COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Texas A&M University continues to strengthen its role as a leader in national security education and workforce development through its partnership with Sandia National Laboratories’ Critical Skills Recruiting (CSR) Program — a unique initiative that prepares graduate students to tackle some of the most pressing technological and cybersecurity challenges facing the United States.
Texas A&M is one of only seven nationally accredited universities approved by Sandia for participation in the CSR Program, which recruits top graduate students in critical science, engineering, and technology fields. The program allows selected students to pursue advanced degrees while receiving full-time pay and benefits from Sandia, ensuring they are ready to contribute immediately to national security missions upon graduation.
A Sandia employee currently participating in the program at Texas A&M — who is pursuing a master’s degree in Multidisciplinary Engineering with a focus on cybersecurity — described the experience as “a workforce development program that bridges academia and national service.” Unlike traditional fellowships or stipends, CSR participants are full employees of Sandia, receiving a regular salary while dedicating their time entirely to their studies during the academic year.
“My job right now is to be a student,” the employee said. “During the summer, I return to Sandia to work on regular research projects. The program gives me the flexibility to grow academically while staying fully connected to the national mission.”
The student, who previously spent four years interning at Sandia, said he was drawn to Texas A&M for its flexible, interdisciplinary engineering program and its strong cybersecurity focus.
“Texas A&M offered the biggest advantage through the flexibility of its multidisciplinary approach,” the employee said. “It allows me to specialize in cybersecurity in a way that fits Sandia’s mission.”
The decision was also influenced by Chrisma Jackson, Sandia’s Director of Cybersecurity, Mission Computing, and Chief Information Security Officer — and a proud Texas A&M alumna (Class of ’95/’98) — who recommended the program.
“The Critical Skills Recruiting (CSR) program is our premier program providing entry level staff with a recent technical bachelor’s degree the opportunity to pursue a fully funded Master of Science (MS) degree and then return to Sandia as a full-time employee contributing to our national security mission,” said Jackson. “Our partnership with Texas A&M provides an outstanding opportunity for students like him to pursue a MS in cybersecurity,” she said.
The CSR Program is designed not only to enhance technical expertise but also to strengthen the national security workforce pipeline. In return for the investment in their education, participants commit to working at Sandia for two months for every month spent at the university, creating a mutually beneficial partnership between the laboratory and the nation’s top academic institutions. For this student, that means about a three-year service commitment following graduation in December.
The Sandia employee emphasized that the experience has been both personally and professionally rewarding.
“I love working at Sandia, as I have the opportunity to focus my efforts on relevant work that directly contributes to national security – I feel as if I’m contributing to something bigger than myself,” he said. “I’ve always had a passion for national service, and this program lets me live that out every day.”
Sandia currently has three employees participating in the CSR program at Texas A&M.
Through collaborations like this, Texas A&M continues to play a pivotal role in advancing national security education and developing leaders who safeguard the nation’s future — a mission that aligns closely with the university’s legacy of service and excellence.