Center for Cyberspace Research awarded a $2.1 million grant Published Aug. 18, 2009 WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNS) -- The Center for Cyberspace Research at the Air Force Institute of Technology here has been awarded a National Science Foundation Cyber Education Grant in the amount of $2.1 million to continue its Scholarship for Service fellowship program that recruits and educates talented civilians to work for federal, state or local governments on cyber security issues. The objective of the Scholarship for Service program is to increase the number of qualified students entering the fields of cyber operations and computer security and to increase the capacity of the United States higher education enterprise to continue to produce professionals in these fields to meet the needs of the nation's increasingly technological society. Those selected for this competitive fellowship attend AFIT all expenses paid for two years and earn a Master's degree in Cyber Operations. Students also receive a stipend of $25K a year for living expenses. After graduation, the student works as a civilian for a federal, state or local government agency for two years. AFIT is a National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security designated Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education and Research. Since 1995 AFIT has made a significant contribution to the production of cyber professionals through its graduate educational program and research. "We have a unique ability to develop cyber professionals with a thorough understanding of the special requirements of government cyber operations," says Dr. Richard A. Raines, director of the Center for Cyberspace Research.