art computer simulation laboratory, which puts students on the front lines in defending against a cyberattack. Specifically, the war room-like atmosphere provides an immersive learning experience that is similar to what they would encounter if they were defending against hackers at a financial institution, health-care facility or government agency. The students learn about neutralizing different scenarios under fire, in real time, through their study of cybersecurity, cyber operations, digital and multimedia forensics and computer crime investigations.
The tour came as Gillibrand was promoting Cyber Service Academy scholarships, a program created through her work on the Senate Armed Services Committee as a means of developing a trained cyber workforce.
“Thousands of unfilled DoD cyber positions leave our country with a severe shortage of personnel needed to protect the United States from adversaries like Russia,” Gillibrand said. “I developed the Cyber Service Academy scholarship program to help meet these needs and give our youth a path to good-paying jobs in government. This program will create a pipeline for a talented, highly trained cyber workforce, granting one year of free college for every year of subsequent public service (at DoD or the Intelligence Community). Pace University is a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity, and I encourage students to apply, earn free tuition and serve our great nation.”
The program; the federal government partnerships; and the scholarships — which cover tuition, select books and fees, a stipend for room and board and the purchase of a laptop; align with the university’s strength and mission of creating opportunities for students, said President Marvin Krislov:
“Cyberattacks are growing in size and scope, posing a serious threat to the U.S. economy and critical infrastructure. That’s why recruiting and training the next generation of cybersecurity professionals is vital. Pace is proud to partner with Sen. Gillibrand and the federal government on the Cyber Service Academy program, which creates opportunities for our students while strengthening the nation’s cybersecurity workforce.”
For junior information technology student Steven Schiavone, captain of Pace University’s Northeast Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition team, the meeting was both inspiring and affirming.
“Meeting Sen. Gillibrand and showcasing the work we do in the Cyber Range was an incredible experience,” Schiavone said. “Seidenberg (School of Computer Science and Information Systems) has provided me with amazing opportunities, including the CyberCorps Scholarship for Service (SFS). I’m excited to explore the possibility of a future career in the federal government.”
The program and its focus on experiential learning is a reason why Brian O’Hanlon ’26 transferred to Pace: “The Cyber Range provides hands-on experience through real-life scenarios,” he said. “It’s incredible to have so many opportunities that prepare you for the real world.”
Pace is accepting applications for its new Bachelor of Science in cybersecurity, which starts in fall 2025.
