The 2-year graduate program is the primary of its type throughout the Division of Protection (DOD), with NAVWAR serving because the pilot. It goals to encourage analysis and academic partnerships between HBCU/MSIs and authorities protection organizations. With tuition, wage and journey all lined by the Beneath Secretary of Protection for Analysis and Engineering [USD (R&E)], this system will assist the scholars financially and with mentorship from present DOD staff all through their research at NPS in Monterey, Calif.
“It’s an honor that NAVWAR is partnering with NPS to take step one because the pilot of this extraordinary program,” mentioned John Pope, government director of NAVWAR. “The labs the scholars will likely be working in upon commencement do very important work that serves the warfighter. I can’t wait to see how this program will achieve traction throughout the DOD, and what the primary cohort and past will be capable of obtain by collaborating.”
Scholarship-for-Service refers back to the scholarship supplied to the contributors to finish their grasp’s levels at NPS without charge to them, in change for 3 years of service at a Naval Info Warfare Heart (NIWC) Pacific or NIWC Atlantic laboratory upon commencement. The NIWC places embrace San Diego, Calif. and Charleston, S.C.; New Orleans, La.; and Norfolk, Va., respectively.
The chosen college students are all current graduates from HBCU/MSIs pursuing grasp’s levels in science, expertise, engineering and math (STEM) fields related to the DOD. As a result of the NIWC labs rent and onboard the scholars as staff earlier than attending NPS, they are going to be receiving salaries whereas finishing their research.
There are a number of levels within the S4S program, with contributors first reporting to their chosen NIWC location for onboarding as staff in August 2023. They then transition to NPS in September to start their research for a grasp’s diploma, the place they are going to stay for 18 months. Over the past six months, candidates will full their thesis at their recognized NIWC. Upon completion of this system, graduates have a service dedication to work at their respective NIWC for 3 years, with a wage commensurate with their grasp’s-level expertise.
Two of the scholars will likely be going to work on the Cyber/Science & Know-how (S&T) and Command and Management and Enterprise Engineering labs at NIWC Pacific, respectively, and the opposite two will likely be heading to the Manufacturing, High quality & Manufacturing and Knowledge Science & Analytics labs at NIWC Atlantic, respectively. All through their time at NPS, the scholars will likely be making quarterly journeys to their NIWC location to work alongside their educational supervisors and construct a relationship with their future colleagues.
One of many contributors, James Yapnayon from Norfolk State College, is planning to check laptop science with a specialization in both cybersecurity and protection or cyber operations. He came upon in regards to the NAVWAR-NPS S4S program from his senior seminar professor as an possibility for each profession development and pursuit of upper schooling upon commencement. Yapnayon is most trying ahead to persevering with to study in regards to the newest analysis and methodologies associated to cybersecurity and work alongside his friends who share an analogous ardour.
“One in all my position fashions that influenced my determination to pursue this program is my father, James Yapnayon, Sr., who served within the U.S. Navy for 20 years,” he mentioned. “His dedication and repair has impressed my very own want to contribute to the nation by Navy civilian service, a step that appears like giving again to an establishment who has given a lot to us.”
Justin Coppage, NIWC Pacific educational supervisor and cybersecurity resiliency department head, will likely be working with Yapnayon on the Cyber/S&T lab in San Diego. He’ll meet with Yapnayon one-on-one throughout his quarterly visits to the lab from NPS and supply recommendation as a mentor, like serving to him choose related lessons.
“Being a very good mentor will not be solely about giving profession recommendation but in addition guaranteeing they really feel personally supported as a result of new professionals usually really feel like they don’t belong once they’re first beginning,” mentioned Coppage. “I’m trying ahead to watching James’ profession develop and ensuring he appears like he’s a part of the group whereas he’s in Monterey. He’s already indicated what he’s fascinated with pursuing, and I hope to assist him meet his targets.”
Dejuan Inexperienced, additionally graduating from Norfolk State College, will examine laptop science with a cybersecurity and protection monitor whereas at NPS. With an undergraduate diploma in info expertise, he’ll leverage his current expertise to additional his information within the business in addition to develop his horizons by assembly different like-minded people.
“I’ve at all times been fascinated with safety operations heart analyst positions in addition to digital forensics however total, the aim is to develop my ability to grow to be a cybersecurity skilled and assist others,” he mentioned. “I’ve by no means been to the west coast earlier than, so I can’t wait to see the surroundings and nature.”
Joe Amman, mission engineer at NIWC Atlantic, will likely be mentoring Inexperienced all through his research and supervising him immediately when he returns to Norfolk after 18 months at NPS. “We’re tentatively planning for Inexperienced to assist in-service life-cycle engineering, fleet/buyer assist or high quality assurance,” Amman mentioned. “We rent many new professionals on the Manufacturing, High quality & Manufacturing lab and assist them with mentorship, rotation and extra, so we’ve a very good infrastructure in place to assist Inexperienced succeed.”
Though this yr’s cohort is 4 college students, Allyson Dopwell, NAVWAR-NPS range STEM S4S program interim director, is hopeful that future lessons will develop in numbers and expands to different DOD laboratories because the S4S program turns into extra established. This system has additionally obtained funding and assist from leaders throughout the DOD and Navy like Dr. Kevin Smith, the vice provost for analysis at NPS; Maurice Civers-Davis, the Navy HBCU/MSI program workplace deputy director; and Evelyn Kent, the director of the HBCU/MSI program on the Workplace of USD (R&E).
“There was extra curiosity throughout the DOD and Navy in investing in our future expertise for our nationwide safety in addition to rising range,” Dopwell mentioned. “As program director, I’m working to domesticate relationships between the Navy and HBCU/MSIs throughout the nation to draw extra candidates for future years. We’re excited to see this system enhance and develop within the years to come back.”
About NAVWAR:
NAVWAR identifies, develops, delivers and sustains info warfighting capabilities and companies that allow naval, joint, coalition and different nationwide missions working in warfighting domains from seabed to area and thru our on-line world. NAVWAR consists of greater than 11,000 civilian, energetic obligation and reserve professionals situated all over the world.
About NPS:
The Naval Postgraduate College supplies defense-focused graduate schooling, together with categorized research and interdisciplinary analysis, to advance the operational effectiveness, technological management and warfighting benefit of the naval service. For added info, go to NPS on-line at https://nps.edu.
