Entergy Grants Jackson State University $2 Million for Cybersecurity Lab

JACKSON, Miss., Oct. 8, 2024 — Jackson State University (JSU) has been awarded a $2 million grant from the Entergy Charitable Foundation to establish the Critical Power Grid Network Security Lab. The announcement was made on Monday, October 7, during a press conference at the university where Entergy officials presented the grant to JSU President Marcus Thompson, Ph.D.

This new initiative represents a collaborative effort between Jackson State University and Entergy to address the growing need for skilled cybersecurity professionals in the nuclear, electric, and natural gas sectors. “I am honored to receive this generous grant on behalf of Jackson State University. This gift will have a lasting impact on the lives of our students and the future of the energy sector,” stated Thompson.

Local dignitaries, including Representative Bennie Thompson, were present at the event. The Critical Power Grid Security Lab Project is expected to become a significant part of JSU’s ongoing commitment to workforce development, focusing primarily on energy infrastructure and cybersecurity. The lab will enable students to gain practical experience in securing critical power grid infrastructure against cyber threats.

Haley Fisackerly, Entergy Mississippi president and CEO, highlighted the importance of cybersecurity in modern society, emphasizing the necessity of electricity and the challenges posed by cyber threats. “The robust growth in our company and the state is providing extraordinary opportunities to help build a diverse and skilled workforce in the cybersecurity field,” Fisackerly said.

This partnership aims to bridge the cybersecurity workforce gap, which has become a pressing issue globally. According to (ISC)², a global cybersecurity certification body, there was a shortage of approximately 3.4 million cybersecurity professionals worldwide in 2022, with over 700,000 job openings in the U.S. alone. JSU’s new lab will contribute to addressing this shortfall.

Wilbur Walters, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Science, Engineering, and Technology at JSU, remarked, “Having access to a facility such as this means our students won’t just be learning about cybersecurity—they’ll be directly engaging with the same challenges that professionals are facing in the energy sector today.”

The cybersecurity sector’s importance is underscored by a Cybersecurity Ventures report predicting global cybercrime costs to rise to $10.5 trillion annually by 2025. As cyber threats escalate, collaboration between institutions like JSU and industry leaders such as Entergy is crucial for establishing a strong defense mechanism in the energy sector.

Drew Marsh, Entergy chair and CEO, articulated the company’s commitment to education and community. “Our partnership with Jackson State University is a testament to our commitment to creating opportunities for students and shaping the leaders of tomorrow,” Marsh stated.

Jackson State will receive the $2 million grant in multiple installments, exclusively to develop the Critical Power Grid Network Security Lab, with a focus on cybersecurity in nuclear, energy, and natural gas areas.