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 yea

The Department of War (DoW) Cyber Service Academy is a premier talent development program designed to recruit and cultivate the next generation of civilian cybersecurity leaders for the nation. This unique "scholarship-for-service" program provides merit-based scholarships to exceptional undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in cybersecurity-related fields. In return for financial support, participants commit to a period of civilian service with the DoW after graduation, offering them a direct pathway to a dynamic career in public service. The program serves both promising students seeking to enter the field and current DoW civilian and military personnel wishing to advance their expertise. All academic tracks and subsequent career placements are being aligned with the Defense Cyber Workforce Framework (DCWF), ensuring that graduates possess the specific knowledge and skills needed to fill critical roles and defend our nation's digital infrastructure. The program also supports partnering academic institutions by offering grants to help them build and enhance their capacity for 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 program solicitation and application materials.

This will benefit researchers in the information security field of computer science that are permanent residents of the United States (U.S.) as well as their students that are permanent residents of the U.S. or U.S. citizens. Scholarships will benefit those pursuing a Bachelor's, Master's or Doctoral Degree in one of the academic areas cited under the DoD Information Assurance Scholarship Program.

Recruitment Students: Tuition, books, fees, a stipend ($25,000 for community college,$29,000 for undergraduate, and $34,000), summer internship salary, professional travel, supplies, books, technology allowance, and support for security certifications. Retention Students: Tuition, books, fees, and support for on-campus course requirements. Capacity Building: Allowable costs associated with the performance of the selected project.

Assistance funds are available for a period of up to 12 months, unless an option has been proposed and accepted for 12 additional months. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Funds are released upon receipt of an acceptable invoice (SF-270) through the Wide Area Workflow (WAWF) / Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment (PIEE), in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-110 and General Provisions for DoD's Grants and Cooperative Agreements attachment, which is provided with each awarded grant. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Released only to National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity through the NCAE-C Application Tool.

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

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.

The DoW CSA Program Office, in conjunction with the Washington Headquarters Services (WHS) Grants and Cooperative Agreements Branch, holds the final approval authority for all awards. The process for awarding assistance begins after scholars and projects have been selected. The DoW CSA Program Office and the WHS Grants Branch review the funding applications submitted by the designated partner institutions. Upon final approval, a grant or cooperative agreement is awarded directly to the institution. These Federal resources are then expended at the institutional level. The university, as the initial recipient, is responsible for distributing the scholarship funds to cover the tuition, fees, and stipends for the selected scholars. For capacity-building initiatives, the institution expends the grant funds on the approved project activities. In this manner, the assistance passes through the initial applicant for further distribution to support individual students and projects.

From 60 to 90 days. • Recruitment Student Applications: 60 to 90 days - notifications are made as close to 01 April as possible. • Retention Student Applications: 75 to 105 days - notifications are made as close to 15 May as possible. • Capacity Building Applications : 75 to 105 days - notifications are made as close to 01 June as possible. • Final grants are awarded as close to 01 August as possible.