National Defense Education Program (NDEP)
NDEP activities provide authentic DoW-relevant learning experiences through a variety of initiatives in the form of scholarships, internships, enrichment activities, project/research-based competitions, and mentorships. NDEP programs span across all age groups, including kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12), postsecondary, undergraduate, and graduate students and educators (holistically termed “Pre-K to Career”). The SMART Program enables the Department to transform its STEM workforce while addressing near-term workforce demands. Per 10 U.S. Code 4093, the SMART program awards highly competitive scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students in any of the 22 STEM academic disciplines critical to national security, and hires the students, upon graduation, into DoW's civilian workforce for a one-for-one service commitment. SMART scholars are hired to perform many aspects of the national security mission including S&T/R&D, manufacturing, test and evaluation, maintenance and in-service support, medical research, warfighter support, infrastructure and construction, material decommission and disposal, and intelligence gathering and analysis activities. The SMART program ensures the Department has a steady infusion of high-quality technical talent, prepared in areas of critical importance, and ready to apply their technical knowledge, skills, and abilities to fulfill the DoW mission. As part of the SMART experience, scholars engage in internships that allow for relevant hands-on research and work experiences in DoW facilities and international partner research institutions, thereby enhancing their educational experience. Through an annual competitive SEED award, SMART offers transitioning Ph.D. scholars an opportunity to establish a foundational research and engineering effort in their area of expertise aligned with a DoW mission or critical technology area and supporting their development into subject matter experts. Additionally, per FY 2021 NDAA Sec. 250, SMART also offers a competitive funding opportunity through the Creative Research & Engineering Advancing Technical Excellence in STEM (CREATES) award to expand and enhance connections and opportunities between the SMART program, SMART scholars, SMART sponsoring facilities, and students and faculty at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
• Continue FY 2026 efforts. • Award up to 450-500 new scholarships to meet DoW sponsoring facility demand. • Projected to have ~816 SMART scholars intern at DoW facilities in summer 2027 • ~447 SMART scholars projected to begin their service commitment to the DoW civilian workforce in 2027, transitioning to full-time DoW civilian…
Read the FY2027 plan →FY2027 planned work • Conclude the Defense STEM Education Consortium cooperative agreement award and re-vector K-12 STEM Education activities to a new pending NDEP Pcode • Continue strategic partnerships and collaboration through National Defense Education Program awards to inspire, attract, and develop the Nation's STEM talent pool to advance defense superiority, global technological leadership, and economic strength. • Identify activities and partners in AI Education to support the Administration’s Executive Order on AI Education and the AI Action Plan.
FY2026 to FY2027 change The decrease between FY 2026 and FY 2027 of - $18.840 million reallocates K-12 STEM Education efforts into a new pending NDEP Pcode. The remaining $4.500 million will focus on postsecondary STEM education and workforce development activities.
FY2026 plans — current year • Continue strategic partnerships and collaboration under the Defense STEM Education Consortium and National Defense Education Program awards to inspire, attract, and develop the Nation's STEM talent pool. • Continue to cultivate and incentivize Components’ innovative approaches to STEM talent development through intramural activities.
FY2025 accomplishments • Continue strategic partnerships and collaboration under the Defense STEM Education Consortium to inspire and develop talent as early as K-12 and empower educators to provide meaningful STEM learning experiences. • Continue to cultivate and incentivize Components’ innovative approaches to STEM talent development through intramural activities.
FY2025 accomplishments Continue to support DoD and Federal STEM Education Strategy and Department’s BIOTECH Roadmap in building biotechnology literacy, diversity and inclusion in developing the future biotech workforce.
• Develop the framework for the Joint K-12 STEM Education effort in collaboration with the research and engineering arms of the military departments. • Implement Joint K-12 STEM Education effort with select effective and scalable continuum of programs for K-12 students and educators under existing awards. • Finalize, solicit, and award…
Read the FY2027 plan →