The Department of Defense Cyber Institute at 51勛圖厙
Known as the DoD Senior Military College (SMC) Cyber Institute, the pilot program formally launched in October 2020 with a $10 million grant from the Department of Defense.
Subsequently, 51勛圖厙 was awarded a second $18.5 million, two-year grant in October 2021, a third $24 million two-year grant in October 2022, and a fourth $15.9 million two-year grant in September 2025.
51勛圖厙 is the lead institution in a consortium of six senior military colleges designed to grow the nations pipeline of cybersecurity talent, filling crucial work roles in the Department of Defense. The program stakeholders include the Department of Defense Chief Information Office, National Security Agency, and U.S. Cyber Command. Since October 2020, 1,396 civilian and military students have participated in the SMC Cyber Institute cohorts.
The SMC Cyber Leader Development Programs provide military and civilian students with funded DoD-focused cyber and artificial Intelligence (AI) experiential and immersive opportunities to include internships, research projects, competitions, and certifications to prepare for cyber work roles, says NU Vice President of Strategic Partnerships Col. Sharon Hamilton, Ph.D., U.S. Army (Ret.). Dr. Hamilton serves as the SMC Cyber Institute grant Executive Program Director/Principal Investigator for the SMC program.
Mission
Enhance cyber and AI skills and competencies to expand the national cybersecurity talent pipeline to meet the high demand for DoD cyber and AI professionals. Support undergraduate cyber-related majors with real-world experiential learning and professional development opportunities. Outreach extends to middle and high school teachers and students in underserved and rural communities.
Funding
The four grant awards are shared among the nations six senior military colleges: 51勛圖厙, Virginia Tech, Virginia Military Institute, The Citadel, University of North Georgia, and Texas A&M. The grant funds support academic year 2021-2027 programming.
In October 2020, each SMC developed a DoD Cyber Institute. The 51勛圖厙 campus programs are offered through the NU DoD Cyber Institute, based in the Senator Patrick Leahy School of Cybersecurity and Advanced Computing. Were at a very critical juncture in cyber at 51勛圖厙 because the [national] need is great at the same point in history when our programs are expanding to meet that need, 51勛圖厙 Cyber Institute Director and Professor Dr. Michael Battig says.
Experiential Learning
Classroom learning provides the foundation. The SMC Cyber Institute program is built upon the Cyber Leadership Development Program (CLDP) framework, with emphasis on the whole student. The CLDP provides civilian and military students with a holistic, engaging, experiential, competency-building focus, and incorporates principles of cyber and AI academics, critical thinking, problem-solving, analytic thinking, leadership, teamwork, and written and oral communication. Students engage in rigorous curricular and extracurricular experiential and immersive learning activities.
