New agreements with Purdue University and NSWC Crane connect academic preparation with mission-focused experience for Department of War workforce needs
WASHINGTON, D.C.—
The Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering, or OUSW(R&E), has formalized new partnerships with Purdue University’s Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security (CERIAS) and Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane), to accelerate the development of cyber and electromagnetic spectrum talent for the Department of War.
The Department faces a sustained demand for technically skilled professionals across cybersecurity, cyber operations, and electromagnetic spectrum disciplines. More than 20,000 cyber positions remain open across the Department of War (DoW), underscoring the need to expand the pipeline of mission-capable civilian and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) graduates prepared to support national-security missions. The need extends to the Department to the Defense Industrial Base (DIB), which relies on a similarly skilled, security-clearance-eligible workforce.
The partnerships support OUSW(R&E)’s Virtual Institutes for Cyber and Electromagnetic Spectrum Research and Employ (VICEROY) Program. VICEROY is a mission-focused cyber-spectrum leadership and talent-development pathway that connects academic preparation, hands-on experiential learning, and operational application. Its purpose is to increase the number of qualified professionals prepared to fill critical cyber-spectrum research and operations positions and contribute from Day One on the job.
Through the new partnership, Purdue University CERIAS will serve as a VICEROY academic partner and regional center of excellence in cybersecurity and electromagnetic spectrum education. Purdue will recruit qualified VICEROY Scholars; align academic programs, research expertise, and industry relationships with Department workforce needs; and expand access to internships, mentorship, hands-on learning, and the annual VICEROY Symposium.
“Purdue is proud to join the VICEROY network and expand opportunities for students to engage directly with the national security enterprise,” said Dr. Dan DeLaurentis, Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and Fellow of the International Council on Systems Engineering, executive vice president for research and interim president, Purdue Applied Research Institute. “This partnership brings together education, research, and workforce development in a way that benefits our students, supports critical defense missions, and strengthens the nation’s technology workforce for years to come.”
NSWC Crane will expand the operational side of that talent pathway by providing VICEROY ENVOY internship opportunities. The 10-week internships will place Scholars in a mission environment where they will receive structured mentorship and work on meaningful projects with clear objectives and deliverables. NSWC Crane will also coordinate the technical skills, schedules, access requirements, orientation, and end-of-internship out-briefs needed to support a productive experience for participating Scholars.
“VICEROY is building a connected national pathway that identifies, develops, qualifies, and places the next generation of cyber-spectrum professionals,” said Mr. Chester “CJ” Maciag, VICEROY National Director and Director for Cyber-Spectrum Academic Engagement, OUSW(R&E). “Purdue’s academic depth and NSWC Crane’s operational internship environment strengthen that pathway by connecting students’ preparation with real Department needs, mission context, and future opportunities to serve.”
Together, the partnerships create a more complete workforce-development pathway: Purdue recruits and prepares high-potential students through aligned coursework, research, and academic engagement; NSWC Crane provides operationally relevant experience, mentorship, and mission exposure; and VICEROY connects those elements to DoW and DIB workforce requirements.
For the Department, the return on investment is earlier access to emerging cyber-spectrum talent, stronger alignment between academic preparation and workforce demand, and a more direct path from education to mission-relevant experience. The model also enables the Department to evaluate technical potential and mission fit before permanent employment decisions while helping Scholars build the technical judgment, professional networks, and Department familiarity needed for future, and continued, service.
VICEROY is authorized under Section 1640 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, which established a program to accelerate and focus the development of foundational cyber operational skills for future military and civilian leaders. The program operates within the OUSW(R&E) portfolio.
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About VICEROY
Authorized under the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), VICEROY is a mission-focused cyber-spectrum development pathway that unites specialized cyber institutes through a singular virtual institute of higher learning. By integrating foundational education, experiential learning, and operational application, the program directly strengthens defense readiness by equipping the next generation of leaders to meet evolving challenges in cyber and electromagnetic spectrum operations. This ensures that the Department of War (DoW) and vital defense industries have immediate access to a robust pipeline of highly qualified, mission-capable professionals ready to fill critical research and operational roles and contribute on day one.
Media/News Contact:
Ms. Pamela D. Mustee, Engagement and Communications Lead, VICEROY
Email: Pamela.d.mustee.ctr@mail.mil | Phone: (315) 749-8324