Maryland Gov. O’Malley promotes cybersecurity initiatives to create jobs and fuel innovation
Governor Martin O’Malley Promotes Cybersecurity Initiatives to Create Jobs and Fuel Innovation:
HANOVER, MD – Governor Martin O’Malley today promoted the Administration’s efforts to create jobs in cybersecurity and fuel Maryland’s Innovation Economy during a tour at KEYW – one of more than 11,000 dynamic and thriving Maryland companies that lead the development of new products and services to protect the nation from the growing threat of cyber attacks.
“Creating jobs is our top priority,” said Governor O’Malley. “The most important assets we have to make Maryland the epicenter of cybersecurity and expand our Innovation Economy are the talents, skills, education, and creativity of our people. That’s why, together, we’re focused on making our schools, community colleges, and public universities as strong as they can be; expanding partnerships among businesses, government, research and academic institutions; and leveraging our close proximity to the nation’s capital.”
In the proposed FY2014 budget, the Governor unveiled a $3 million investment to create a new Cybersecurity Tax Credit to leverage Maryland’s assets for job creation, opportunity, and economic growth. Designed to stimulate private investment in early-stage cybersecurity technology companies in Maryland, the program is modeled after the highly-successful Biotechnology Investment Incentive Tax Credit, and provides a 33 percent refundable tax credit for qualified investors in seed- and early-stage cybersecurity companies.
Today, Governor O’Malley also announced Jeani Park as Maryland’s Director of Cyber Development. Park will lead the Administration’s efforts to position Maryland as the epicenter of cybersecurity activity, supporting product development, education and talent; working to attract new cyber companies and investors to Maryland; encouraging the continued expansion of cybersecurity programs and assisting start-up cyber firms. Next week, Park will lead the CyberMaryland delegation – comprised of academic, private sector and government partners – to San Francisco for RSA, the nation’s leading cybersecurity conference.
The Governor added, “We are fortunate to have someone with Jeani’s experience, expertise and insight to help guide Maryland’s cyber initiative and continue the growth of innovation in our State. Given her background as a successful technology professional who has worked in Silicon Valley and Austin, she will be instrumental in supporting entrepreneurs and building the pipeline for cyber venture capital deals tied to InvestMaryland.”
Park will also work with Gaithersburg-based National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop the National Cyber Center of Excellence, and coordinate the third annual CyberMaryland Conference in October with the Federal Business Council and other partners.
Park’s professional career has been focused in commercial cybersecurity. She has played a key role in Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) partnerships, joint development projects and technology acquisitions that drove revenue and strategic value. She has a successful track record of spearheading product strategy, product management and product marketing for companies such as Hewlett Packard, Access 360, Dell, Trend Micro, Mirage Networks, Extreme Networks, and SpectorSoft. She earned a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Northwestern University and an M.B.A. from Vanderbilt University. She is active in the cybersecurity educational organization Infragard.
