The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the opening of applications for the Operational Technology (OT) Defender Fellowship 2026 Cohort, an initiative that builds a network of cyber defenders dedicated to securing critical energy infrastructure. With an application deadline of Aug. 22, the move aims to strengthen cybersecurity across the nation’s energy sector through education and collaboration with industry.
Fellows in the OT Defender Fellowship 2026 selective year-long education program will deepen their understanding of the OT threat landscape, while gaining the tools and strategies necessary to combat cybercriminals and nation-state actors targeting U.S. energy infrastructure.
Launched in 2020 by the DOE’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER), the OT Defender Fellowship works in collaboration with DOE’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL), and with support from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ (FDD) Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation (CCTI).
The OT Defender Fellowship 2026 offers in-person sessions throughout the year, including a scenario-driven capstone exercise. It offers networking opportunities with peers and cyber experts in U.S. government departments and agencies, including the DOE, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD), National Security Agency (NSA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Secret Service, and other federal agencies and congressional experts.
The initiative offers in-depth learning about the techniques, tools, and tactics the U.S. government is using to counter threats, mitigate vulnerabilities, and reduce risk to critical infrastructure. It also delivers knowledge and skills applicable to specific professional roles in the energy sector.
The OT Defender Fellowship 2026 is open to middle- and senior-level professionals at asset owner-operators in the U.S. energy sector, including electricity, oil, and natural gas energy companies. The fellowship is typically limited to 15 participants.
The program selects one cohort each year, consisting of a small group of highly qualified participants. Applicants must be in a management role at a U.S. energy sector asset owner or operator organization, with decision-making authority and oversight of OT security or operations. They should hold a position senior enough to influence organizational strategy and tactics while staying connected to frontline operations.
Additionally, candidates must have the support of their manager and organizational leadership. They are expected to commit fully to the fellowship, which includes attending quarterly in-person seminars at their own expense and completing assignments between sessions to foster utility perspectives and support information sharing. U.S. citizenship is required, and participants must be eligible to hold an active federal security clearance.
In May, the CISA, FBI, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and DOE identified cyber incidents targeting OT and industrial control systems (ICS) within U.S. critical infrastructure installations. They urge these entities to review and act immediately to improve their cybersecurity posture against cyber threat activities specifically and intentionally targeting internet-connected OT and ICS.
