This project provides scholarships for graduate students seeking degrees in an MBA program with an emphasis on Information Assurance (IA). This degree gives students a strong background in business and policy as well as education and technical training in IA. Students in this program are engaged in a variety of research projects focused on the broad theme of organizational information asset protection, and they interact with experts in the field of IA through a series of professional seminars. Upon graduation, scholarship recipients must work for a Federal government agency in an IA position. The scholarship program helps to address the nation's need for qualified information technology professionals working in government agencies.
This grant was beneficial to Idaho State University and the general public. This scholarship for service (SFS) program benefited Idaho State University by creating an opportunity for 44 students complete a Master’s in Business Administration program. This MBA course was expanded with the addition of an interdisciplinary set of information assurance courses that result in a very employable information assurance federal employment candidate. We require our students to dedicate twenty hours a week to information assurance projects and programs. These students are immersed in a critical thinking environment. The grant provided them a stipend, paid their tuition, providing their books for classes and supported their trip to the SFS job fair. In return, the students are obligated to a year of information assurance government service for each year of academic support. All 44 students found employment with government agencies in the information assurance sector upon graduation. Our students are popular with multiple agencies due to our multi-disciplinary program and students are placing with DHS, NSA, CIA, SPAWAR, Air Force, FBI, NRC, Bureau of Public Debt, Treasury Department and US Senate as well as others. Not only do our students complete their two year obligation, they often continue to work for a government agency after their service obligation is completed. Several of our SFS graduates have taken educational positions in information assurance after completing their service obligation. Also, importantly, most students are part of the ISU SFS family for life and keep in contact with their colleagues. Further, the students attend lectures from information assurance professionals through our contacts in the industry. Our students have attended lectures from Howard Schmidt (cyber security), Tim Mucklow (NSA historian on cryptography), Julie Ryan (George Mason University – research methods), Rita Wells (INL cyber security), Gene Griessman (leadership and motivational speaker), Herbert LaFond (Micron Industries – SCSDA), Dan Ryan (National Defense University – risk management framework) and Lisa Albright (University of Utah – health care database analysis). One hidden benefit of the SFS grant is the ability to attend a SFS Job Fair held in Washington, DC. Over forty agencies come to interview and select worthy candidates from a candidate pool of SFS students. This is a unique opportunity to meet potential employers in the government and determine match between our student’s capabilities and their needs. Our students take advantage of this opportunity and enjoy their first immersion of the DC culture. At the end of their first year of study, the students are obligated to a ten week internship, which is oriented towards a future employer. All our students achieved this and benefited from it. Our program is adapting over time and we still mix hard and soft modalities. Some of our students have a strong flair for the hard modalities (networking, hardware, cryptography, and programming). Our interdisciplinary program also supports the softer modalities such as systems analysis, risk management, federal policy, human-computer interface as well as training, education, and awareness. We find our SFS graduates are sought after for their technical experience and communication plus project management/business analytical skills This grant promoted STEM outreach in the Idaho/Utah/Wyoming community. Our students are sponsoring and supporting major cyber range activities in Idaho, Washington and Hawaii. Over the past six years they contributed in a major fashion to the success of the Pacific Range CCDC. This student effort includes creation of injects, judging, establishing the environment, logistical support and selection of the red (attack team – SFS ISU alumni). They conducted two annual NIATEC Competitions with both university and high schools competing. These efforts required our SFS students to handle every aspect of the competition and it is a major effort. They were successful. They also conduct an annual cyber-awareness effort in October. They actively pursue various forms of media (radio, television, and newspaper) as well manning information booths in the student union. They created an informational set of posters that appear across campus annually. This is all completed while our supported students complete a full AASCSB accredited MBA. Most also receive an emphasis in information assurance as well as certifications and certificates in the information assurance arena. We believe these grant funds are well allocated and utilized.
