SEC. 2. FEASIBILITY STUDY REGARDING ESTABLISHMENT 
WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OF A 
DESIGNATED CENTRAL PROGRAM OFFICE, 
HEADED BY A SENIOR DEPARTMENT OFFI-
CIAL, RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSEEING ALL 
ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS FOCUS-
ING ON CREATING CYBER TALENT ACROSS 
THE DEPARTMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 270 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
shall submit to the congressional defense committees a 
feasibility study regarding the establishment within the 
Department of Defense of a designated central program 
office, headed by a senior Department official, responsible 
for overseeing all academic engagement programs focusing 
on creating cyber talent across the Department. Such 
study shall examine the following: 
(1) The manner in or through which such a 
designated central program office would obligate and 
expend amounts relating to cyber education initia-
tives. 
(2) The manner in or through which such a 
designated central program office would interact 
with the consortium or consortia of universities (es-
tablished pursuant to section 1659 of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (10 
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U.S.C. 391 note)) to assist the Secretary on cyberse-
curity matters. 
(3) The reasons why cyber has unique pro-
grams apart from other science, technology, engi-
neering, and math programs. 
(4) Whether the creation of the designated cen-
tral program office will have an estimated net sav-
ings for the Department. 
(b) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the feasibility 
study required under subsection (a), the Secretary of De-
fense shall consult with and solicit recommendations from 
academic institutions and stakeholders. including primary, 
secondary, and post-secondary educational institutions. 
(c) DETERMINATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Upon completion of the fea-
sibility study required under subsection (a), the Sec-
retary of Defense shall make a determination re-
garding the establishment within the Department of 
Defense of a designated central program office re-
sponsible for each covered academic engagement 
program across the Department. 
(2) IMPLEMENTATION.—If the Secretary of De-
fense makes a determination under paragraph (1) in 
the affirmative, the Secretary shall establish within 
the Department of Defense a designated central pro-
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gram office responsible for each covered academic 
enrichment program across the Department. Not 
later than 180 days after such a determination in 
the affirmative, the Secretary shall promulgate such 
rules and regulations as are necessary to so establish 
such an office. 
(3) NEGATIVE
DETERMINATION.—If the Sec-
retary determines not to establish a designated cen-
tral program office under subsection (a), the Sec-
retary shall submit to Congress notice of such deter-
mination, together with a justification for the deter-
mination. 
(d) COMPREHENSIVE REPORT.—Not later than 270 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense 
committees a comprehensive report that updates the mat-
ters required for inclusion in the reports required pursu-
ant to section 1649 of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116–92) and sec-
tion 1726(c) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public 
Law 116–283). 
(e) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘covered 
academic engagement program’’ means each of the fol-
lowing: 
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(1) Any primary, secondary, or post-secondary 
education program. 
(2) Any recruitment or retention program. 
(3) Any scholarship program. 
(4) Any academic partnerships. 
(5) Any general enrichment program. 
Æ 
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