NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information Officer Teena Piccione high-fives FTCC student Noah Dudley while fellow student Charlotte Fisk looks on at FTCC on July 7, 2025. [Photo by Brad Losh]
Fayetteville Technical Community College hosted leaders from the N.C. Department of Information Technology and the Carolina Cyber Network on Monday to announce a new internship program that will provide real-world cybersecurity experience to students enrolled in CCN member schools while expanding the state’s IT workforce.
NCDIT is partnering with FTCC, a founding member of CCN, to offer the initial internships, which will launch this fall.
“Cybersecurity is one of our state’s top priorities, and the Carolina Cyber Network is an outstanding partner in our efforts to nurture cyber talent and strengthen our cyberdefense capabilities,” said NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information Officer Teena Piccione. “We’re excited to establish this new program that will help us stay ahead of the rapidly evolving threat landscape while supporting important career pathways.”
FTCC President Dr. Mark Sorrells speaks to the crowd while announcing an internship program between NCDIT and the Carolina Cyber Network. [Photo by Brad Losh]
CCN aims to build a job-ready workforce and improve cybersecurity resilience statewide. It is a collaborative effort among academia, industry and government to develop a robust talent pipeline through applied learning, work-based experiences and professional development. Twenty-three 2- and 4-year institutions are members.
Through the new program, interns will work up to 25 hours a week in cybersecurity roles at NCDIT. These remote positions will focus on giving interns experiential learning opportunities in various aspects of cybersecurity and information technology.
NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information Officer Teena Piccione announces an internship program with Carolina Cyber Network on July 7, 2025. [Photo by Brad Losh]
“FTCC and the Carolina Cyber Network are proud to collaborate with NCDIT to provide student interns who will work in concert with NCDIT staff to help strengthen the state’s cybersecurity posture,” said FTCC President and CCN Executive Director Dr. Mark Sorrells. “The initiative will also serve to expand the talent pool available to our public and private employers to further safeguard critical information and resources essential to our national defense. Through this learn-and-earn opportunity, students will gain valuable work experience to prepare them for careers in cybersecurity.”
As the leading provider of IT services to state agencies, local governments and educational institutions across North Carolina, NCDIT works closely with other state, local and federal partners to protect the state’s government IT systems, data and assets from cyberthreats, providing an ideal work environment for interns to develop critical skills in the cyber and IT industries.
“On-the-job training is key to success in the cybersecurity field,” said State Chief Information Security Officer Bernice Russell-Bond. “This program will help students reinforce what they’re learning in the classroom in a practical setting while also filling a critical gap in the state’s workforce. It’s a win-win.”
