---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 6253"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "6253"
heading: "Fellowship program for development of skills critical to the nuclear security enterprise"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/6253"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part VI — Elements of Department of Defense and Other Matters"
  - "Subpart B — Atomic Energy Defense"
  - "Chapter 606 — Personnel Matters"
  - "Subchapter II — Education and Training"
---

# §6253. Fellowship program for development of skills critical to the nuclear security enterprise

- (a) **In General.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Energy shall conduct a fellowship [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) for the development of skills critical to the ongoing mission of the nuclear security enterprise. Under the fellowship [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1), the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) shall provide educational assistance and research assistance to eligible individuals to facilitate the development by such individuals of skills critical to maintaining the ongoing mission of the nuclear security enterprise.
- (b) **Eligible Individuals.—** Individuals eligible for participation in the fellowship [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) are [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) citizens who are either of the following:
  - (1) Students pursuing graduate degrees in fields of science or engineering that are related to nuclear weapons engineering or to the science and technology base of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Energy.
  - (2) Individuals engaged in postdoctoral studies in such fields.
- (c) **Covered Facilities.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) shall carry out the fellowship [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) at or in connection with the [national security](/usc/10/801.md?p=16) laboratories and nuclear weapons production [facilities](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2).
- (d) **Administration.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) shall carry out the fellowship [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) at a [facility](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) referred to in [subsection (c)](#c) through the stockpile manager of the [facility](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2).
- (e) **Allocation of Funds.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) shall, in consultation with the Assistant [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Energy for Defense [Programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1), allocate funds available for the fellowship [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) under [subsection (f)](#f) among the [facilities](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) referred to in [subsection (c)](#c). The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) shall make the allocation after evaluating an assessment by the weapons [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) director of each such [facility](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) of the personnel and critical skills necessary at the [facility](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) for carrying out the ongoing mission of the [facility](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2).
- (f) **Agreement.—**
  - (1) The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) may allow an individual to participate in the [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) only if the individual signs an agreement described in [paragraph (2)](#f-2).
  - (2) An agreement referred to in [paragraph (1)](#f-1) shall be in writing, shall be signed by the participant, and shall include the participant’s agreement to serve, after completion of the course of study for which the assistance was provided, as a full-time employee in a position in the nuclear security enterprise for a period of time to be established by the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Energy of not less than one year, if such a position is offered to the participant.

## Source credit

(Added and amended Pub. L. 119–60, div. C, title XXXI, § 3111(a), (d)(2)(B), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1418, 1462.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 6253 was renumbered section 8303 of this title.

Prior sections 6254 to 6256 were renumbered sections 8304 to 8306 of this title, respectively.

A prior section 6257 was renumbered section 8307 of this title.

Another prior section 6257 was renumbered section 8308 of this title.

A prior section 6258 was renumbered section 8308 of this title.

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 2723 of Title 50, War and National Defense, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 119–60, § 3111(b)(1).

### Amendments

2025—Pub. L. 119–60, § 3111(d)(2)(B), realigned margins.