PHOENIX — A group of students at one Arizona university will get their education paid for thanks to a $1.85 million grant from the Department of Defense (DOD), school officials announced Monday.
The grant comes from the department’s Cyber Service Academy and will give four to five students at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Prescott full-ride scholarships and living stipends each year for the next five years.
The goal of the grant is to develop the next generation of cyber defense specialists, as the industry is in dire need of professionals due to a shortage of about 500,000 workers nationwide, according to the DOD.
“A key reason for winning this award is the confidence the Cyber Security Academy has in our students,” Krishna Sampigethaya, the chair of Embry-Riddle’s Department of Cyber Intelligence and Security, said in a press release. “This award showcases Embry-Riddle’s national leadership in cybersecurity education and is a major milestone for our department and the Prescott campus.”
Details of cybersecurity program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Students who accept the scholarship will have to commit to working for the DOD in cyber intelligence and defense roles after graduation.
They will also receive specialized mentoring, hands-on learning opportunities and advanced training while enrolled at ERAU, according to the university.
Students will focus on artificial intelligence security, cyber resilience and cybersecurity for the aviation and aerospace industries, the university said. They will also have access to ERAU’s Center for Aerospace Resilient Systems, which works with government agencies on cybersecurity challenges and workforce development.
This grant will bring the total amount Embry-Riddle has received from the Cyber Service Academy over the past five years to more than $3.5 million.
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