James Gilgallon, a Cybersecurity Support Technician Registered Apprentice through CyberWyoming and DigeTekS LLC, graduated from the Department of Labor approved program after two years of study and on-the-job learning.

“Completing the apprenticeship requires consistent focus and a commitment to continuous learning. It was important to absorb as much as possible on the job, while also seeking out knowledge beyond my day-to-day responsibilities. While there were challenges along the way, staying dedicated to the process allowed me to develop the skills and experience necessary to advance in my career,” said Gilgallon.

Workforce Demand and Employer Engagement

There are over 1100 job openings related to cybersecurity in Wyoming, according to Cyberseek.org.  DigeTekS LLC supports multiple organizations in several communities throughout the State and James is their third graduate of the program.

“One of the biggest benefits of the apprenticeship was the opportunity to apply what I was learning in real time, thanks to the support of DigeTekS. Being part of a team that was invested in my development made a significant difference. The mentorship I received throughout the program not only deepened my technical knowledge but also gave me the confidence to take on greater responsibilities,” said Gilgallon.

Apprenticeship Curriculum and Structure

The Cybersecurity Technician Apprenticeship encourages mastery through eight job functions. The job functions focus on developing security policies and protocols, desktop support for end users, network management and operations, server management, detection and prevention of threats, risk management and business continuity, identifying suspicious activity on the network, and responding to cyberattacks with defensive strategies.

CyberWyoming sponsors three Department of Labor approved Registered Apprenticeship programs. The IT Specialist, for entry level professionals, and Cybersecurity Support Technician, for more advanced employees were developed for technical professionals. These apprenticeship training programs were developed in 2017 and 2018 and have now been adopted by other organizations nationwide. The third Registered Apprenticeship program, the Cybersecurity Business Counselor (CBC) occupation, was developed in 2023 to help business advisors upskill and incorporate cybersecurity into their day to day advising strategies. The CBC program remains proprietary to CyberWyoming.

“Registered apprenticeship isn’t just for plumbing, welding, and electrical anymore. In our digitally connected age, it must include technical professions, business, and cybersecurity,” said Laura Baker, CyberWyoming Executive Director, a statewide nonprofit organization based in Laramie.

Employer and Apprentice Benefits

The CyberWyoming technical Registered Apprenticeship programs are free for any employer willing to technically mentor a new professional. As a part of the program, CyberWyoming requires each apprentice to undergo soft skills training on such topics as strategic planning for tech to conflict management and more.

“In my day-to-day role, I work directly with a range of technologies—from resetting an email password to responding to a potential threat. Every day brings a new challenge, which I see as an opportunity to learn and develop. Cybersecurity and IT in general is always evolving, and staying current is a key part of the industry,” said Gilgallon.

“Today’s technology apprentices are tomorrow’s I.T. managers,” said Baker. She went on to explain that statistically employers benefit from apprenticeship with increased employee engagement, better trained employees, and higher retention levels.

Benefits to apprentices are evident from this article including additional training grants and scholarships as well as a Department of Labor certificate upon completion of the program. Gilgallon finished his Microsoft 102 and CompTIA Network+ certificates while in the program.

“We think of apprenticeship as dual-credit for the apprentice,” said Baker. “They get to work on their industry and vendor specific certifications while also getting credit through the apprenticeship.”