An ongoing project led by the Warren B. Nelms Institute is equipping veterans with in-demand skills in hardware security. This rapidly growing field is becoming more and more critical in today’s increasingly connected world.
Funded by NSF, “Pivots: VETS-HASTE: Veterans SkillBridge through Industry based Hardware Security Training and Education,” is led by Dr. Wanli Xing (College of Education) and Dr. Sandip Ray (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering).
The program begins with a week of hands-on experiential training at the University of Florida campus where the veterans are taught the foundational concepts and have the opportunity to work with real hardware. Following the initial training sessions, participants deepen their expertise through at-home coursework, webinars, and guidance, which prepares them for industry internships. This progression ensures that they receive not only the essential knowledge, but also practical, real-world experience needed to join the workforce as security professionals.
“We take 10 people per year for a total of three years. We work with local companies to teach them various aspects of hardware security that are relevant to industry, and then they get to intern at those companies,” said Dr. Ray. “And after that, they would be prepared to take on a professional job in hardware security.”
The first cohort of veterans were very successful in learning the concepts taught throughout the course. All 10 participants successfully graduated from the program. Of these, nine participated in the internship program, while one went onto a job in the cybersecurity field right away.
Hyunju Oh, a Ph.D. student in Educational Technology who is working alongside Dr. Xing and Dr. Ray on the project, has seen several promising outcomes from the Year One participants.
“One participant discovered a passion for hardware security through our program, which became a cornerstone for his future career. He considered the VETS-HASTE course foundational and has since applied to a bachelor’s degree program in hardware security,” Hyunju said.
This May, the second cohort of 10 veterans participated in the week-long training session at the University of Florida campus. The participants are currently in the process of completing the eight weeks of at-home learning, with internship selection to be one of the next key milestones.
By bridging the gap between military experience and specialized hardware security training, the program simultaneously addresses the need for a skilled workforce and empowers veterans to embark on new, fulfilling career paths.
