Sandia National Laboratories has recently launched its Center for Cyber Defenders, an internship institute focused on cybersecurity. This program has been actively involving college students from all over the United States in critical national security issues for over two decades. Since its inception in 2021, the program has provided participants with networking opportunities, training, mentorship, and research experiences.
Colette Bristol, who coordinates the internship, plans various events for the interns. These include tours of important Sandia facilities such as the National Solar Thermal Test Facility and the Ion Beam Lab, as well as visits to the virtual reality lab in Sandia's Cyber Engineering Research Laboratory. Additionally, interns have the chance to participate in short courses. The program encourages networking and knowledge sharing among interns by having them work together in the same office space.
According to Bristol, this setup allows interns to bounce ideas off each other and get help. They also get to see the diverse range of problems that their fellow interns are working on. Cybersecurity is a broad field with numerous components, and this program provides interns with exposure to a wide spectrum of possibilities.
Over the years, the program has hosted close to 500 students specializing in cybersecurity, computer science, computer engineering, and related disciplines. In the previous year alone, around 60 percent of the interns successfully transitioned into full-time positions. Additionally, approximately one-third of past interns secured full-time positions upon graduating. Tiawna Cayton, the team lead for the internship program, emphasized the importance of exposing students to Sandia's work and enabling them to contribute to meaningful national security projects.
In conclusion, Sandia National Laboratories' Center for Cyber Defenders has a strong legacy of nurturing cybersecurity talent. Through networking, training, mentorship, and research opportunities, this program has been instrumental in preparing college students for careers in this vital field. With a high success rate in transitioning interns into full-time roles, the program continues to contribute to the growth of cybersecurity professionals.