The Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division recently launched the Crane Rapid Capabilities Cell, a new initiative designed to accelerate the delivery of critical technology to the warfighter. The cell bridges operational needs with the warfare center's technical capabilities across strategic missions, electromagnetic warfare, and expeditionary warfare. As a SMART Sponsoring Facility, the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division offers scholars the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research that directly supports the warfighter. Learn more: bit.ly/4rwFlFn #SMARTScholarship #STEMCareers #Engineering #Innovation @DoW_STEM @NAVSEACrane

The SMART Scholarship team had a great time connecting with SMART scholars and students at @UDelaware, @penn_state, and @LifeAtPurdue! Thank you to everyone who stopped by to meet our team and learn more about SMART opportunities. We enjoyed visiting your campuses and connecting with the next generation of STEM talent! #SMARTScholarship #SMARTopportunity #STEM #STEMCareers #CareerFair @DoW_STEM

The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Office recently partnered with the National Security Agency's Laboratory for Physical Sciences to launch the Quantum Ecosystem Advancement, Growth and Leadership initiative, known as QuantumEAGLe, to accelerate the United States quantum computing ecosystem. As a SMART Sponsoring Facility, DEVCOM Army Research Office offers scholars the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge quantum research that directly supports national and economic security. Learn more: bit.ly/4yuWsJC #SMARTScholarship #STEMCareers #Engineering #Innovation #QuantumAndBattlefieldInformationDominance

The SMART Scholarship is celebrating 20 years of STEM excellence! Dr. Kristofer Lasko is a 2016 cohort SMART scholar sponsored by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center Geospatial Research Laboratory in Alexandria, Virginia. He earned his doctoral degree in geographical sciences from the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland. Today he leads the development of machine learning tools that use satellite imagery to generate maps supporting Army missions. His research has been cited in World Bank and United Nations policy documents. His story is one of 20 years of scholars who are turning scholarship support into lifelong service and impact. Read his published research: bit.ly/4yACZHz #SMARTScholarship #20YearsOfSTEMExcellence #STEM #STEMCareers #WorkforceDevelopment @DoW_STEM @ArmyERDC @UofMaryland

The SMART Scholarship team is coming to the Florida Institute of Technology Career Fair on Wednesday, September 23. Stop by table to learn how SMART can turn your engineering degree into a career that matters with the Department of War. #SMARTScholarship #SMARTopportunity #CareerFair @DoW_STEM @FloridaTech

Meet SMART scholar Pranav Sehgal, a Phase 2 electrical engineering student sponsored by Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific in San Diego, California. Pranav serves as an electromagnetics engineer in the atmospheric propagation group at his Sponsoring Facility, supporting the Navy's understanding of how signals behave in complex maritime environments. He has contributed to radar and atmospheric ducting research and supported advanced directed energy work at U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. A published IEEE author, he also mentors the next generation of engineers. Through SMART, he developed a direct path from engineering coursework to national security work. Read his published research: bit.ly/473oYGw Read more about Pranav: bit.ly/4gSma53 #SMARTScholarship #STEMCareers #ElectricalEngineering #Engineering #WorkforceDevelopment #IEEE @DoW_STEM @NiwcPacific @USNRL @IEEEorg

Week 3 of your SMART Scholarship application is all about getting your transcripts and documents in order. Here’s what to tackle this week: Day 1: Finalize and upload your resume. Day 2: Obtain your unofficial transcript and upload it to your application. Day 3: Complete the "About Me" section. Days 4-5: Continue researching Sponsoring Facilities. Small steps create big changes. Stay focused, you are doing great. Download the guide: bit.ly/4qW5g8X #SMARTScholarship #SMARTopportunity #STEM #STEMCareers #WorkforceDevelopment @DoW_STEM

In defense innovation, a laboratory breakthrough isn’t the finish line — it’s the starting line. Recently, SMART held its annual review for the SEED Innovation Awards, bringing together SMART scholars, program staff, and Department of War (DoW) leaders to celebrate cutting-edge research funded through SMART – one of the Department’s premier, merit-based scholarship-for-service programs. We were honored to welcome DoW leadership who highlighted how this work advances critical DoW priorities. Mr. Michael J. Holthe, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Science and Technology delivered keynote remarks and Dr. Richard LaVoie, Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Science and Technology participated in roundtable discussions with SEED Principal Investigators (PIs). SMART SEED Innovation Awards empower PhD SMART scholars to drive impactful DoW work in research and engineering. The core strength of the SMART Innovation Awards lies in their ability to fuel this momentum while serving those who serve our nation. Congratulations to our SMART SEED PIs on another outstanding year of innovation and supporting the Department of War’s most pressing needs. @DoW_STEM @DoWCTO

Today we celebrate the 79th birthday of the United States Air Force. We honor the airmen and guardians who serve with skill, dedication, and professionalism to defend our nation and project air power around the world. Happy birthday, @U.S. Air Force! #AirForceBirthday #USAF #SMARTScholarship

At the Air Force Research Laboratory, researchers recently demonstrated autonomous control of a satellite bus using a neural network, marking a significant shift from artificial intelligence managing sensors and payloads to directly commanding spacecraft orientation. An artificial intelligence agent was uplinked to a CubeSat orbiting hundreds of miles above Earth, autonomously steering the vehicle to its mission objective within a single orbit and without human intervention. As a SMART Sponsoring Facility, the Air Force Research Laboratory offers scholars the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge artificial intelligence research that directly supports the warfighter. Learn more: bit.ly/46sEqfg #SMARTScholarship #STEMCareers #Innovation #Engineering #AppliedArtificialIntelligence #AFResearchLab @DoW_STEM @AFResearchLab

The SMART Scholarship is celebrating 20 years of STEM excellence! Dr. Nia Peters is a 2015 cohort SMART scholar sponsored by Air Force Research Laboratory 711th Human Performance Wing at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. She earned her doctoral degree in electrical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Today, Dr. Peters develops speech-enabled technologies for the Department of War, leading a significant research effort at her Sponsoring Facility. Her story is one of 20 years of scholars who are turning scholarship support into lifelong service and impact. Read her research: bit.ly/4yt8WS0 #SMARTScholarship #20YearsOfSTEMExcellence #STEM #STEMCareers #AFResearchLab #WorkforceDevelopment @DoW_STEM @AFResearchLab @CarnegieMellon

Week 2 of your SMART Scholarship application is all about your references and resume. Here’s what to focus on this week: Day 1: Add references to your application, send the notification, and inform them of the automated email from smart@smartscholarship.org. Day 2: Complete the "My Experiences" section. (Tip: Use this to brainstorm and begin your resume.) Day 3: Draft your professional or academic resume. Days 4-5: Continue researching Sponsoring Facilities. You are making great progress! Keep going, you have got this. Download the guide: bit.ly/4qW5g8X #SMARTScholarship #SMARTopportunity #STEM #STEMCareers #WorkforceDevelopment @DoW_STEM

If you are passionate about STEM and looking for a scholarship that does more than cover tuition, come see the SMART Scholarship team at the Howard University College of Engineering and Architecture Career Fair on Monday, September 15. Find us at table 73 to learn how SMART can fund your education and connect you with a meaningful civilian career with the Department of War. #SMARTScholarship #SMARTopportunity #CareerFair #HBCU @DoW_STEM @HowardU

Attention Boilermakers! The SMART Scholarship team will be at the Purdue Engineering Student Council Industrial Roundtable on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 15 and 16, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Memorial Mall in West Lafayette, Indiana. Ready to receive full tuition, an annual stipend, summer internships, and an impactful civilian career with the Department of War? #SMARTScholarship #SMARTopportunity #STEM #STEMCareers #CareerFair #Purdue #BoilerUp @DoW_STEM @LifeAtPurdue @purdueesc

Today we pause to honor and remember those we lost on September 11, 2001, and the first responders, service members, and everyday Americans who rose to meet that moment with courage and resolve. On this National Day of Service and Remembrance, we are grateful for all who dedicate their lives to protecting this nation. #PatriotDay #NeverForget #September11 #SMARTScholarship

The SMART Scholarship team will be at three events at Pennsylvania State University next week. We would love to meet you at any of the following: Fall Engineering Reverse Career Fair | Monday, September 15 | 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. | 2nd Floor Student Lounge, ECoRE Building Engineering Impact Recruiting Event | Monday, September 15 | 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. | The Nittany Lion Inn - 200 W. Park Avenue, State College, PA Mechanical Engineering Career Fair | Tuesday, September 16 | The Nittany Lion Inn (Table 31) - 200 W. Park Avenue, State College, PA 16803 Swing by to learn how SMART can fund your STEM education and connect you with a civilian career with the Department of War. #SMARTScholarship #SMARTopportunity #CareerFair @DoW_STEM @penn_state

The SMART Scholarship is celebrating 20 years of STEM excellence! Dr. Shibin Parameswaran is a 2014 cohort SMART scholar sponsored by Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR) Pacific in San Diego, California. He earned his doctoral degree in electrical engineering from the University of California San Diego in San Diego, California. Today he serves as the technical lead for the machine learning and computer vision applied research group at his Sponsoring Facility, overseeing a team of 10 engineers and setting the team's strategic direction. Dr. Shibin Parameswaran is a recipient of the SMART SEED Award, a mentor to SMART scholars and junior engineers, and a 2026 recipient of the Dr. Delores M. Etter Top Scientists and Engineers of the Year Award, the Navy's highest honor for science and technology professionals. His story is one of 20 years of scholars who are turning scholarship support into lifelong service and impact. Read his published research: bit.ly/4yiA866 #SMARTScholarship #20YearsOfSTEMExcellence #STEM #STEMCareers #Navy250 #WorkforceDevelopment @DoW_STEM @USNavy @UCSanDiego

Week 1 of your SMART Scholarship application journey starts now. This week is all about setting yourself up for success. Get started by: Day 1: Create an account and review the application sections. Day 2: Gather required documents: unofficial transcripts, resume, and for retention applicants only, supervisor letter. Day 3: Identify references, collect their contact info, and inform them they'll complete a form, not write a letter. Days 4-5: Begin researching Sponsoring Facilities whose missions align with your interests. You'll need to enter your top three to five choices on the application, so continue refining your research throughout weeks 2-4. You have got this. Eight weeks is all it takes. Apply now and get started. Download the guide: bit.ly/4qW5g8X #SMARTScholarship #SMARTopportunity #STEM #STEMCareers #WorkforceDevelopment @DoW_STEM

The FY 2026 SMART SEED and CREATES Innovation Awards are putting $8.4 million of funding behind research that advances critical technology, strengthens DoW partnerships, and builds the STEM workforce of tomorrow. "The Innovation Awards Program is one of the clearest examples of how SMART turns scholar research into strategic advantage for the Department," said Ms. Charlotte George, SMART Program Manager. Read the full story: bit.ly/4dnCgBl

Happy Labor Day! Today we honor the dedication and hard work of the American workforce. The SMART Scholarship is proud to support the next generation of scientists and engineers who will shape the future workforce. Through their curiosity, commitment, and passion for solving complex challenges, these scholars will drive scientific discovery, technological innovation, and national security for years to come. #LaborDay #SMARTScholarship #STEM