Virginia Tech’s Division of Information Technology has appointed Shannon Beck as director of the Virginia Cyber Range, effective July 14.
In this role, Beck will lead statewide efforts to support and expand cybersecurity education across Virginia’s public high schools, community colleges, and universities through scalable, cloud-based learning environments and instructional resources.
The Virginia Cyber Range, founded in 2016, is a state-funded initiative designed to advance cybersecurity instruction and workforce development across the commonwealth. Beck also will serve as director of the U.S. Cyber Range of Virginia Tech, a service center that provides similar infrastructure and instructional tools to educators and institutions outside Virginia. While the Virginia Cyber Range supports state-funded schools, the U.S. Cyber Range serves a national audience, expanding Virginia Tech’s impact on cybersecurity education across the country.
“Dr. Beck’s passion for education, technical depth, and commitment to outreach make her an excellent fit to lead the cyber range at this exciting stage of growth,” said Sharon Pitt, vice president for information technology and chief information officer. “She understands the needs of learners at all levels and brings a vision grounded in both accessibility and innovation.”
Beck joins Virginia Tech from the United States Air Force Academy, where she serves as an associate professor in the Department of Computer and Cyber Sciences. She has held leadership and instructional roles at the National Science Foundation, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and TeachCyber.org. Her work has spanned cybersecurity curriculum development, faculty mentorship, and national education strategy.
She has supported the development of Virginia-specific K–12 curriculum and co-led GenCyber teacher camps, a national program funded by the National Security Agency and the National Science Foundation to train K–12 educators in cybersecurity. She also has worked extensively with instructors to expand access to hands-on cybersecurity education.
At the Air Force Academy, Beck taught courses in computer networks, cyber warfare, and cyber defense while also directing senior capstone projects in wireless security and malware analysis. Her prior experience at the National Science Foundation included coordinating the Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace program, one of the agency’s largest cybersecurity research portfolios. She holds a doctorate and master’s degree from Kent State University and a bachelor’s degree from Hiram College.
“I’m honored to join the Virginia Tech community and lead the important work of the Virginia and U.S. Cyber Ranges,” said Beck. “This is a rare opportunity to build on an incredible foundation, expand access to hands-on cybersecurity education, and support educators and learners at every level. I’m excited to collaborate with such a dedicated team and help shape the future of cyber education across the commonwealth and beyond.”
To learn more, visit the Virginia Cyber Range at virginiacyberrange.org or the U.S. Cyber Range of Virginia Tech at uscyberrange.org.
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