WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Here’s a fun fact: The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) employs more scientists and engineers than any other government agency. But here’s a more worrisome fact: America’s national security workforce is rapidly aging, and many defense researchers are expected to soon retire. Filling those vacancies won’t be easy because the U.S. isn’t graduating enough students from the so-called STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). To help offset that problem, Congress in 2005 created a highly lucrative DOD scholarship aimed at bolstering the Pentagon’s science and engineering talent pool. And this year, that program is bigger than ever.

DOD’s Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship program’s overarching goal is promoting the education, recruitment and retention of outstanding undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in STEM disciplines.

Since 2005, the Program has awarded 576 SMART scholarships worth $96.5 million. The program has been a huge success, so the Pentagon has decided to enlarge it. DOD expects to award 300 scholarships this year worth a total of $45 million. And the application process is now open.

“The Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Defense Scholarship Program is one of the nation’s most generous scholarship programs funded by the Department of Defense to help support education and job placement for America’s next generation of scientists and engineers,” says Deborah Shifflett, SMART Program manager.

Just how generous are the SMART scholarships? Students not only get their full tuition and fees paid, but are given allowances for books and health care. On top of that, they receive an annual cash stipend ranging from $25,000 to $41,000. In exchange for receiving such a rich award, students must agree to work for a DOD laboratory for a specified period of time.

Students who are at least 18 years of age, enrolled or planning to be enrolled in a STEM discipline program and are U.S. citizens are eligible to apply for a SMART Scholarship.

Applications must be received by December 15, 2009.

The SMART Program is administered by the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE ) and the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS). For more information, or to apply online, please visit: www.asee.org/smart.

For media inquiries, please contact Deborah Shifflett, SMART Program Manager; telephone: 831-656-3758; email: dsshiffl@nps.edu.

CONTACT:  Deborah Shifflett, SMART Program Manager; +1-831-656-3758, dsshiffl@nps.edu