FAQs
General Information
What is the VICEROY mission?
VICEROY is the Department of War’s mission-focused cyber-spectrum leadership development pathway, built on the Cyber Institutes’ authority established in Section 1640 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). It accelerates talent development in critical cyber and electromagnetic spectrum operational skills for future military and civilian leaders of the Armed Forces, including the reserve components.
VICEROY answers the call for defense readiness by increasing the number of new and upskilled, mission-ready professionals available to fill critical cyber-spectrum research, communications, sensing, and operations roles that underpin Quantum – Battlefield Information Dominance (Q-BID) and related DoW Critical Technology Areas.
What is the VICEROY overview?
Exposes scholars to exciting and challenging applied national security and Q-BID-relevant problems at Department of War laboratories, research centers, and operational facilities.
Offers courses, certificates, degrees, and certifications that focus on national security challenges and incorporate Strategic Foreign Languages, Cryptography, and Data Science, as directed by the Cyber Institutes statute, to enhance operational effectiveness in the cyber and electromagnetic spectrum domains.
Conducts a unique mission-focused cyber-spectrum competition series that simulates contested environments, upskilling decision-making and operational readiness.
Provides hands-on, experiential learning and internship opportunities that align with the critical cyber-spectrum workforce demands of the Armed Forces, DoW, and the Defense Industrial Base, especially in support of the Q-BID CTA and related technology areas.
Reduces logistical and financial barriers that commonly impede students from pursuing Department of War-aligned internships and careers, expanding access to high-impact opportunities nationwide.
What is VICEROY MAVEN?
A summer internship that fast-tracks students’ competency in cyber-spectrum, providing hands-on professional development experiences within national security, U.S. military culture, leadership, research, and operations.
Who is Eligibile to Become a VICEROY MAVEN?
- Must be eligible to obtain a U.S. security clearance
- Must meet one of the following:
- Active ROTC student
- Current VICEROY Scholar
- Must be a rising undergraduate studying engineering, computer science, mathematics, physics, or cyber-related field
- GPA of 3.2 or higher is highly desirable
What is VICEROY ENVOY?
A cyber-spectrum summer internship engaging students in real-world mission-driven operational projects pertaining to U.S. national security, with some roles requiring a Secret clearance and potentially leading to permanent placements.
Who is Eligible to Become a VICEROY ENVOY?
- Must be eligible to obtain a U.S. security clearance
- Must meet one of the following:
- Active ROTC student
- Current VICEROY Scholar
- Must be a rising undergraduate or graduate student studying engineering, computer science, mathematics, physics, or cyber-related field
- GPA of 3.2 or higher is highly desirable
- Completion of a MAVEN internship desirable but not required
What are VICEROY's key priorities?
Cybersecurity, Spectrum, and Information Dominance Expertise
Develops a talent pipeline with essential skills and operational experience in cyber operations, electromagnetic spectrum warfare, secure communications, and sensing—capabilities central to Q-BID and other CTAs.
What are some examples of program successes?
- Increased Number of VICEROY Scholars: The VICEROY initiative experienced a 16% growth in student engagement during FY25, increasing from 595 students in FY24 to 695 in FY25. Also, the number of Department of War host sites supporting the VICEROY MAVEN and ENVOY internship programs doubled from FY24 to FY25, while the number of interns placed with these DoW organizations grew from 71 students in FY24 to 159 in FY25—a 124% year-on-year increase, further demonstrating strong commitment to developing mission-ready talent.
- Inaugural Poster Session: The first-ever poster session at the 2024 Annual Symposium featured 31 research projects, showcasing the innovative work and research conducted by VICEROY Scholars. Providing direct evidence to DoW leadership of the impact VICEROY-led research may have on defense priorities.
- Inaugural MAVEN Internship Programs at DoW Locations: Successfully launched MAVEN internship programs at Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific and the Army Research Laboratory. These internships help bridge the gap between academic learning and practical application in Service-unique real-world context.
- New Course Development: Four new electromagnetic spectrum operations courses were developed by the Virtual Institutes, enhancing the VICEROY curriculum. These courses are designed to address current gaps in knowledge and prepare students for the evolving demands of the defense industry.
What are Academic Partners?
Academic Partners are Cyber Institutes-aligned consortia of colleges and universities that collaborate to provide educational resources, hands-on learning experiences, and professional development for students pursuing careers in cybersecurity, cyber-spectrum operations, and related fields.
As part of this Department of War-aligned initiative, Academic Partners:
Implement curricula and opportunities consistent with the Cyber Institutes statute (cyber operations, strategic languages, cryptography, data science, early-talent programs, and instructor development).
Offer a collaborative platform that enables scholars’ academic growth, career readiness, and engagement with DoW-related activities and Q-BID-relevant projects.
Connect regional talent and faculty expertise to national-level research, experimentation, and operations.
Scholar & Intern Questions
Where will I stay during my internship? Do I have a roommate?
Intern accommodations are made at local dorms. All interns can expect to have a roommate. We currently do not take roommate requests.
What is there to do in Rome, NY? What is the weather like in Rome, NY? Around DoW host sites?
Rome, NY is a city located in Central New York. Rome earned the nickname “Copper City” because of its pivotal role in the copper industry during the Industrial Revolution. Rome is also the home of Fort Stanwix, which was constructed in 1758 to protect travelers on the Erie Canal.
Upstate New York summers typically see temperatures in the mid to upper 70s to low 80s.
Local tourism pages around DoW host sites: Keesler, Eglin, JBSA, Keyport NUWC, Pac NIWC
Am I eligible to apply? Do I need a certain GPA to apply? Can I apply if I don’t go to a VICEROY school?
Candidates must be eligible for a Secret Clearance and enrolled at one of our Academic Partners, traditionally pursuing a computer security-related major such as Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Cybersecurity, or Mathematics. Candidates in other majors may also be considered, provided they demonstrate relevant experience and strong aptitude in computer science or engineering. GPA of 3.2 or higher is highly desirable.
Is this a paid internship program? How often do I get paid? Do we get holiday pay?
This is a paid internship compensated at an hourly rate. Griffiss Institute (GI) employees are paid bimonthly. Hourly employees are not eligible for holiday pay. Travel/accommodations to and from the internship location will be made by the GI. Any student wishing to book their own accommodations may do so with prior written authorization and will be reimbursed up to $1500.
Can I edit my application after I send it?
No, applications are considered final once submitted. You may however contact viceroy@griffissinstitute.org for any questions.
How will I be notified if I have been selected for the internship program?
You will be notified via email if you have been selected for the VICEROY internship program.
Can I take a vacation during the internship?
We respectfully ask for students to be mindful of planning vacations around the internship to avoid research disruptions. This is an intensive, hands-on learning experience and the curriculum/research requires you be present for the entire internship to reach the mandatory hours to graduate.
We do accept many ROTC students into the program and will work around any official field training they are required to attend- this is the only exception.
I am a Scholarships for Service (SFS) student, and I see that the 8-week program is less than my required summer internship requirement, can I still participate?
Yes! SFS students will be assigned remote work prior to their arrival to reach the 400-hour requirement.
What do I do if I get sick or there is an emergency?
Illness and emergencies should be reported to MAVEN Assistants. They will work with staff to make sure you are taken care of and if needed get medical help as necessary.
Are there events outside of normal working hours that I am expected to participate in?
There are volunteer experiences in the community that interns are expected to participate in. These experiences do not exceed 10 hours in total.
Academic Partner Questions
If we have a change in team members supporting VICEROY, where do we reflect those changes?
A formal request for approval needs to be made regarding any change in contract (i.e. PI change) before final.
Which students or staff need to be security clearance eligible?
All scholars and staff need to be security clearance eligible.
If we host cross-town ROTC schools that are not part of an Academic Partner, can those ROTC cadets benefit from VICEROY program, either through classes, stipends, or internship opportunities?
Students involved in cross-town ROTC programs are eligible to benefit from the VICEROY program through academic courses, internships, and experiential learning to hone student competencies in cyber-spectrum expertise.
Are there any cross-Academic Partner activities, events, or competitions?
Yes, collaboration between Academic Partners is encouraged. Griffiss Institute will host program-wide events and competitions, but Academic Partners are encouraged to promote their events to other Academic Partners for greater participation.