“Greater centralization will also enhance public-private collaboration in cyber defense. This dimension of the problem has gotten far too little attention, though common sense alone makes plain that in an economy like ours, where commercial innovation is usually well ahead of government, close cooperation is indispensable.

“That is why I am so proud of the work being done here in Arizona. I know of nowhere else in America where public-private partnership in cyber defense is better cultivated and developed. Here we already have in place new capabilities to share actionable information and to train Arizonans to repel cyberattacks. Our state has established an impressive array of unique assets, including the Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center and its sister organization, the Arizona Cyber Threat Response Alliance.

“Arizona State University has taken the lead in academia, making a commitment to dramatically increase the output of cyber-qualified graduates. ASU’s leadership is critical to solving the number one challenge across the cybersecurity landscape—the need for a trained and capable workforce for both government and industry. Cyber-trained graduates lead the growth of our economy by strengthening our state’s strong defense sector and contributing to federal research.

“Arizona is already an established leader among technology states and a greenhouse for tech startups, so this comes as no surprise. Our state ranks among the top ten in tech industry employment, in tech sector contribution to the overall state economy, and in innovation. As companies relocate here or grow their operations in Arizona, they bring with them a capable cyber workforce. This successful cooperation of our universities with industry and government affirms Arizona’s leadership and gives us the opportunity to play a pivotal role in preparing the United States for the information warfare of the 21st Century.”