The NSIN X-Force Fellowship is a summer fellowship program that provides undergraduate and graduate students and recent graduates a chance to serve their country by solving real-world national security problems in collaboration with the U.S. military.

The 2024 NSIN X-Force Fellowship launched last week with 115 undergraduate and graduate students from 58 universities across the nation. The students will spend their summer working within operational military commands, using technical and entrepreneurial skills to develop and deliver rapid, early-stage prototypes that will help solve national security challenges.

The X-Force Fellowship offers students a unique opportunity to work with the Department of Defense (DoD), exposes them to innovative practices, and provides valuable, project-based experience that they can draw upon as they enter the workforce.

In return, the X-Force Fellowship offers the DoD new ways to compete with private industry to attract top talent and gives DoD organizations ideas and solutions created by the nation’s greatest asset – highly talented undergraduate and graduate students.

This year, X-Force Fellows will support more than 38 Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps partners with 48 national security projects. Student teams will regularly meet with their military project sponsors to share project progress and discuss challenges and successes. Students will also attend a weekly speaker series where they will hear from DoD senior staff members, program alumni, and other national security experts.

The X-Force Fellowship connects diverse, talented minds to the DoD,” said NSIN Talent Portfolio Director Gregory Bernard. “We are excited for another impactful summer, with Fellows bringing fresh perspectives and new solutions to the DoD and receiving in return valuable experience and a sense of purpose as they contribute to our nation’s defense.”

At the end of the program, Fellows will deliver and demonstrate their solutions to DoD partners and seek guidance for further development and iteration.

“The X-Force Fellowship program provides a unique opportunity for students to contribute to national defense in a meaningful way,” shared X-Force Program Manager Lauren Scofield. “We hope our Fellows see the immediate impact their work has on the missions of our DoD partners and that their experiences ultimately inspire them to pursue careers in the national security space.”

About National Security Innovation Network

NSIN is a program office in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), nested within the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). We are set up to collaborate with a wide variety of innovators to include universities, researchers, students, entrepreneurs and start-ups. We create opportunities for collaboration across communities and connect those that might not traditionally work in national security. Together, we help drive national security innovation and develop technologies that directly support the individuals responsible for protecting our country.

For more information or interview requests with Team NSIN, please contact us at [email protected].