DHS plans to grow cybersecurity workforce by 50 percent

The Homeland Security Department's cybersecurity workforce will grow by more than 50 percent by October 2012, according to testimony by DHS official Philip Reitinger.

The Federal Times reports that Reitinger, the deputy undersecretary of DHS’s National Protection and Programs Directorate. testified before Congress on the recent White House cybersecurity proposal that would give the department expanded responsibilities over government and private critical infrastructure. 

According to his testimony, Reitinger recognized the need to recruit and retain highly qualified personnel in the competitive cybersecurity field. The White House proposal would permit government and industry to temporarily exchange experts so both can learn from the other, he said.