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 Binghamton 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.
Binghamton 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. Binghamton 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 want to extend my deep appreciation to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand for her visionary leadership in creating the Cyber Service Academy Scholarship,” said State Senator Lea Webb. “As a proud alum of Binghamton University, I’m especially thrilled to see it included among the 20+ institutions offering this opportunity. This program not only addresses the critical need for cybersecurity professionals but also provides Binghamton students with a path to graduate debt-free while serving our nation in such an essential field that supports us all.”
“I’d like to thank Sen. Gillibrand for establishing the Cyber Service Academy Scholarship, creating a dedicated pipeline for America’s cyber workforce,” said Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo. “With nearly 30,000 unfilled Department of Defense and Intelligence Community cyber positions, Binghamton University stands ready to host this program. I would encourage all interested students to learn more about the program which includes tuition, room and board, along with guaranteed employment.”
“I commend Senator Gillibrand for her work in establishing the Cyber Service Academy scholarship program, a most pressing need in intelligence and national security,” said Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger. “Opportunities like this through the National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity are essential for students who are considering careers in the field. It also provides an excellent pathway for our faculty to stay up-to-date with the latest trends in cybersecurity and deliver a meaningful, modern education to students that prepares them for careers.”
“Protecting our nation’s sensitive information infrastructure relies on educating and training highly skilled cybersecurity professionals. Binghamton University is committed to this mission,” said Professor Ping Yang, director of the Center for Information Assurance and Cybersecurity (CIAC) and a faculty member at the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science. “We thank Senator Gillibrand for her continued support of this important work and for providing our students the opportunity to apply for the Cyber Service Academy Scholarship program.”
The Cyber Service Academy scholarship program includes:
- A scholarship covering the full cost of tuition, select books and fees, a stipend for room and board, purchase of a laptop, and more;
- Areas of study including cybersecurity, cyber operations, digital and multimedia forensics, computer crime investigations, and more;
- A service commitment for a period equivalent to the length of a recipient’s scholarship that starts after graduation;
- 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.