This part:

(a) Establishes guidelines for the award of National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowships, as required by 10 U.S.C. 2191.

(b) Authorizes, in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2191 and consistent with DoD 5025.1, the publication of a regulation which will be codified at 32 CFR part 168b.

This part applies to the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), the Military Departments, and the Defense Agencies (hereafter referred to collectively as “DoD Components”).

Sponsoring Agency. A DoD Component or an activity that is designated to award NDSEG fellowships under § 168a.5(a).

(a) Sponsoring Agencies, in awarding NDSEG fellowships, shall award:

(1) Solely to U.S. citizens and nationals who agree to pursue graduate degrees in science, engineering, or other fields of study that are designated, in accordance with § 168a.5(b)(2), to be of priority interest to the Department of Defense.

(2) Through a nationwide competition in which all appropriate actions have been taken to encourage applications from members of groups (including minorities, women, and disabled persons) that historically have been underrepresented in science and engineering.

(3) Without regard to the geographic region in which the applicant lives or the geographic region in which the applicant intends to pursue an advanced degree.

(b) The criteria for award of NDSEG fellowships shall be:

(1) The applicant's academic ability relative to other persons applying in the applicant's proposed field of study.

(2) The priority of the applicant's proposed field of study to the Department of Defense.

(a) The Deputy Director, Defense Research and Engineering (Research and Advanced Technology) [DDDR&E(R&AT)], shall:

(1) Administer this part and issue DoD guidance, as needed, for NDSEG fellowships.

(2) Designate those DoD Components that will award NDSEG fellowships, consistent with relevant statutory authority.

(3) Issue a regulation in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2191 and DoD 5025.1-M.

(b) The Heads of Sponsoring Agencies, or their designees, in coordination with a representative of the Deputy Director, Defense Research and Engineering (Research and Advanced Technology) [DDDR&E(R&AT)], shall:

(1) Oversee the nationwide competition to select NDSEG fellowship recipients.

(2) Determine those science, engineering and other fields of priority interest to the Department of Defense in which NDSEG fellowships are to be awarded.

(3) Prepare a regulation, in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2191,that.

(i) Procedures for selecting NDSEG fellows.

(ii) The basis for determining the amounts of NDSEG fellowships.

(iii) The maximum NDSEG fellowship amount that may be awarded to an individual during an academic year.