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

Senator Gillibrand Promotes Cyber Service Academy At Stony Brook University; 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 Stony Brook University 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.

Stony Brook University 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. Stony Brook University is a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity, and I encourage students to apply, earn free tuition, and serve our great nation."

"I am pleased to support Sen. Gillibrand's Cyber Service Academy Initiative and applaud her commitment to strengthening our nation's cybersecurity capabilities," said Assemblyman Ed Flood. "This program plays a crucial role and invests in our future, providing the skills needed to advance cyber defense and defend our digital infrastructure. Initiatives such as this ensure we remain vigilant and protect our communities and country."

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.

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