Click on Apply below to start your application.

Applications will be considered as they are received.  You are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

The Secretary's Honors Program (SHP) for Cyber in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will provide undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to experience and learn about the cybersecurity work completed every day by dedicated DHS personnel.  Each assignment is unique, providing selected students the opportunity to be involved in one or more important projects.

Students will be assigned to one of the Operational and Support Components that currently make up the Department of Homeland Security.

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
• U.S. Coast Guard
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection
• Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
• Federal Emergency Management Agency
• Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
• U.S. Secret Service
• Transportation Security Administration
• Management Directorate
• Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office
• Office of Intelligence and Analysis
• Office of Operations Coordination
• Science and Technology Directorate

Students will engage with and develop an understanding of DHS cyber efforts in the following areas:

• Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) Compliance and Technology
• Cyber Threat
• DHS Cybersecurity Policy & Remediation
• Program Management
• National Security Systems Risk Governance, Architecture, Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM)
• Security Architecture and Engineering

As an SHP intern, you'll have the opportunity to:

• Learn and develop skills in information technology to include agile, cloud computing, digital transformation, IT modernization, cryptography, cybersecurity and DevSecOps for DHS initiatives. 
• Develop skills to communicate with IT professionals who specialize in Systems Architecture, Enterprise Architecture, Data Management, Cloud Computing and Software Development. 
• Learn to perform system backup and maintenance functions. 
• Participate with DHS personnel on special projects as determined by the Solution Architecture staff.  
• Learn needs analysis for projects in research for solutions for identified needs.
• Participate in projects related to developing and updating user and technical documentation to increase this skill set. 
• Create and publish interactive reports and white papers under the direction and guidance of DHS personnel. 
• Participate with DHS personnel in maintaining, developing, designing and updating OCTO Atlassian Suite in order to learn or increase this skill set. 
• Gain hands-on, practical experience with the full gamut of technology, roles, and responsibilities of the professionals at DHS. 

Appointment Length

Appointments for summer placements are for up to 12 weeks.

Location

Various locations throughout DC Metropolitan Area.  Some positions will be offered virtually.

Participant Benefits

• Stipend: $1,500/week 
• Housing allowance: $2,000/month, if eligible
• No relocation will be paid.

Review and Selection Process

DHS Operational and Support Components will start reviewing applications and making selections as soon as applications are received. Hence, you should not wait until the last minute to submit an application. DHS Operational and Support Components are looking for a match between their available projects and your educational background, experience, interests, skills and career goals. DHS may conduct interviews with candidates before making final selections.

Completed applications will undergo an eligibility and compliance check by ORISE. Final selections will be made by a federal official from DHS who will notify ORISE of final selections.  ORISE will notify applicants.

Nature of Appointment

The participant will not enter into an employee/employer relationship with ORISE, ORAU, DHS, or any other office or agency. Instead, the participant will be affiliated with ORISE for the administration of the appointment through the ORISE Letter of Appointment and Terms of Appointment.

While the participant will not enter into an employment relationship with DHS or any other agency, this opportunity will require a suitability investigation/background investigation. All placements are contingent upon successful completion of the background investigation process and subsequent ability to gain access to the assigned facility. The anticipated background investigation requirements for students participating at DHS is: Public Trust or Secret.

Applicants must:

• Be a U.S. Citizen.
• Be currently enrolled at least half-time as an undergraduate student or a graduate students pursuing a Master’s degree or equivalent, at an accredited college or university.
• Meet one of the following conditions: 
  • Majoring in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) and/or Cybersecurity Operations/Cybersecurity Defense.
  • Have demonstrated interested in the field of cybersecurity and desired to pursue a career in cybersecurity upon graduation.
• Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale as indicated on most recent transcript/academic records.  Upon acceptance, you will be asked to submit official copies of your transcripts.

Students must plan to be enrolled Fall 2022. Hence, students completing their degree in May/June are not eligible to participate in the program.

DHS is especially interested in applicants that have completed coursework or previous experience related to:

• Threat analysis;
• Risk assessment;
• Incident response;
• Security architecture and engineering;
• Network monitoring/network defense;
• Cybersecurity research and technical writing;
• Basic knowledge and understanding of industry best practices regarding policies, governance, strategies and standards in cybersecurity;
• National Security Systems governance and Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM); and,
• Testing and development.

A complete application consists of:

• Profile Information
• Educational and Employment History
• Essay Questions (goals, experiences, and skills relevant to the opportunity)
• Resume (PDF)
• Transcripts/Academic Records - For this opportunity, an unofficial transcript or copy of the student academic records printed by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institution systems may be submitted. Transcript or academic records must clearly show the student name, name of the academic institution, enrollment during the academic term at the time of application, current/completed/enrolled courses, grades, most recent cumulative GPA, and degree in progress. Submitted documents must have all social security numbers, student identification numbers, and/or dates of birth removed (blanked out, blackened out, made illegible, etc.) prior to uploading into the application system.

If you have questions, send an email to dhsed@orau.org. Please list the reference code of this opportunity in the subject line of the email.

All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Currently pursuing a Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree.
• Minimum Overall GPA: 3.00
• Discipline(s):
  • Computer, Information, and Data Sciences (17 )
  • Engineering (27 )
  • Mathematics and Statistics (11 )
  • Other Non-Science & Engineering (12 )
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (29 )
• Age: Must be 18 years of age