Congressman Supports Defense Digital Service Academy for Cyber, AI

Rep. Mike Rogers foresees a military academy that focuses on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and other high-tech skills. NAVAL INFORMATION WARFARE CENTER PACIFIC

ARLINGTON, Va. — The ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee supports establishment of a new training institution for cyberwarfare and artificial intelligence (AI) to help the nation to meet cyber threats.

Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Alabama, speaking March 22 in a webinar of the Defense Writers Group, said one of his top priorities is developing the nation’s defense work force in cyber and artificial intelligence capabilities.

“We just had a cool subcommittee hearing a little over a week ago that recommended a digital service academy, much like the military academies now, but we’d train cyber and AI and other IT [information technology] skills,” Rogers said, noting that the academy could offer qualification “anywhere from a certificate level to an associate degree, bachelor’s degree, to a doctoral degree.”

Rogers said the concept would recruit students that would attend at no charge and would have an obligation to work five years for the government.

“That’s something I’m really focused on, because cyber is an emerging threat that we’ve go to recognize we’re not prepared to meet,” he said.