History / Overview
Presidential Decision, Directive 63/National Plan for Information Systems Protection
This directive signed May 1998, required that the Executive Branch assess the cyber vulnerabilities of the Nation's critical infrastructures; information and communications, energy, banking and finance, transportation, water supply, emergency services, and public health, as well as those authorities responsible for the continuity of federal, state, and local governments. The directive also called for the Federal Government to produce a detailed Plan to protect and defend America against cyber disruptions. The National Plan for Information Systems Protection was the first major element of a more comprehensive effort to protect our nation’s critical infrastructure.
SFS Created under Federal Cyber Service Training and Education Initiative
The CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service Program (SFS) was created under the Federal Cyber Service Training and Education Initiative, a component of the National Plan for Information Systems Protection, Co-Sponsored by National Science Foundation and Department of Homeland Security, to enhance the security of critical information infrastructure, increase the national capacity of educating IT specialists in Information Assurance (IA) disciplines, produce new entrants into the Government IA workforce, increase national Research & Development (R&D) capabilities in IA, and strengthen partnerships between institutions of higher learning and relevant employment sectors.
MOU establishing partnership between OPM and NSF to implement the program
2001, first grants awarded to 4 schools.
First graduating class, was made up of 9 students who entered the Federal IA workforce
MOU establishing partnership between NSF and DHS to co-sponsor program
First Live SFS Career Fair
First SFS Virtual Career Fair
Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014 signed into law (Public Law No: 113-274)
This act served to provide for an ongoing, voluntary public-private partnership to improve cybersecurity, and to strengthen cybersecurity research and development, workforce development and education, and public awareness and preparedness, and for other purposes. It also reflects the critical need for Information Technology (IT) professionals, industrial control system security professionals, and security managers in Federal, State, local and tribal governments. The SFS program is managed by the National Science Foundation (NSF), in collaboration with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and, in accordance with the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014 (Public Law No: 113-274). Section 302 of the act addresses the SFS program specifically.
National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2018, mandates SFS program updates and enhancements.
Students identified by their institutions for SFS Scholarships must meet selection criteria based on prior academic performance, likelihood of success in obtaining the degree, and suitability for government employment. Upon graduation, scholarship recipients are required to work a period equal to the length of their scholarship in Federal, State, Local or Tribal Government or in other approved organizations as cybersecurity professionals. Scholarships include: tuition, stipend, professional allowance stipend (travel for job fair) and 1-3 years of support.