The Computer Information Systems (CIS) Department in the School of Data Intelligence and Technology has received another grant from the U.S. Department of Defense Cyber Service Academy Program (DoD CSA). This grant, titled “Comprehensive Mentoring for DoD Cyber Talent Development,” aims to recruit eligible RMU and transfer students to develop cyber talent for the DoD cyber workforce and enhance the national pipeline for qualified cyber professionals.
For the 2025-26 academic year, this grant will support two selected DoD CSA student scholars and the research of the Principal Investigator on cybersecurity education and mentoring. Each DoD CSA student scholar will receive comprehensive support, including full tuition and fees, a living stipend, a laptop computer, and a textbook allowance. Scholars are also eligible to take up to the maximum number of credits allowed per semester at RMU. Additionally, the DoD CSA students will have paid summer internships and will be placed in professional cybersecurity positions within DoD agencies.
This marks the fourth time RMU has received the DoD CSA grant, demonstrating the university’s ongoing success in maintaining its designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (NCAE-CDE) by NSA/DHS. This designation must remain in good standing to qualify for this competitive grant.
Dr. Ping Wang (CIS) serves as the Principal Investigator (PI) for this grant project, which is set to run from September 2025 to December 2026, with the possibility of renewal for an additional year with new funding. R&GA appreciates the support provided by Julianne Michalenko (Director, Office of Scholar Development) for this grant application. The grant is valued at $165,554 for the 2025-2026+ academic year.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Wang!
On April 24, 2017, RMU held a Research & Grants Expo highlighting a variety of faculty research and grant projects. All of the RMU campus was invited to attend this event. Dr. Karen Paullet presented the Mobile Forensics and Security Project, an NSF-funded grant. Dr. Paullet is the PI on the grant, along with Dr. Jamie Pinchot (Co-PI), Dr. Sushma Mishra (Co-PI), and Dr. Fred Kohun. Mobile security and forensics is an underrepresented area of study that is increasingly important in our current society. This research will advance knowledge in the field of mobile cybersecurity and mobile forensics through a train-the-trainer program for 50 faculty members from universities across the United States. Twenty-five faculty were trained in July 2016 and the remaining half will be trained this year. Dr. Paullet also highlighted a new online certificate offered by RMU in Mobile Forensics and Security (MFS). This certificate is now available and you can learn more about it here: 
CIS @ RMU 