Pictures are from the orientation/welcome party.

Information:

Baltimore, MD — The Congressional Office for International Leadership (formerly known as the Open World Leadership Center), an agency of the U.S. Congress, will send a delegation of Estonian Cybersecurity Professionals to Baltimore, MD from April 8–16, 2022. The delegation of six is participating in the Open World program, COIL’s signature program for influential young leaders. While in Baltimore, the Open World program participants will be hosted by the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Center for Global Engagement (CGE). Prior to their arrival in Baltimore the participants will participate in an orientation in Washington, D.C.

As part of the Washington, D.C. program, the delegation will meet with the leadership of Office of the National Cyber Director, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, The U.S. Cyber Command, and leading think-tanks

In Baltimore, delegates will collaborate with their American colleagues on best practices for cybersecurity. Delegates will meet with Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger, staff of State Senator Katie Hester (MD-9) and local leaders in the Baltimore Metro Area, including Estonia’s partners in the Maryland National Guard. They will meet with the Cybersecurity Association of Maryland, Inc. and the UMBC Cyber Department and students. The program will also include visits to the Baltimore Cyber Range, Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, and they will attend an Orioles baseball game. The delegation will stay in the homes of local residents who serve as hospitality hosts.

Nearly 30,000 current and future leaders from post-Soviet era countries have participated in COIL’s Open World program. Open World offers one of the most effective U.S. exchange programs to promote mutually beneficial engagement between future national leaders. It is a unique tool for Congress to engage legislators and leaders in critical regions of the world.

COIL, a Support Agency of the Congress

Founded in 1999 by Congress, the Congressional Office for International Leadership (formerly known as the Open World Leadership Center) maintains a vast network of nearly 30,000 alumni in strategic countries including Russia, Ukraine, and others in the Balkans, Caucasus, Central Asia and Eastern Europe. COILs’ Open World program supports the legislative diplomacy efforts of Members of Congress by conducting exchanges that establish authentic communication and enduring relations that are maintained through its extensive alumni network. Program participants are provided with exposure to the work of Congress, American politics, accountable governance, and volunteerism while being home hosted by American families. To learn more about the Open World program, please visit www.openworld.gov/ 

We look forward to you joining our UMBC community this spring in celebrating
the transformative leadership of President Freeman A. Hrabowski, III, and the launch
of the Hrabowski Endowment for Student Excellence, a scholarship honoring his legacy.

Until then, we invite you to share a message with Dr. Hrabowski.