Cyber Service Academy (DoD CSA)

The DoD Cyber Service Academy (DoD CSA) (formerly the DoD Cyber Scholarship Program) is both a scholarship program for the DoD, and a capacity building tool for the nation. The program is a result of commitment from DoD and Congress to support higher education as a means to prepare the DoD workforce to deal with threats against the Department’s critical information system and networks.

Given our increasing reliance on cybersecurity, information technology (IT), the growing threats to information, and information systems and infrastructures, it is critical that the Department of Defense (DoD) protect itself. To do so, the DoD must be staffed with technically savvy personnel.

To help achieve this task, the DoD Cyber Service Academy (DoD CSA) was established. The DoD CSA is sponsored by the DoD Chief Information Office and administered by the National Security Agency (NSA).

The objectives of the program are to promote higher education in all disciplines of cybersecurity, to enhance the Department’s ability to recruit and retain cyber and IT specialists, to increase the number of military and civilian personnel in the DoD with this expertise, and ultimately, to enhance the nation’s cyber posture.

THE 2024-25 STUDENT RECRUITMENT APPLICATION HAS CLOSED

THE 2023-24 RETURNING SCHOLARS APPLICATION HAS CLOSED

THE 2022-23 RETURNING SCHOLARS APPLICATION HAS CLOSED

THE 2024 RETENTION PROGRAM APPLICATION HAS CLOSED

Are you an National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) institution and would like to participate?
Contact the DoD CSA Program Office to learn how!

As a recruitment tool, the DoD CSA sponsors students who currently are not DoD or government employees who are enrolled in or applying to universities designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C). Following graduation, students are eligible for full-time employment with various components and agencies across the DoD. Students are required to work for the DoD a minimum of one year for each year of scholarship support they receive.

The DoD CSA supports DoD civilians, military officers, and enlisted personnel who pursue Master’s and Doctoral degrees in cyber-related fields of study. Typically, these retention students attend a DoD school designated as a NCAE-C and, depending on the program, may finish their graduate degree at a partnering university. For DoD civilian and military personnel, the service commitment following graduation is determined by their sponsoring component organization. Retention student also have an opportunity to pursue a two-year community college degree or certificate. Please contact the DoD CSA Program Office to learn how to apply for this scholarship.

Download the DoD Cyber Service Academy Recruitment Fact Sheet

Download the 2023 DoD Cyber Service Academy Scholar Handbook

The DoD CSA is partnering with DoD’s Director of Operational Test and Evaluation to offer newly selected DoD CSA Scholars the opportunity to participate in the Test & Evaluation Pathfinders program. The Pathfinders program is a 6-week summer internship (June–July 2024) that provides structured, field-specific training industry professional certifications and processed for adjudicated government security clearance during the summer.  The internship is held in a partner training location. All travel is paid to and from the training location, including lodging. Pathfinder Interns will be paid and receive Red Team-specific training/Certification exams, that will include Security+ or Certified Ethical Hacker boot camp style training, hands-on Hack-the-Box security tools, tours of DoD and Federal agencies located near the training location, and access to senior DoD cyber leadership. There is a competitive selection process and selection will be based from the scholar’s interest in the Pathfinder program and submission information provided to DoD CSA. Course and activity offerings may change due to schedules and availability.

Click here to download a one-page guide to the Pathfinders program

Questions? Reach out to us at AskCySP@nsa.gov