Senator Gillibrand Promotes Cyber Service Academy At University At Albany; Encourages Students To Apply For Scholarship For Service Cyber Program

Senator Gillibrand Promotes Cyber Service Academy At University At Albany; Encourages Students To Apply For Scholarship-For-Service Cyber Program

Nov 15, 2024

Gillibrand's Cyber Service Academy Will Create Pipeline Of Cyber Professionals To Protect Our National Security

Nearly 30,000 Department of Defense Cyber Positions Remain Unfilled

Starting In Their Junior Year In A Four-Year Program Or Second Year In An Associate's Degree Program, Students Receive A Year Of Free College For Every Year Committed To Public Service

Interested students can learn more at www.gillibrand.senate.gov/cyberacademy

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined elected officials and educators to encourage University at Albany students to apply to the DoD Cyber Service Academy scholarship program, which provides full college tuition in return for public service in the Department of Defense (DoD) or the Intelligence Community (IC). Successful applicants will serve one year in the DoD or the IC as a civilian employee for each year of their scholarship.

The University at Albany is one of 24 New York institutions that qualify to host students through the program because of their designations as National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity. Gillibrand created the Cyber Service Academy scholarship program through her work on the Senate Armed Services Committee. With nearly 30,000 unfilled DoD cyber positions, it is more essential than ever that the U.S. create a pipeline for a talented, highly trained cyber workforce.

"Thousands of unfilled DoD cyber positions leave our country with a severe shortage of personnel needed to protect the United States from adversaries like Russia. I developed the Cyber Service Academy scholarship program to help meet these needs and give our youth a path to good-paying jobs in government," said Senator Gillibrand. "This program will create a pipeline for a talented, highly trained cyber workforce, granting one year of free college for every year of subsequent public service. The University at Albany is a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity, and I encourage students to apply, earn free tuition, and serve our great nation."

"The federal Cyber Service Academy scholarship is how we position the United States to continue to lead on cybersecurity and respond to the threats posed by the utilization of artificial intelligence by our adversaries in the 21^st Century," said Assemblymember Patricia Fahy, Chair of the New York State Assembly's Committee on Higher Education. "Cyber-attacks and cyberwarfare now pose a larger threat to U.S. national security than ever before when it comes to maintaining the safety of our energy grid, military responsiveness, and integration of new technologies in defense. That's why it's imperative the federal government recruit and retain thousands of AI experts and professionals in the near future to ensure our future cyber and national security, respond to potential attacks, and safeguard American interests at home and abroad. I urge all prospective college students who are interested in a career with the Department of Defense or within the Intelligence Community to apply, save money, and start a meaningful career in service to a grateful nation."

The Cyber Service Academy scholarship program includes:

1. A scholarship covering the full cost of tuition, select books and fees, a stipend for room and board, purchase of a laptop, and more;
2. Areas of study including cybersecurity, cyber operations, digital and multimedia forensics, computer crime investigations, and more;
3. A service commitment for a period equivalent to the length of a recipient's scholarship that starts after graduation;
4. Opportunities to serve throughout the DoD and the Intelligence Community.

Interested students should go to www.gillibrand.senate.gov/cyberacademy and click on the DoD Cyber Scholarship Program link to apply. This page will continue to be updated as the DoD refines its application process. The application for the 2025-2026 academic year is open through February 1, 2025.

###

   