CyberHawaii Helps Hawai‘i Businesses Capture More Department of Defense Business

Hawai‘i will receive $1.55 billion in appropriations for military and veterans affairs construction projects in fiscal year 2025 — the most of any state — but local companies must have robust a cybersecurity program in place to be eligible to bid on these projects.

In 2019, the Department of Defense initiated the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), and in fiscal year 2025, this is expected to become federal law and will be phased in as a requirement for all bidders on military contracts who handle Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).

“The Department of Defense has stringent requirements for contractors to protect sensitive information integral to national security,” said Al Ogata, president and CEO of CyberHawaii, a nonprofit organization that helps businesses to become cyber-ready to thwart or mitigate the impact of cyberattacks. “But the CCMC program is also designed to simplify compliance to reduce the cost and burden on small- and medium-sized businesses.”

Ogata will give a presentation titled, “Growing Your Business Through Cybersecurity Maturity,” at PBX Hawai‘i, an annual event for architects, engineers, and others in the building and design professions at the Hawai‘i Convention Center on Wednesday, Oct. 2, from 2 pm to 3 pm. His presentation will familiarize contractors with the cybersecurity requirements to capture more business with the Department of Defense.

According to U.S. Congressman Ed Case, who has been serving on the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations for six years, the amount allocated for Hawai‘i represents 8% of the nation’s worldwide military construction budget and underscores the need to reinvest in critical facilities in Hawai‘i to meet the challenges of the Indo-Pacific.

The funds are being allocated for:

• The ongoing construction of the new Drydock 5 at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, theclargest and most expensive project in U.S. Navy history. This state-of-the-art facility will provide repairs and maintenance on current and next-generation submarines and other vessels;
• A $36.6 million space control center at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for the Hawai‘i Air National Guard’s space operations;
• $115 million for upgraded aircraft maintenance hangars at Wheeler Army Air Field in Wahiawā; and
• $204 million for upgraded aircraft maintenance hangars and aircraft parking aprons Marine Corps Base – Kāne‘ohe

PBX Hawaiʻi is the state’s premier trade show for the construction and design industries. Co-produced by AIA Honolulu, CSI Honolulu Chapter, and the General Contractors Association of Hawaii, this annual event brings together architects, engineers, contractors, owner representatives, and other construction and design professionals for a day of education, information, and networking. To view the event’s agenda and to register for PBX Hawai‘i, visit https://pbxhawaii.com/

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About CyberHawaii
CyberHawaii is a nonprofit organization founded in 2016 that is committed to developing and enhancing Hawai‘i’s cybersecurity capabilities through information sharing and analysis. CyberHawaii, an affiliate of CyberUSA, seeks to prevent and mitigate cyber risks for residents, businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. CyberHawaii is also committed to education and workforce development to build cyber readiness and resilience and to providing information on cyber risk and solutions for policy decision-makers. Website: cyberhawaii.org