ONR-UWF Cyber and Electronic Warfare Workforce Development Program

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This program is currently not active.

Program Overview

The innovative project, which is funded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) under Award No. N00014-21-1-2025, is projected to nurture a capable and trained workforce with the skills to defend and protect our critical infrastructures primarily those in the industrial and defense sectors. The program provides FREE cybersecurity training and career development for eligible veterans, military-connected individuals, or ROTC cadets to prepare them for rewarding careers in cyber and electronic warfare.

Delivery Format: Online (100% Asynchronous)

The program will offer 3 cybersecurity courses: Industrial Control Systems Security, Threat Intelligence and CompTIA Security+ to 10-12 eligible participants each. All costs for eligible and accepted participants will be covered by a grant from the ONR.

Program Benefits

Two-month cybersecurity training and career development program at no cost to eligible participants
Program and courses are 100% asynchronous online, making learning accessible and convenient
Courses prepare students for cybersecurity careers with foundational knowledge and hands-on skills
Provides digital credentials/badges to document skills and competencies

Program Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for program consideration, applicants must meet the following requirements:

U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident
Veteran, military-connected personnel, or ROTC cadet
High school diploma or equivalent
Some IT or cybersecurity experience

Preferred Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree or currently in a Bachelor’s degree program in IT or related area
At least two years of IT or cybersecurity experience

Program Participation Requirements

All selected applicants must agree and comply with the following:

Strong interest in cybersecurity field and career
Commit to participate in the program (courses will not run for the entire duration but participants should be available during that time frame).
Must have your own computer with camera and microphone, and high-speed Internet connection
Participate in all program courses and sessions, including the certification courses, exam preparation, and orientation sessions. The program and courses will be offered 100% asynchronously online.
Dedicate time towards self-study and complete all program and course requirements, including assigned readings, labs, assessments and surveys each week.
Take any required industry certification exams within two weeks of each certification course completion and report exam results to the program coordinator.

Application Requirements

To be considered for the program, applicants MUST complete the application form linked below and submit ALL required documents via email by the application deadline. The application form also includes a brief survey regarding any IT and cybersecurity skills. The required documents should be submitted in PDF format as attachments to a single email to Dr. Guillermo Francia III at gfranciaiii@uwf.edu.

Please use the following naming convention for the email subject: LastName FirstName Application (e.g., Smith Joe Application).
For each of the required documents, please name the file as: FirstName-Last-Name-DocumentType.pdf (e.g., Joe-Smith-Resume.pdf).

Required Documents:

A brief up-to-date resume
A copy of unofficial transcripts for your most advanced degree completed (for high school, associate's, or bachelor's degree)
A 2-page letter of intent that demonstrates your interest and commitment to the program and a cybersecurity career and includes the following components:

(a) Commitment to successfully completing the program and pursuing a career in cybersecurity

(b) Experiences and accomplishments that helped prepare you for this program and a cybersecurity career, including military, IT or cybersecurity education or training, industry certifications, or awards

(d) What specific cybersecurity work role(s) and critical infrastructure sectors or organizations you are interested in working for upon program completion, and why. For more detailed information on specific sectors mentioned in these questions, please visit https://www.cisa.gov/critical-infrastructure-sectors.

(e) Your short-term (1-4 years) and long-term (5+ years) career goals upon successful program completion.

At least two professional recommendation letters

If initially selected for the program, you will be required to submit additional documentation to verify your citizenship or permanent residency. You will receive an email requesting this documentation if you are selected. You may want to start gathering this information in the interest of time.