University of Detroit Mercy receives $7.75 million from U.S. Department of War
The U.S. Department of War awarded University of Detroit Mercy $7.75 million to expand an education-to-workforce pipeline as the U.S. faces growing workforce shortages in critical technology fields. The award addresses…
DETROIT, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of War awarded University of Detroit Mercy $7.75 million to expand an education-to-workforce pipeline as the U.S. faces growing workforce shortages in critical technology fields.
The award addresses critical shortages in the military and defense industrial base while preparing students for careers in technology fields. It will focus on advancing technological disciplines essential to modern military operations including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, machine learning and systems engineering.
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters was instrumental in securing funding through the Senate Appropriations Committee in the Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations Bill.
"These investments are critical to strengthening our national security while creating educational and career opportunities for Michiganders," Peters said.
According to the U.S. Office of the National Cyber Director, the U.S. faces a shortage of cybersecurity professionals at a time when cyber threats, AI-driven risks and rapidly evolving warfare technologies have skyrocketed.
"In new technology areas, where we see both opportunities and challenges, ethical leadership is vital," Detroit Mercy President Donald B. Taylor said. "Detroit Mercy is perfectly positioned to provide both the technical skills and the ethical grounding that will make our graduates excel."
Funding supports initiatives to strengthen workforce pathways from high school through doctoral candidates, active-duty military personnel, DoW civilian employees and defense industrial base professionals. It will also provide scholarships for students interested in these fields.
Advanced technologies will be integrated into pre-college programming, undergraduate and graduate degrees, micro credentials, and research opportunities, and create pathways to defense-focused internships and career advancement.
A board of advisors composed of industry leaders, the military and academia, will guide the strategic priorities to ensure they align with the evolving needs of the DoW.
Katherine Snyder, dean of the College of Engineering & Science and co-principal investigator, said the award represents another step in expanding experiential learning and career opportunities for students.
"By expanding opportunities for research, experiential learning and collaboration, we will help meet critical technical workforce needs in Detroit, across the region and throughout the nation, including areas important to our nation's security," she said.
Detroit Mercy is a cybersecurity education and defense workforce development leader. The University has been recognized by the National Security Agency as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, one of the original 50 programs designated across the nation in 2004. Visit https://www.udmercy.edu/academics/cybersecurity.php.
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SOURCE University of Detroit Mercy
