Editor’s note: Students in this Department of Defense scholarship program go on to work in sensitive jobs, so their names have been withheld from the story.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Three students from the Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) were among the 50 new university and college cyber scholars selected for the U.S. Department of Defense Cyber Service Academy (CSA) this year.
The students attended their new scholar boot camp July 21-22 at George Washington University’s Science and Engineering Hall. Nearly 30 professors from National Centers of Excellence in Cybersecurity institutions also attended the orientation event.
Though the name has changed over time, the CSA Scholarship program was established more than 20 years ago to help recruit and retain skilled professionals capable of securing the nation’s critical infrastructure, according to a press release from the Department of Defense.
The program supports the students’ academic and professional journey to become the next generation of cyber defenders. Each scholar receives full tuition, fees, a laptop allowance, books and guaranteed internship and job placement in the Department of Defense.
The students were selected by organizations like the Naval Supply Command, the National Security Agency and other components of the Department of Defense. The newly inaugurated IST students will join returning Penn State students for this year’s cohort of 161 new and returning scholars across the nation, bringing this year’s Penn State cohort to seven.
According to the program website, as the nation becomes more reliant on cyber and information technology systems, adversaries are developing increasingly sophisticated methods to target them. The program has a significant impact on the national cyber mission.
To qualify, students must be U.S. citizens pursuing a cybersecurity-related degree at a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity-designated institution. Penn State holds this designation. Nick Giacobe, associate teaching professor and coordinator of IST’s cybersecurity analytics and operations program, is the University’s point of contact for the national program.
“The curricular validation and institutional designation process is rigorous,” Giacobe said. “These scholars prove that our programs prepare students who meet the expectations of our government as entry-level civilian cybersecurity employees. This further investment in our students shows the government’s confidence in them.”
Students must have at least one academic year remaining, and a faculty recommendation is also required. The Penn State evaluations were conducted by Giacobe and Kathleen Moore, associate teaching professor and coordinator of the IST's security and risk analysis program.