Press Office U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Contact: Donald Tighe U.S. Department of Homeland Security (202) 282-8010 donald.tighe@dhs.gov

U.S. Department of Homeland Security and National Science Foundation Partner to Increase the Ranks of America's Skilled Cyberdefenders

Washington, DC – April 22, 2004 –The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) today announced an agreement to co-sponsor and expand the existing NSF Federal Cyber Service: Scholarship for Service (SFS) program. The partnership helps strengthen America's cybersecurity posture by promoting higher education courses that increase the number of information security professionals trained to protect public and private sector IT systems.

The SFS program was established in 2000 to support both student and higher education institutions' information assurance training initiatives. The SFS program seeks to increase the number of skilled students entering the fields of information assurance and computer security. Additionally, the SFS program supports the expansion of information assurance course offerings at United States higher education institutions.

The SFS Scholarship Track funds colleges and universities to award two-year scholarships in the information assurance and computer security fields. Upon graduation, the scholarship recipients are required to work for a federal agency for two years to fulfill their Federal Cyber Service commitments. The SFS Capacity Building Track supports faculty professional development and academic program creation to increase both the number and proficiency of information assurance and computer security professionals in the workforce. The SFS Capacity Building Track emphasizes partnerships that increase participation by underrepresented groups.

"The Department of Homeland Security is focused on improving cybersecurity. America needs more skilled cybersecurity professionals and our institutions of higher education have a critical role to play," said Amit Yoran, director, National Cyber Security Division, Department of Homeland Security. "We commend the National Science Foundation for its innovative Scholarship for Service program and look forward to working together to expand the depth and breadth of our national cybersecurity resources and expertise."

Priority III of the President's National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace directs the Federal government to foster training and education programs to support the nation's cybersecurity needs, as well as to increase the efficiency of existing Federal cyber security programs. The DHS/NSF agreement directly supports these tasks by amplifying an existing, successful program and enhancing synergies between the agencies.

"The United States higher education system continues to foster innovation in information assurance while providing students with the skills to secure critical information in the public and private sectors," said Dr. Ernest McDuffie, lead program director for SFS at the National Science Foundation. "The Department of Homeland Security's support for the successful Scholarship for Service program will be instrumental in increasing the number of experts dedicated to maintaining nationwide computer security. The Scholarship for Service program provides government agencies with the cybersecurity expertise of the scholarship recipients that are fulfilling their two-year commitments. Importantly, Scholarship for Service graduates also expand America's trained workforce of cybersecurity professionals."

About the National Cyber Security Division The National Cyber Security Division (NCSD) is part of Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection in the Department of Homeland Security. NCSD is charged with coordinating the implementation of the National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace and serves as the single National point of contact for the public and private sector regarding cyber security issues. NCSD is also charged with identifying, analyzing, and reducing cyber threats and vulnerabilities; disseminating threat warning information; coordinating incident response; and providing technical assistance in continuity of operations and recovery planning. NCSD's US-CERT serves as a focal point – bridging public and private sector institutions – to advance computer security preparedness and response.

For more information visit www.us-cert.gov.

For more information about the Federal Cyber Service: Scholarship for Service (SFS) program, please visit: http://www.ehr.nsf.gov/ehr/DUE/programs/sfs/