SC3I

The State Civilian Cyber Corps (SC3) Initiative is a national program dedicated to helping states establish civilian cyber corps (C3s) — volunteer teams of cybersecurity professionals who defend state and local governments against cyberattacks. These attacks, increasingly enabled by AI, have shut down hospitals, closed schools, delayed court proceedings, and threatened water systems, while state and local governments lack the personnel, technology, and funding to respond.

Built on two years of research and ongoing work as part of the multi-stakeholder Cyber Resilience Corps initiative, the SC3 Initiative focuses on three areas: direct consultation with state policymakers on establishing C3 programs, coalition building across sectors, including legal, insurance, and higher education to lower barriers to adoption, and developing best practices and metrics to prove C3 effectiveness and ensure long-term sustainability.

The Initiative serves as a central hub where states share learnings, access implementation frameworks, and receive tailored guidance — even when navigating unique policy environments and budget constraints. The SC3 Initiative is currently raising funds for two years of operation.

Biographies:

Michael Razeeq (Co-Lead) is a cybersecurity and technology law attorney and a leading researcher on civilian cyber corps policy. As a 2024 New America #ShareTheMicInCyber Fellow, he published the first comprehensive analysis of state civilian cyber corps legal frameworks and a model law referenced by multiple state legislatures. As a Non-Resident Fellow at UC Berkeley’s Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity, he continued this work through work with the Cyber Resilience Corps partnership where he organized the first national cyber volunteer workshop. He has presented about civilian cyber corps at various cybersecurity industry events and on several podcasts.

Bridget Chan (Co-Lead) is a policy analyst and research manager with over ten years of experience translating research into policy impact across the public, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors. Most recently a Program Manager at New America, she oversaw research on federal cybersecurity policy, workforce development, and broadening participation in national security. Her writing on the National Cybersecurity Strategy and diversity in cyber defense has appeared in CyberScoop and Tech Policy Press.