Cyber Leadership Programs

Want to jumpstart your life and cyber career with experience in the government, military, intelligence community, national security, or defense industry? Want to bulk up your portfolio with the right certifications, put your name on the scoreboards at cyber competitions, and learn the newest cyber trends from cutting-edge conferences while you fulfill your degree?

The Cyber Leader Development Program (CLDP) and Cyber Leader Scholars Program (CLSP) provide both cadets and civilian students opportunities for scholarships, internships, certifications, conferences, competitions, and experiential programs in cybersecurity and strategic languages throughout their program of study, with additional cohort support in their junior and senior years. The U.S. Department of Defense has granted funding for these programs in order to compel and propel the nation's next generation of incoming operatives to a higher level.

Funded By:

U.S. Department of Defense

Eligibility Requirements

Be a U.S. citizen
Age 18 years or older
Currently enrolled or accepted at UNG
Declared a major/minor/concentration in a cyber-related degree program
Maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA as an undergraduate
(2.7 minimum GPA with a justification waiver)
Be eligible to obtain a security clearance (background investigation required)
Be interested in federal/DOD service as a member of the cybersecurity workforce

Encouraging Diversity and Inclusion

50% of the Cyber Leadership Stipends will be prioritized for qualified students from underrepresented groups, including women, minority, rural, and first-generation college students interested in federal cyber work roles. UNG's SMC Cyber Institute Cohort will also provide support to students who have previously participated in NSA-sponsored GenCyber summer programs or other federal cyber initiatives.

Program Participation

A core pillar of these leadership programs is to inspire a passion for continual personal development. Leaders are expected to attend activities that provoke valuable growth in positive personal qualities:

Community Cultivator: Regularly participate in UNG CyberHawks (or another security/intelligence-related club.)
Good Sportsmanship: Each semester, compete in one or more cyber competitions.
Competitions include: NSA Codebreaker, National Cyber League, SANS Cyber FastTrack, CCDC, Locked Shields, NCX, CyberStakes, Hack-a-Sat, CyberForce, DEFCON, or another capture-the-flag.
Thirsts for Knowledge: Each year, attend one or more cyber/intelligence/national security industry or academic conferences/symposiums.
Conferences include: CyCON, HackerHalted, BlackHat, DEFCON, CyberCON, INSA/AFCEA, etc.
Examines Opportunities: Juniors must apply for one (or more) cyber-related internships.
Proud to Impress: Seniors/Graduates must apply to full-time positions within either the federal government, military, intelligence community, or defense industry.
Goal Focused: Complete a cyber-related capstone, major project, or conference submission by graduation.

How to Apply

Fill your basic information in the online application form
Email a resumé (federal format preferred)
to the cyber operations coordinator,
Mrs. Bruner at kimberly.bruner@ung.edu.

Apply for the Cyber Leadership Programs

Do not forget to submit a resumé to kimberly.bruner@ung.edu .

For best results, follow these resumé writing resources: