White House recognizes OCRI's efforts in cyber workforce development
UC is at the center of Ohio's cybersecurity efforts
The Ohio Cyber Range Institute (OCRI), which is headquartered at the University of Cincinnati, was highlighted by the White House for helping to build a cyber workforce that meets the challenges of the digital age.
October was Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and the White House challenged organizations to meet the growing demand for cybersecurity talent to build more secure, resilient and defensible cyberspace.
“We are appreciative of the commitments made by big technology companies like Cisco Systems and Palo Alto Networks, by manufacturers like Boeing, financial institutions like Visa, non-profits like ISC2, partnerships between groups like Siemens Energy, the SANS Institute and ICS Village, and statewide ecosystems like the Ohio Cyber Range Institute-Regional Programming center Ecosystem,” said Kemba Walden, acting national cyber director for the White House. “Together, commitments made by all of these institutions will build the pipeline of cyber talent and foster our ability to create a secure, resilient and defensible cyberspace.”
The OCRI is a statewide, collaborative network that supports cybersecurity programs across Ohio. The institute’s goal is to advance an integrated approach to cybersecurity education, workforce and economic development in cyber-related fields throughout the state.
In July, the OCRI hosted a cybersecurity exercise at UC Digital Futures for the Ohio Cyber Reserve, a volunteer force under the command of the state’s adjutant general.
“The OCRI-RPC Ecosystem is committed to expanding its skills-based training on a secure cyber range to all 88 counties in Ohio,” a release from the White House states. “The OCRI-RPC Ecosystem has supported, to date, over 20,000 distinct Ohio-based users through 314 K-12 classes, 668 higher education courses, and delivering 105 cyber camps, exercises, and bootcamps, the latter involving 1000 citizens seeking industry recognized cybersecurity credentials.”
Featured image at top: Marc Cahay, PhD, co-director of the Ohio Cyber Range Institute and head of the University of Cincinnati's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, speaks during the fifth annual Cybersecurity Education Symposium on Oct. 13 at UC Digital Futures. Photo/Margot Harknett
Innovation Lives Here
The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here.
Related Stories
Cincinnati a top destination for street art, museums
February 27, 2026
Discover why Cincinnati is a top destination for street art and museums, ranked among USA Today’s 10Best for 2026. Explore how University of Cincinnati research shows public art boosts community vitality, and find the best things to do near UC’s campus for students and visitors alike.
Intrapreneurship: Strategies to promote internal innovation
February 27, 2026
Intrapreneurship encourages employees at large companies to innovate and test ideas with an entrepreneur’s level of freedom. Learn how to become an intrapreneur in your organization.
'Paradigm-shifting' study confirms effectiveness of long-acting HIV treatment
February 26, 2026
The results of a clinical trial involving the University of Cincinnati, recently published in The New England Journal of Medicine, show people failing HIV treatments with oral medications were able to be treated successfully using injections.