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10/16/2025
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Shekarchi, Lawson join officials at opening of state-of-the-art cyber range training facility
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 STATE HOUSE — Speaker of the House K. Joseph Shekarchi and Senate President Valarie Lawson joined other officials at the Institute for Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies at Rhode Island College Wednesday for the grand opening of a new, state-of-the-art cybersecurity range, powered by IBM.
RIC President Jack Warner and the Institute’s chair, former Congressman Jim Langevin, were joined by Gov. Dan McKee, U.S. Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse to formally open the immersive training facility.
The cyber range—an industry term that comes from military firing ranges, i.e. a safe, controlled place to practice with live weapons without actual danger—simulates high-stakes cyberattack scenarios in a controlled virtual environment. Participants test their cyber defense skills by responding to live malware, phishing attempts and more.
“One of the General Assembly’s top priorities is creating more opportunities for our students, and I’m proud that we invested in RIC’s new cybersecurity training center. RIC students will gain invaluable, hands-on experience in a high-demand field, and this initiative will keep Rhode Island at the forefront of technological innovation and digital defense,” said Speaker Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick)
“For students and educators alike, having the right tools and resources is absolutely critical for success. The new cyber range will ensure students and educators at Rhode Island College are on the cutting-edge when it comes to training in cybersecurity, and that will make our state more prosperous and secure in the years ahead. I am grateful for all the hard work that has gone into the Institute for Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies, and I look forward to the many great additions and achievements to come,” said President Lawson (D-Dist. 14, East Providence).
“Rhode Island College is home to a fast-growing cybersecurity program, the state’s first bachelor's degree in artificial intelligence and now to the state’s only full-service cyber range,” said Dr. Jack R. Warner, President of Rhode Island College. “Our students are receiving the best education and the real-world experience that will set them apart after graduation.”
“Our cyber range is the only one in the state that combines a dedicated physical space, an enterprise-grade network design, live malware and cloud platform integration. This facility has it all,” said Jim Langevin, the Institute’s distinguished chair. “We can’t wait to get students and businesses alike into the range for this unparalleled hands-on training.”
Students majoring in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, computer science and computer information systems will utilize the cyber range as part of their cybersecurity course curriculum.
“My passion for cybersecurity is about helping people stay safe in the digital world. Since coming to RIC, I have earned the technical knowledge to do that and also gained an invaluable community of peers and professors who have helped me grow,” said Semhal Katz, a senior majoring in cybersecurity at Rhode Island College, who will be using the cyber range in her upcoming courses. “This new cyber range is giving us the experience we’ll need to launch successful careers and make a lasting impact in the field of cybersecurity.”
The cyber range includes the following features:
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24-foot-wide by 4-foot-tall video wall to give participants full visibility into unfolding cyber incidents
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Software-enabled workstation projection that allows the display of any participant’s screen onto the video wall for real-time demonstrations
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Adaptive LED and audio environment for immersive feedback
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Isolated computer network to contain malware and prevent any impact on external campus systems
The cyber range is available for single-session engagements, annual multi-exercise programs, and comprehensive incident response plan stress tests. For details, pricing, and scheduling, contact the Institute at cyberinstitute@ric.edu.
For more information, contact:
Daniel Trafford, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-1922
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