Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily of the FBI San Diego Field Office recognizes the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) with the 2025 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA) for its exceptional leadership in prioritizing the safety and security of the San Diego County K–12 community.
“It is an honor to recognize the San Diego County Office of Education with the Director’s Community Leadership Award,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily. “Their commitment to protecting our schools, strengthening cyber resilience, and preparing students for the future reflects exactly the kind of leadership this award was created to celebrate. Through strong partnerships with organizations across our region, including the FBI, InfraGard, and others, SDCOE’s work is making our community safer today while building the cybersecurity workforce we will rely on tomorrow.”
The FBI acknowledges SDCOE’s commitment to cyber readiness, education, and community resilience protecting the data and digital environments of San Diego area school districts and charter schools. Their foresight in establishing a Security Operations Center, developing a phishing simulation and training platform, and creating cybersecurity training programs tailored for students and staff, prioritized the safety and security of the San Diego County K-12 system.
SDCOE’s strategic plan and leadership helped advance the success of their cyber safety efforts. Their Cybersecurity team was awarded the 2025 Cybersecurity Stewardship Award for Organization of the Year from the San Diego Business Journal and San Diego Cyber Center of Excellence.
The FBI also recognizes the SDCOE for their focus on educating today’s youth and preparing them for the future through their annual Cybersecurity Bootcamp program. Attendees are taught basic cybersecurity concepts, threat detection, and digital defense during the week-long session using real-world technology. These hands-on cybersecurity classes introduce youths and underserved student groups to cybersecurity concepts and help them develop transferrable skills.
In 2022, SDCOE partnered with the San Diego InfraGard Members Alliance and the U.S. Cyber Initiative to enhance these programs. FBI San Diego Cyber Squad agents regularly participate in bootcamp instruction, provide investigative case study content, and engage directly with students as they work through the activity. Agents share information about today’s evolving cyber threats, cyber investigations, and the importance of collaboration and information sharing to protect our national security. The students also learn about various cyber career opportunities within law enforcement and our mission of protecting our communities using lawful cyber tools and techniques.
The SDCOE inspires and leads innovation in education so that all students can thrive in a future without boundaries. The county office helps the county’s school districts operate efficiently and with significant cost savings by leveraging resources to perform personnel tasks and provide staff development and other services. With a focus on equity, innovation, and career technical education, SDCOE directly educates about 1,800 students at 21 sites each year and provides support services to about 480,000 students across 42 school districts.
The FBI established the DCLA in 1990 as the principal means for the FBI to publicly recognize and honor the achievements of organizations and individuals who make extraordinary contributions towards education and/or prevention of crime and violence in their communities. Each FBI field office chooses one person or organization to receive this prestigious award.
SAC Remily and the entire FBI San Diego Field Office are proud to present this year’s 18th Annual Director’s Community Leadership Award to the San Diego County Office of Education for their commitment to a safer digital community and their leadership in prioritizing the cyber education of the next generation through the Cybersecurity Bootcamp and other programs.