The Director of National Intelligence may carry out a program to provide scholarships and work-study for individuals who are pursuing graduate degrees in fields of study in science and technology that are identified by the Director as appropriate to meet the future needs of the intelligence community for qualified scientists and engineers.

If the Director of National Intelligence carries out the program under subsection (a), the Director of National Intelligence shall administer the program through the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

If the Director of National Intelligence carries out the program under subsection (a), the Director shall identify fields of study under subsection (a) in consultation with the other heads of the elements of the intelligence community.

An individual eligible to participate in the program is any individual who—

either—

(A) is an employee of the intelligence community; or

(B) meets criteria for eligibility for employment in the intelligence community that are established by the Director of National Intelligence;

(2) is accepted in a graduate degree program in a field of study in science or technology identified under subsection (a); and

(3) is eligible for a security clearance at the level of Secret or above.

If the Director of National Intelligence carries out the program under subsection (a), the Director shall prescribe regulations for purposes of the administration of this section.

(July 26, 1947, ch. 343, title X, § 1001, as added Pub. L. 107–306, title III, § 331(a)(3), Nov. 27, 2002, 116 Stat. 2394; amended Pub. L. 108–458, title I, §§ 1071(a)(1)(MM), (3)(C)–(F), 1072(a)(8), Dec. 17, 2004, 118 Stat. 3689, 3690, 3692.)