Dear Colleagues: 

On behalf of the Department of War (DoW) CIO’s Cyber Academic Engagement Office (CAEO), we invite you and your institution to participate in a groundbreaking curriculum design challenge: The ASCEND Initiative. 

1. Purpose and Strategic Intent: 

ASCEND is a direct response to the dynamic nature of the cybersecurity landscape, the changes generated by increased uptake of AI, and the critical need for an agile, highly skilled workforce. This is a high-stakes competition to identify and fund the most forward-thinking educational models. A select group of finalists will be invited to participate in a live public defense of their design concept in front of a panel of senior DoW judges, academic mentors, and a live audience on May 1st in Pittsburgh, immediately after the CAE in Cybersecurity Symposium. Designed to build capacity with our academic partners, winners will receive a cash prize and mentorship from leading academics through the grant lifecycle, from initial curriculum design and development to the creation of a competitive grant proposal for the DoW. 

2. The ASCEND framework: 

We are seeking innovative proposals for an ASCEND (Aligned Skills Curriculum and Experiential Network Design) framework. This framework should be a comprehensive educational model targeting an area of AI designed for learners with no prior experience, such as first-year college students, non-cyber majors, or professionals re-skilling from other fields. The objective is to operationalize academia to deliver measurable, scaleable, and repeatable workforce outcomes aligned to national security priorities.

3. Invitation to submit a letter of intent 

We invite you to submit a 2–4-page descriptive proposal outlining your vision for an ASCEND framework. This document will be used to evaluate and select the finalists for the showcase event. Your proposal should be a concise but comprehensive overview that addresses the following: 

➢ Pedagogic Vision: A high-level description of the proposed learning framework, articulating what makes this design innovative and cutting edge. 

➢ KSAT Mapping Strategy: Mapping to a work role and/or KSATS within the DCWF 8140. 

➢ Experiential Learning Integration: An explanation of how the design will build scalable high-impact experiential learning (e.g., cyber ranges, competitions, internships) related to work role readiness. 

➢ Agile Assessment: Proposed assessment methods (e.g., micro-credentials or certifications) and information about how data will be gathered to demonstrate measurable returns on investment. 

➢ Team & Institutional Capability: A description of key faculty, resources, and institutional strengths that make the team uniquely qualified for this challenge. 

➢ High Level Budget Estimate: A rough order of magnitude (ROM) budget for a full pilot program, outlining major cost categories to demonstrate financial foresight.

4. Evaluation Criteria 

Proposals will be evaluated on how effectively they meet the content criteria described in section 3, with attention given to: 

- Technical soundness and rigor 

- Scalability and sustainability 

- Workforce impact and measurability 

- Cost realism and value to the government.

5. Submission Guidelines 

• Format: PDF document 

• Length: 2-4 pages (excluding cover page and references) 

• Submission: Submit Letters of Intent via email to osd.mc-alex.dod-cio.mbx.caeo@mail.mil 

• Deadline: 5:00 PM EST on March 27, 2026. 

• Eligibility: Eligible applicants are faculty members or students at institutions designated as NCAE-CD, NCAE-R, or NCAE-CO. This competition is particularly targeted at applicants who are relatively new to the grants process.

6. Award Structure 

Between 3 and 5 finalists will be selected by judges to present and defend their proposed framework in front of an audience of mentors, judges, and the public at the ASCEND Showcase event in Pittsburgh on May 1st 2026, immediately following the CAE in Cybersecurity Symposium. Each of these finalist teams will be awarded a $1000 cash prize in recognition of their innovative design. 

The three mentors will select the teams whom they want to mentor. Following the showcase, the winning design(s) will be used to inform a future government solicitation. The winning team(s) will receive dedicated mentorship to help them prepare a competitive grant proposal in response to that future solicitation.

7. Key Dates: 

• LOI Submission Deadline: March 27, 2026 

• Finalist Notification: On or before April 3, 2026 

• ASCEND Showcase Event: May 1, 2026 (Pittsburgh, PA)

We are confident that this initiative will foster significant innovation at the intersection of academia and national security. We look forward to receiving your proposals and learning more about your visionary ideas for the future of cybersecurity education. 

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our office at the email provided above or zoe.l.fowler2.civ@mail.mil. 

Sincerely, 

The Department of War Cyber Academic Engagement Office (CAEO)