Manager named to lead Cybersecurity Center in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Springfield Technical Community College has named a cyber range manager for the Springfield Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (CCE) at Springfield Union Station.

Following a comprehensive search, the college has hired Gene M. Kingsley of Chicopee who will be responsible for a host of facility operations.

Supported by local, state and federal funding, the Center, which is slated to include a cyber range and security operations center, is scheduled to open in 2024 and will serve as a regional center for Western Massachusetts and beyond. The CCE is a collaboration between STCC, the Springfield Redevelopment Authority and CyberTrust Massachusetts.

The 6,000-square-foot CCE will include a cyber range, which is a simulated training environment, and a security operations center, which is envisioned as a support for Massachusetts municipalities to detect cybersecurity events in real time and respond quickly. Students who train at the CCE could move into paid internships or employment where they would work with professionals to confront cybersecurity threats, which is a growing global problem. The cybersecurity industry needs more trained professionals to help defeat security threats, and the CCE could help fill the demand.

The state-of-the-art CCE will provide valuable technology-focused training and a career start for students and could attract new people into cybersecurity as a profession, said STCC Vice President and Chief Information Officer Mary Kaselouskas. The CCE at Union Station also will serve as a venue for the region's employers to gather and strategize.

The naming of Kingsley comes in October, which is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a time to celebrate the cybersecurity ecosystem that includes educational institutions, businesses, research and development centers, technology groups and more.

“We are looking forward to the opening of the Cybersecurity Center next year and are pleased to announce the CCE range manager. Gene brings the technical and leadership skills needed for this key position,” Kaselouskas said. “He has a strong background in cybersecurity and a passion for cybersecurity training and development. He began his higher education journey as a community college student and has a deep understanding of the mission of STCC.”

We are looking forward to the opening of the Cybersecurity Center next year and are pleased to announce the CCE range manager. Mary Kaselouskas, STCC Vice President and Chief Information Officer

The CCE in Springfield can help support access from underrepresented communities into the industry. STCC’s Cybersecurity programs, including Computer Systems Engineering and Programming, represents over 200 students who could train at the CCE as part of their degree or certificate.

CyberTrust Massachusetts is partnering with STCC and the Springfield Redevelopment Authority to support the Springfield CCE, and the unique entity also supports other higher education enterprises including a Center at Bridgewater State University.

Meghan Martinez, Director of Cyber Range Programs for CyberTrust Massachusetts, said, CyberTrust Massachusetts is excited about STCC’s newest hire.

“The CyberTrust cyber range, powered by Cyberbit, is the technical differentiator on which students can distinguish themselves and prepare for industry, and Gene certainly has the experience to create robust programming for student learners and industry professionals alike,” Martinez said. “What I appreciate about him is his sense of responsibility in using his relative privilege to uplift historically marginalized communities that are so often underrepresented in the cybersecurity industry, and I look forward to working with him to ensure that the Commonwealth has the diverse workforce we need for long-term economic and cyber resiliency.”

Kingsley’s experience includes managing Information Security at Reliant Medical Group. He also served as director of the Security Operations Center at the University of Massachusetts. He holds a Master of Science degree in Communications and Information Management from the Graduate School at Bay Path College and a Master of Business Administration from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Westfield State College (now Westfield State University) and an associate degree from Holyoke Community College.

"I am truly thrilled to join the Springfield Cybersecurity Center of Excellence as its new Cyber Range Manager,” Kingsley said. “With my background in Information Security at Reliant Medical Group and experience leading the Security Operations Center at the University of Massachusetts, I am well-prepared to take on this role. The opportunity to contribute to the growth of the cybersecurity industry and foster the development of the next generation of cybersecurity professionals in vital sectors is a challenge I eagerly embrace.

“As we celebrate Cybersecurity Awareness Month, I look forward to the Center's opening in 2024 and the vital role it will play in enhancing our region's cybersecurity capabilities,” Kingsley added. “Together with these exceptional partners, I am confident that we will make a significant impact in addressing the growing global cybersecurity challenges and fulfilling the demand for well-trained professionals in these critical fields."

Interested in applying to STCC? Visit stcc.edu/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.

About Springfield Technical Community College

STCC, the Commonwealth's only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. STCC's highly regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide unequaled opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the college – a designated Hispanic Serving Institution – seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. STCC supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed and socially responsible graduates.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu

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