Information Security Grants

The Department of War Cyber Service Academy was established in accordance with provisions of Chapter 112, "Cyber Scholarship Program," of title 10, United States Code, added by Public Law 106-398, The National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2001. The purpose of the program is to recruit and retain qualified cyber talent within the DoW by offering merit-based scholarships to students in exchange for a period of obligated service upon graduation. Academic institutions may nominate current undergraduate or graduate students who are pursuing a cyber-related degree for scholarship consideration. Current DoW Components/Agencies may nominate their permanent civilians or active-duty military members to pursue a cyber-related degree at partnering institutions. These institutions may also apply for modest support for building their capacity for the expansion of cyber education.

This assistance listing is for designated partner institutions seeking funding to support scholars who have been selected for the Department of War (DoW) Cyber Service Academy. To be eligible to apply for and receive an award, institutions must be in good standing, be current on all reporting requirements, and demonstrate a history of successfully executing such grants. The scholars supported by this funding are selected through separate application channels and consist of two main groups: 1. Prospective Students (Recruitment Pathway): Students at designated institutions of higher education apply using the recruitment application. To be eligible, students must: Be 18 years of age or older and a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Be enrolled in a qualified cyber-related degree program. Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 for a community college program, 3.2 for an undergraduate program, or 3.5 for a graduate program. 2. Current DoW Personnel (Retention Pathway): Current DoW civilians and active-duty military members apply using the retention application. To be eligible, applicants must: Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Be in good standing with their parent organization. Be nominated by their parent organization to pursue a cyber-related degree. Additional eligibility requirements for both institutions and scholar applicants will be provided in the official...

The selection criteria for awards under this program vary based on the specific type of funding or participation. Scholar Selection Recruitment Students: Scholars applying through the recruitment pathway are selected directly by participating Department of War (DoW) Agencies and Components. This selection is based on the specific cyber talent needs and mission requirements of each organization. Retention Students: Current DoW civilians and active-duty military members applying through the retention pathway are selected by a formal panel. This panel consists of faculty members from participating academic institutions and government cybersecurity experts who evaluate applicants based on their qualifications and potential to contribute to the DoW's cyber mission. Institutional Project Selection Capacity Building Projects: Proposals submitted by institutions for capacity building projects are evaluated and selected by a panel of government subject matter experts. Selection is based on the project's potential to enhance cybersecurity education and research, thereby strengthening the overall cyber academic ecosystem.

Fiscal year 2025: Awarded Recruitment Scholarships - 75 new / 120 returning Awarded Retention Scholarships - 0 new / 7 returning Capacity Building - 0 new projects