The Urgent Moment for CyberAI

Artificial Intelligence is transforming our economy. It is also reshaping the cybersecurity landscape at unprecedented speed.

The National Science Foundation defines CyberAI broadly as:

The use of AI in cybersecurity operations and the security and resilience of AI systems themselves.

As AI systems scale across healthcare, finance, infrastructure, defense, and education, we face a critical workforce gap:
We do not have enough trained professionals who understand both cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.

The threats are evolving faster than the workforce.

We must act now.

Building the Next Generation of CyberAI Professionals

TCN is launching an ambitious initiative:

🎯 Train 1,000 CyberAI Professionals in 24 Months

This effort will prepare individuals for high-impact careers that strengthen:

National cybersecurity resilience
AI system integrity and safety
Secure digital infrastructure in underserved communities
Ethical and responsible AI deployment

We will pursue funding through the National Science Foundation’s CyberAI Innovation Track, which supports projects that enhance preparation of AI and cybersecurity professionals.

As Sylvia Butterfield, Head of STEM Education at NSF, shared:

Since 2001, the SFS program has helped recruit, train and grow generations of cybersecurity professionals equipped to address the nation’s new and evolving cyberthreats. Keeping pace with emerging technologies, CyberAI SFS will continue this longstanding tradition by supporting and growing an adaptive AI workforce.

TCN intends to help lead that next generation.

Why TCN?

Founded in 2019 as a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Cooperative, Tacoma Cooperative Network was built on one core belief:

Connectivity is not just infrastructure — it is opportunity.

Since 2019, TCN has worked to strengthen community access to fast, reliable, secure, and affordable internet while building the workforce and local capacity needed to sustain it.

We believe meaningful connectivity happens when communities have both:

Access to infrastructure
The skills to participate fully in today’s economy

And we have a proven track record.

Proven Performance via Connect Across Tacoma

Through our workforce development program, Connect Across Tacoma, TCN and its partners have delivered measurable results:

170 community workshops and trainings
Reaching 3,500+ participants across library sites and housing communities
105 community members trained to train others
Building peer-to-peer capacity and local leadership
100+ large-scale public events supported
Including Mosaic Discovering Technology Fair, Tacoma City Council events, Tacoma Public Libraries, Pierce County Libraries, and Seattle Housing Authority workshops
45,000+ attendees reached

We have built infrastructure.
We have built trust.
Now we are building the CyberAI workforce.

Why Your Support Matters

Federal funding is competitive and requires demonstrated community backing.

Your contribution helps us:

Refine and pilot the CyberAI curriculum
Recruit diverse participants
Support stipends and access for underrepresented learners
Build partnerships with industry and public institutions
Scale rapidly once NSF funding is secured

By helping us find more friends, supporters, and funding, you are helping build the workforce that will protect our digital future.

Join Us

The future of cybersecurity and AI resilience depends on who we train today.

Help us train 1,000 CyberAI professionals.
Help us secure tomorrow.

Let's launch Seattle's next CyberAI Institute

Supports training, equipment, and workforce pathways for our CyberAI program.