DoD Names Inaugural Class of National Security Science and Engineering Fellows

The Department of Defense announced today the selection of six distinguished university faculty scientists and engineers forming the first class of its new National Security Science and Engineering Faculty Fellows (NSSEFF) Program. NSSEFF provides grants to top-tier researchers from U.S. universities to conduct long-term, unclassified, basic research of strategic importance to DoD. These grants engage the next generation of outstanding scientists and engineers in the most challenging technical issues facing DoD.

"Up to $3 million of direct research support will be granted to each NSSEFF Fellow for up to five years," said William Rees, deputy under secretary of defense for laboratories and basic sciences. The fellows conduct basic research in core science and engineering disciplines that underpin future DoD technology development. This basic research is crucial to applications such as sensors, surveillance, information security, cyber and force protection, and power projection. In addition to conducting this unclassified research, Rees noted another important benefit of the NSSEFF Program, "Opportunities for fellows to participate fully in the DoD research enterprise and share their knowledge and insight with DoD military and civilian leaders, researchers in DoD laboratories, and the national security science and engineering community."

In response to the NSSEFF Broad Agency Announcement, nearly 150 academic institutions submitted more than 500 nomination letters. More than 350 technical white papers were received and, following a rigorous technical review, 20 semifinalists were invited to submit full proposals outlining their research plans. Each of the semifinalists participated in a scientific interview before a distinguished panel of experts. A list of the fellows, their home institutions, and their research topics is attached. DoD may elect to announce additional winners of this year's NSSEFF awards at a later date.

Upon successful completion of negotiations between their academic institutions and DoD research offices, grant awards will be made to the faculty members' home institutions for support of their research. DoD congratulates each of these remarkable scientists and engineers on their selection as inaugural fellows of the National Security Science and Engineering Faculty Fellows Program.