Chris McCaslin, PhD Geophysics, under Co-Advisors, Dr. Dylan Mikesell and Dr. HP Marshall,accepted the SMART Fellowship, which is the Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship-for-Service Program funded by the Department of Defense (DoD). This fellowship is a combined educational and workforce development opportunity for STEM students. 17% of applicants are awarded this fellowship, and only 18.99% of the awardees are PhD students. The SMART Fellowship Program enhances the DoD civilian workforce with innovative scientists, engineers, and researchers across the United States. SMART creates a highly skilled DoD STEM workforce that competes with dynamic trends in technology and innovation to protect national security. The SMART Fellowship is a full scholarship with an internship at one of the DoD’s national laboratories. Upon graduation, the fellow is rewarded with a career through the SMART Fellowship with the DoD.