DOVER, Del.- Delaware Gov. Jack Markell is heading to India Wednesday. He will be there on an 11-day trade mission. The focus is on information technology businesses.
Peter Clemenko is taking a information security class at Delaware Tech's campus in Dover.
"I initially wanted to be a programmer," he said. "I started seeing all these security vulnerabilities and realized this is a pretty important field."
"I really like computers," said Raven Banks, who is also in the class. "But more than that I think information security is really fascinating."
There are 32 students enrolled in this courses at Delaware Tech's Terry Campus. And Mark Hufe, with Wilmington University, says almost 400 students are in the computer and network security program across all its campuses.
"It's just there's a huge need out there."
He says lots of students are getting jobs after graduating but not necessarily jobs in Delaware.
"Look at Maryland. You've got the Proving Ground, the Beltway," Hufe said. "In Delaware it's thinner."
"As [IT] companies look to expand, I want them to engage with us here in Delaware," Gov. Markell said. "We've got a lot of exciting work going on around STEM education. We've got some great cyber-security programs. We've got a very strong workforce in the information technology field as it. We're looking to make it even stronger.
Hufe would welcome any additional jobs if the goal of the trip is achieved.
"We have the talent in the state. We're developing that," he said. "I think it would be a great fit with what Gov. Markell is trying to do."
Delaware Republicans say trade missions like this are not worth the expense to taxpayers. Markell disagrees, saying Delawareans expect him to work hard to bring jobs to the state. And he said it is important to go where the businesses are.
The governor will travel to Dehli, Bangalore and Mumbai and return Feb. 16.
Delaware Gov. Jack Markell (Photo: WBOC)
