Workforce Development - Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Defense Education Program
Abstract
SMART is a scholarship-for-service program that provides support to high performing U.S. graduate and undergraduate students in 24 academic science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines identified as areas of future workforce priorities for the DoD. SMART Scholars receive full tuition, a stipend, allotments for books and health insurance, internships at a sponsoring DoD laboratory or agency, and guaranteed employment with the DoD upon degree completion. Students fulfill a one-for-one service commitment to the Department as a civilian employee for every year of scholarship provided. The disciplines awarded to align with the Department’s Science and Technology (S&T) priorities and emerging scientific research areas, such as: Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering; Biomedical Engineering; Biosciences; Chemical Engineering; Chemistry; Civil Engineering; Cognitive, Neural, and Behavioral Sciences; Computer Science and Engineering; Cybersecurity; Data Science; Electrical Engineering; Environmental Sciences; Geosciences; Industrial and Systems Engineering; Information Sciences; Materials Science and Engineering; Mathematics; Mechanical Engineering; Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering; Nuclear Engineering; Oceanography; Operations Research; Physics; and Software Engineering. Upon completion of their degree, students fulfill a service commitment to the Department on a one-to-one payback per year of education funded. Since FY 2005, the Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) program has awarded approximately 4,700 scholarships to scholars engaging with 211 sponsoring facilities across the entire DoD, including the Army, Navy, Air Force and other DoD agencies. Over 90% of the participants have successfully completed, or are on track to complete, both their SMART-funded degree pursuit and their DoD employment agreement. Oversight of the SMART program falls under the purview of Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) with execution at the Component level. Two types of individuals participate in the program: (1) retention scholars who are current DoD employees; and (2) recruitment scholars who are students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs and represent new technical expertise for the Department. Internships provide Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) scholars with the opportunity to engage in the DoD science and technology enterprise through research and work experiences in defense laboratories, thereby enhancing their educational experience and understanding the relevance of DoD research priority areas. Oversight of the SMART program falls under the purview of Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) with execution at the Component level.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2025
- Source ID
- 77590d8af27f99dd25fe638153396ff8