Applications for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Operational Technology (OT) Defender Fellowship Program are due Aug. 31, 2026.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) created the OT Defender Fellowship Program to help mid- and senior-level OT security managers deepen their understanding of how adversaries target U.S. energy systems and how the U.S. government counters those threats.
Public power officials that have previously participated in the program detailed how they benefitted from the program.
“The OT Defender program provided a great opportunity to collaborate with cross-industry peers in the energy industry on common issues we are all facing,” said Tim Pospisil, Director of Security Technology Outreach & Chief Security Officer at Nebraska Public Power District.
“But for me, the biggest benefit was the connection with our government partners of all kinds to educate them on the challenges and concerns the public power sector faces and what we need from them, which in many ways are different from the larger entities,” he said. “Credit goes to the OT Defender leadership for ensuring all sizes and kinds of organizations have been included so far, including an APPA member every year.”
"The OT Defender Fellowship has connected me with cybersecurity experts from across the energy and power sectors. The opportunity to collaborate with colleagues on shared challenges involving cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies has been invaluable," said Fred Christie, Chief Information Officer at Easton Utilities.
"Just as importantly, the program provides access to expertise, information, and technologies from national laboratories and federal agencies -- resources I would not otherwise have without the OT Defender Fellowship," he said.
"The DOE OT Defender Fellowship provided an unparalleled opportunity to learn from experts across government and industry while building relationships with utility cybersecurity leaders from around the country," said Jared Price, Vice President and Chief Information Officer at American Municipal Power.
"The experience enhanced my ability to assess risk, improve operational technology security, and better support the mission of protecting critical energy infrastructure. I continue to benefit from the Fellowship's alumni network and the ongoing exchange of ideas, lessons learned, and emerging threat information. Those relationships have proven invaluable in strengthening cybersecurity initiatives at AMP and in supporting the public power communities we serve," Price said.
The fellowship is sponsored by DOE and hosted by Idaho National Laboratory, with support from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation.
OT Defender Fellowship Application Requirements
The OT Defender Fellowship offers one cohort per year with a small number of highly qualified participants per cohort.
Applicants must:
• Be in a management role in a U.S. energy sector asset owner or operator organization, with decision-making authority and oversight responsibility for the security or operations of operational technology systems – senior enough to influence the strategy and tactics of the organization, and in touch with how the work is performed on the front lines
• Have the support of their manager and of the organization’s leadership
• Commit to the requirements of the fellowship, including attending quarterly in-person seminars (at participant’s cost), and completing assigned activities between seminars to build utility perspective and promote information sharing
• Be a U.S. citizen (required)
• Eligible to hold an active federal security clearance
Additional details on the program including a link to apply is available on DOE’s website.
