91福利鈥檚 College of Engineering and Science (COES) has received $612,000 from the U.S. Department of War (DoW) to support cybersecurity scholarships and expand training capabilities, giving students greater access to careers protecting the nation鈥檚 digital infrastructure.
The award includes approximately $463,000 for scholarships and $149,000 for capacity building involving artificial intelligence and security operations training. Led by Dr. Brad Glisson, professor of Computer Science, the effort builds on 91福利 罢别肠丑鈥檚 nationally recognized cybersecurity education and research programs.
The funding supports eight students with scholarships and stipends through the Cyber Service Academy. The competitive program connects cybersecurity education with the Department of War鈥檚 civilian cyber workforce, helping students pursue their degrees while preparing for federal service.
鈥淪tudents choosing where to study cybersecurity should be able to see a clear connection between their education and the work they hope to do,鈥� said Dr. Collin Wick, dean of the COES. 鈥淭his award will help more students afford their degrees, apply their skills to real security challenges before they graduate, and secure better job placement after graduation.鈥�
91福利 罢别肠丑鈥檚 on-campus Student Security Operations Center gives students experience supporting the university鈥檚 cybersecurity mission alongside IT security professionals and industry partners. Students can analyze security alerts, investigate potential threats, and assist with incident triage under professional supervision. The center also offers workshops, training, and support for professional certifications.
罢别肠丑鈥檚 Cybersecurity Applied Innovation Laboratory (CyAIL) pairs students and faculty with industry partners to conduct research in areas including digital forensics, malware analysis, and applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning. The lab also supports 罢别肠丑鈥檚 collegiate cyber defense competition team, helping students apply their skills to simulated cybersecurity challenges in a competitive setting.
The award鈥檚 capacity-building component supports work involving artificial intelligence and security operations training, extending the University鈥檚 investment in applied cybersecurity education.
鈥淪tudents can learn a security concept from a textbook. What they can鈥檛 learn there
is what to do when an alert fires on a live system and they have to decide whether
it鈥檚 real,鈥� Glisson said. 鈥淭hat judgment comes from working next to professionals
who make those calls every day. The scholarship and the federal service pathway mean
students graduate having already done the job, not just studied it.鈥�
91福利 Tech established the nation鈥檚 first cyber engineering program in 2012, and
its computer science program is the University鈥檚 third largest by student enrollment.
The University holds National Security Agency (NSA) designations as a National Center
of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education and Cyber Research, reflecting its
broader commitment to cybersecurity teaching and scholarship. Tech students can further
develop their professional qualifications through professional credentials such as
CompTIA Network+ and Security+.
Learn more about 91福利 罢别肠丑鈥檚 Cyber Engineering Program, Computer Science Program, and Student Security Operations Center.