ACES Awarded $5M Grant Renewal to Strengthen Cybersecurity Workforce

The University of Maryland’s Advanced Cybersecurity Experience for Students (ACES) program has renewed its CyberCorps Scholarship for Service (SFS) grant, securing nearly $5 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to continue to help close the federal cybersecurity workforce gap.

The funding—which will extend through 2029—provides students with financial support and hands-on experience through partnerships with federal agencies, preparing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.

The CyberCorps SFS program offers scholarships to students nationwide, requiring them to work in federal, state or local government positions after graduation. This aligns with the U.S. National Cyber Strategy’s focus on building a robust cybersecurity workforce to combat evolving threats. Currently, the SFS program is awarded to just over 100 schools across 42 states and territories.

The scholarship covers tuition, provides a stipend, and allocates funds for professional development and course materials, supporting both undergraduate and potentially one year of graduate study.

Since the grant was initially awarded in 2017, ACES has enrolled 41 students in the SFS program, 23 of whom have graduated and completed, or are in the process of completing their employment commitment. With the renewed funding, ACES plans to recruit an additional 30 students over the next several years.

Michel Cukier, director of ACES and a professor of mechanical engineering at UMD, expressed enthusiasm about the grant renewal.

“We are delighted that NSF has renewed the SFS for ACES grant, which will continue to increase the number of qualified and diverse cybersecurity candidates for government positions and support their development and career readiness,” he says.

Cukier, who holds an affiliate appointment in the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS), notes this funding renewal would not have been possible without the support of ACES staff, the A. James Clark School of Engineering, Robert H. Smith School of Business, School of Public Policy, and the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences.

Launched in partnership with Northrop Grumman in 2013, ACES is the nation’s first honors living and learning program for exceptional undergraduate students of all majors interested in cybersecurity.

Part of the UMD Honors College, ACES also offers a 16-credit academic minor for upperclassmen that offers a mix of technical coursework, experiential learning, and professional development opportunities for students of all majors. The program equips students with interdisciplinary skills in computer science, business and public policy, and collaborates with government agencies, including the National Security Agency.

Michelle Mazurek, an associate professor of computer science with an appointment in UMIACS and director of the Maryland Cybersecurity Center, emphasized the importance of this funding.

“ACES is a terrific program, and I’m excited that this award will contribute to its continued success,” she says. “This funding not only alleviates financial burdens, but also enables students to focus on their studies and gain valuable experience in cybersecurity, ultimately preparing them for impactful careers.”

—Story by Melissa Brachfeld, UMIACS communications group

Published October 9, 2024