Purdue University Northwest receives more than $3 million from Department of Defense

Purdue University Northwest’s College of Technology has received two separate Department of Defense grants that total more than $3 million. Both grants will support the university’s initiatives to enhance workforce training and education in the fields of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Purdue University Northwest was eligible for these grants through the Department of Defense due to the university’s status as a National Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense. 

The first grant, which totals $3 million, has been awarded to the university’s Center for Cybersecurity, and will support the center’s ongoing efforts to provide workforce certification and training in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, AI literacy, digital forensics, and CWCT-Entry. This online workforce training program is free for accepted individuals, and helps to train those who are looking to change careers from first responders, military members, government employees, and more who are transitioning into cybersecurity or AI. 

According to an article on Purdue University Northwest’s website, Michael Tu, who serves as the director of the Center for Cybersecurity and as a professor of Computer Information Technology, was quoted as saying, “We are incredibly proud to receive this grant award so that we can continue providing significant workforce development opportunities for various transitioning professionals and support them in filling the gaps for the nation’s AI and cybersecurity workforce. Furthermore, we are privileged to earn this funding as a recognition of our high-quality cybersecurity education and outreach that contributes to understanding and innovation in these professional and academic sectors.”

The other grant, in the amount of $375,000, will go to the College of Technology’s department of Computer Information Technology and Graphics to fund the Cyber Service Academy scholarship, which is administered by the US Department of Defense. The Cyber Service Academy scholarship is awarded to junior and senior undergraduate students and graduate students in cybersecurity or information technology programs, paying for their tuition, books, fees, and housing. Those who earn the scholarship are required to complete experiential learning with a government agency, and then must work for the federal government, in a guaranteed job, for at least the same number of years they received scholarship funding.

Speaking of the Cyber Service Academy scholarship, George Stefanek, an associate professor of Computer Information Technology, said, This is a prestigious scholarship through a premiere program that supports a pipeline for PNW students to transition into important roles within the Department of Defense’s infrastructure. Along the way, these students will have other great opportunities to do research, make presentations at academic conferences, submit academic publications and earn workforce certifications.”

Purdue University Northwest has been designated as a National Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense since 2014.

For more information about Purdue University Northwest, visit the school’s website.