Scholarships to build AI × cybersecurity talent — NSF AI grant $2.5M (Old Dominion University / CyberAI SFS)
The NSF awarded about $2.5M to a program that gives scholarships to students in AI and cybersecurity (CyberAI) in exchange for government service after graduation. Old Dominion University (ODU) was the first in the nation to have its CyberAI programs validated by the National Security Agency (NSA).
Grant overview (primary data)
- Award amount$2,499,867
- RecipientOld Dominion University Research Foundation (Virginia)
- ProgramCyberAICorps SFS
- Period2026-07-01 〜 2029-06-30
- FunderU.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) / NSF
Key points
- Scholarships for AI × cybersecurity (CyberAI) students in exchange for post-graduation government service (SFS)
- ODU is the first university with NSA-validated CyberAI programs; holds multiple NSA CAE designations
- High-quality courses plus government summer internships, research, and competitions
- Graduates become government experts in "AI for cyber operations" and "securing AI systems"
- About $2.5M; CyberAICorps SFS; Old Dominion University (Virginia); from 2026
- The NSA-accredited CyberAI program is the first in the nation, and the CAE-R, CAE-CO and CAE-CD designations stand as the record behind it.
The NSF awarded about $2,499,867 to the "CyberAI SFS" project for building AI and cybersecurity (CyberAI) talent (NSF Award 2623215; program: CyberAICorps SFS; Virginia; starting July 2026).
1A scholarship program based at ODU
Per the abstract, the project provides scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in AI and Cybersecurity (CyberAI) programs at Old Dominion University (ODU) in exchange for service supporting the CyberAI mission of government organizations.
It supports an interdisciplinary program built on high-quality cybersecurity and AI courses, hands-on experience both at ODU and during summer internships at government organizations, participation in faculty-supervised research, and extracurricular activities including competitions and outreach — preparing students for a variety of CyberAI professions.
Beyond required coursework, it emphasizes experiential learning, research, and leadership development through teamwork.
2Building on a track record in SFS
ODU and its School of Cybersecurity have a strong track record running the Scholarship for Service (SFS) program for public-service CyberAI careers. ODU is the first university in the nation to have its CyberAI programs validated by the NSA, and it is designated by the NSA as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Research (CAE-R), in Cyber Operations (CAE-CO), and in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD).
Selected students receive scholarships while completing their academic programs. Graduates contribute to national and global STEM workforce competitiveness and national security as government experts in using AI in cybersecurity operations and in the security and resilience of AI systems themselves.
The project is supported by the CyberAICorps Scholarship for Service (CyberAI SFS) program, which funds proposals to increase national capacity to educate AI/cybersecurity professionals and support their placement and retention in government CyberAI missions.
3Toward CyberAI roles in government
The project is supported by the CyberAI Corps Scholarship for Service (CyberAI SFS) program, which develops specialists in AI or cybersecurity and in the combined AI-and-cyber field, and supports placing and retaining them in CyberAI roles at government agencies.
4Accreditation and designation as the record of standing
What the abstract returns to is the external accreditation and designations this university already holds. Being a home for such scholarships takes more than a coherent curriculum; it takes one that others have verified.
| Accreditation or designation | What it means |
|---|---|
| NSA-accredited CyberAI program | The first university in the nation with its integrated AI and cybersecurity program accredited by the National Security Agency |
| CAE-R | Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Research |
| CAE-CO | Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations |
| CAE-CD | Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense |
Beyond required coursework, scholars take part in hands-on experience on campus, summer internships at government agencies, faculty-mentored research, and extracurricular activity including competitions and outreach. Graduates enter government as specialists in both the use of AI in security operations and the safety and resilience of AI systems themselves.
Why it matters
A case of building integrated AI-and-cybersecurity talent at national scale. For those tracking AI security, AI governance, and public-sector cyber workforce needs, a useful read on the direction of U.S. talent-pipeline investment.
FAQ
What is Scholarship for Service (SFS)?
What does CyberAI mean?
Sources (primary)
Source: NSF Award Search (U.S. National Science Foundation, public domain). Amounts are the obligated amount. For privacy, we do not handle principal investigator names.
- NSF Award (original, official)
- NSF Award ID: 2623215