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UA - Pulaski Tech secures $1M NSF grant to expand energy grid and cybersecurity program

Building on the initial success of its industry-aligned power sector initiative, the University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College (UA-PTC) has secured $999,661 in new federal funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) to expand training pathways in energy operations and grid cybersecurity.

The three-year Standard Grant, awarded through the NSF’s Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program, will fund the "Grid Workforce Initiative: Educational Pathways in Energy Operations and Cybersecurity." The project runs from Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2029.

The federal grant presents an enhanced effort by UA-PTC to scale up its Energy Systems Technology program, which launched in January following a $2 million award from the Arkansas Governor’s Workforce Strategy Initiative in late 2024 and through the Higher Industry Readiness through Educational Development (HIRED) grant. That initial state grant funded curriculum development and the creation of a state-of-the-art Energy Grid Simulation Lab, addressing a critical regional shortage of certified electric grid operators and cybersecurity experts.

Before the program was established, Arkansans seeking North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) certification had to travel out of state for specialized training. The college’s dual-track framework now offers a NERC-aligned Operations and Reliability track for grid operators alongside a Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) track focused on energy-grid cybersecurity and regulatory compliance.

"This grant illustrates the college’s continued commitment to developing a highly skilled workforce that will meet the needs of the energy industry," said UA-PTC Chancellor Summer DeProw. "We are grateful for the support of the National Science Foundation and our industry partners. This collaborative effort will ensure Arkansas remains a leader in energy infrastructure and utilities."

A key focus of the new federal initiative is scaling the program toward long-term viability and supporting the transition of courses from non-credit workforce training into full college credit offerings. UA-PTC is actively pursuing all necessary approvals to make the program eligible for federal Pell Grants, the Montgomery GI Bill, the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship, and Arkansas Challenge Plus by converting it to a for-credit structure. The college anticipates welcoming its first for-credit cohort in Fall 2027.

Under the direction of Dean of Technical and Professional Studies Angela Kremers, the project will support 27 student participants. The federal funding allocates $120,150 for participant support, which will provide travel stipends for students traveling to Little Rock to attend intensive, two-week residency courses inside the college's energy grid simulation lab.

Beyond direct student support, the award provides professional development opportunities for project leadership. Kremers and Technical Sciences Grant Program Coordinator LeeAnn Reynolds will participate in national ATE conferences to collaborate with peer NSF recipients, learning best practices while sharing UA-PTC's workforce education success with institutions nationwide.

The NSF ATE grant also will prioritize the recruitment of returning military service members and veterans into the program.

With combined state and federal backing, UA-PTC aims to establish a self-sustaining workforce pipeline that protects the regional power grid while positioning graduates for high-wage careers in energy infrastructure. Central Arkansas has increasingly become a major operational hub for the electric power industry. The college's energy workforce pipeline was designed in close collaboration with major regional utilities and transmission entities, including Entergy Arkansas, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), Southwest Power Pool (SPP), , Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation, and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Local industry leaders have actively sponsored worker apprenticeships through the college's inaugural cohorts, pointing to a growing need for personnel trained to manage power systems and defend critical infrastructure against cyber threats.