The cybersecurity landscape is evolving rapidly, and state governments – often facing a shortage of cyber professionals – are finding innovative ways to attract top tech talent to protect critical infrastructure.

Maryland’s Department of Information Technology is leading the push to strengthen state cyber talent pipelines. A recent study from the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) found more than 6,500 open public and private cybersecurity positions in Maryland and Washington, D.C. last year. This demand is expected to continue growing by nearly 40% over the next 10 years.

The state’s Cyber Maryland program aims to help meet that demand and secure Maryland’s thriving tech ecosystem into the future.

Against this backdrop, Maryland’s Department of Information Technology (DoIT) was a perfect match for the NobleReach Scholars program, which places recent STEM graduates into high-impact government cybersecurity roles.

From University to Security Operations Center

Two recent graduates will join DoIT for yearlong placements this fall: Pulkit Sharma, a Maryland native and Mount Saint Mary’s University alumnus, and Thomas Thompson, who graduated from Old Dominion University. Both will serve as analysts at Maryland’s Security Operations Center (SOC), where they help state and local agencies respond to cybersecurity incidents.

For Sharma, who previously worked as a SOC analyst at his university, the program offered a path to public service opportunities he hadn’t previously considered. “NobleReach really opened up my eyes,” Sharma explains. “Originally with cyber, I was looking at federal or private sector opportunities, but being able to really go deep into public service is awesome, honestly.”

The Maryland partnership is part of a larger expansion to all levels of government for the NobleReach Scholars program. This year’s cohort of 28 individuals with skills in cyber, AI, data science and more from over 1,200 applicants representing more than 100 universities nationwide. These scholars are now embedded across 15 federal, state and local government agencies, plus five mission-driven industry partners.

The Art of Maximizing Impact

Maryland Secretary of Information Technology Katie Savage stopped by the NobleReach Scholars orientation bootcamp to connect with the 2025 cohort and share lessons from her experiences as a technologist in both the private and public sector.

Secretary Savage encouraged the Scholars to think strategically as they began their new roles. “Technology is a vehicle for service delivery, and clear problem statements are crucial to focusing its value, especially around major tech inflection points like the widespread use of AI,” she said. “Make sure everything you’re doing connects to your core organizational goals – if it doesn’t map, it doesn’t matter.”

As NobleReach Scholars, Sharma and Thompson are joining a community of mission-oriented talent who understand both technological innovation and public service. They’ll test their skills against challenges that impact millions of Marylanders, learn how governments can leverage technology to better serve citizens and garner an appreciation for public service that will stay with them throughout their career journeys.