Purdue selected to run DoD pipeline cohort
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Purdue University has been selected as one of the first cohorts of the Defense Civilian Training Corps, a talent development pipeline to civilian careers with the U.S. Department of Defense.
The goal is to develop leadership skills and a collaborative mindset in students involved, so they are prepared to work on defense teams in the future. The program means students will have the ability to undertake a multidisciplinary, experiential learning curriculum and summer internships, Purdue said.
“The DCTC program is the latest and broadest example of us stepping up to the plate in workforce development,” Dan DeLaurentis, vice president for research institutes and centers in the Discovery Park District at Purdue, said in a news release. “We consider it an honor but also are aware of the heavy responsibility we have to ensure success of the pilot.”
Purdue was one of four universities selected for the project, including North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, the University of Arizona and Virginia Tech. DCTC was approved by Congress in the fiscal 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.
Students within the program enjoy full tuition, career mentoring and a security clearance application.
The university saw more than 80 applicants for the first cohort, which began this semester with 20 juniors began. Students come from the College of Engineering, the College of Liberal Arts, Purdue Polytechnic Institute and the Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business.