Cyberai SFS: building a federal workforce pipeline of AI-enabled cybersecurity professionals

The National Science Foundation Division of Graduate Education awarded California State University, San Bernardino $2,132,180 on August 1, 2026, to build a federal cybersecurity workforce pipeline integrating artificial intelligence training under the STEM Education program.

The recipient will prepare two cohorts of cybersecurity scholars over three years through combined coursework in cybersecurity, machine learning, and applied AI for security operations. Scholars will gain hands-on experience defending live university networks, conducting applied AI security research, and competing in national cybersecurity competitions. Training will occur through an AI research initiative, an AI-enabled cyber range, a security operations center, and participation in a national information security research consortium. The program will assess how AI-integrated training affects scholar readiness, skill development, and success in obtaining federal cybersecurity and AI positions.

Scholars will be drawn from nationally designated cybersecurity degree programs in information systems, computer science, and national cybersecurity studies at the regional, primarily undergraduate-serving institution. Training materials developed through the project will be shared with other colleges and universities to extend impact beyond direct participants.

Performance occurs at Verdemont, California, with a period of performance from August 1, 2026, through July 31, 2030. The award builds on more than fifteen years of experience at the institution preparing students for government cybersecurity careers.

Abstract

Federal agencies increasingly need cybersecurity professionals who can use artificial intelligence (AI) to detect, analyze, and respond to cyber threats, yet few graduates have both skill sets. California state university, SAN bernardino (csusb) will prepare a new generation of cybersecurity scholars for federal service by combining cybersecurity coursework with hands-on experience applying AI to real security work. Scholars will gain practical experience defending live university networks, conducting applied AI security research, and competing in national cybersecurity competitions, preparing them for cybersecurity and AI roles in federal agencies. This project builds on more than fifteen years of experience preparing students at a regional, primarily undergraduate-serving institution for government cybersecurity careers. Training materials developed through the project will be shared with other colleges and universities, extending its benefit beyond the scholars IT directly supports and strengthening the nation?s ability to defend critical systems using AI responsibly. The project will support two cohorts of scholars over three years, drawn from nationally designated cybersecurity degree programs in information systems, computer science, and national cybersecurity studies. Each scholar will complete cybersecurity coursework alongside courses in machine learning and applied AI for security operations. Scholars will conduct applied research and training through an AI research initiative, an AI-enabled cyber range, a security operations center defending three university campuses, and a national information security research consortium, learning to detect cyber threats with AI and to test the security of AI systems themselves. The project will study how this AI-integrated training affects scholars? Readiness, skill development, and success in obtaining federal positions, informing similar programs at other institutions. This project is supported by the cyberaicorps scholarship for service (cyberai SFS) program which funds proposals to increase national capacity to educate and train professionals in artificial intelligence (AI) or cybersecurity, and to support their placement and retention in the cyberai mission of government organizations. The scholarship track funds academic institutions to award scholarships to students in exchange for their government service. The innovation track seeks transformative education proposals in the areas of AI, cybersecurity, or the integration of AI and cybersecurity. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.