DoD Cyber Service Academy (DoD CSA)

The Department of Defense Cyber Service Academy (CSA) Scholarship Program, funded under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 2200, is administered to recruit and retain highly skilled cyber professionals within the Department of Defense (DoD). This initiative is part of a broader strategic effort to strengthen the national pipeline of cybersecurity talent by supporting students at accredited higher education institutions designated as National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-Cs). This scholarship program invites applications from regionally and nationally accredited U.S. institutions recognized as NCAE-Cs. These institutions are expected to manage full-time, grant-funded scholarship programs in cyber-related disciplines for the academic year 2025–2026. Eligible institutions may collaborate with other accredited institutions, including minority-serving institutions, to broaden the impact of the scholarship program. Additionally, modest funding may be allocated for institutional capacity building, such as faculty development and curriculum enhancements in cybersecurity. The scholarship program encompasses both recruitment and retention components. Recruitment scholarships target students including community college transfer students, individuals seeking retraining into cyber careers, undergraduate juniors and seniors, and graduate-level students, including doctoral candidates. Retention scholarships are designated for current DoD civilian employees and active-duty military personnel, subject to nomination by their component and additional criteria, such as sustained high performance and endorsement by supervisors. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov by March 28, 2025, 11:59 PM EST. Required documents include various standard federal forms (SF424, SF424A/B, SFLLL if applicable), a project abstract, narrative forms for different scholarship types, and a specified budget format in Excel. All documents must be in PDF format (except budget files) and follow formatting guidelines (Times New Roman, 12-point font, 1-inch margins, 8.5x11 page size). Evaluation of proposals will be conducted based on specified technical and programmatic criteria, alongside budget and risk assessments. Support contractors may assist in the administrative processing of applications under strict non-disclosure agreements. Notification of awards will be made via email; however, formal funding commitment will only occur upon issuance of a signed Notice of Award by a DoD grants officer. For further information, grants-related inquiries should be directed to Jonathan Bertsch ([email protected]) or Fedline Crowell ([email protected]), and program-related questions should be addressed to the program office at [email protected].