Vanderbilt University announced Sept. 18 the launch of its Institute of National Security, led by Paul M. Nakasone, former director of the National Security Agency, former commander of U.S. Cyber Command and retired four-star general.
The institute emerged from Vanderbilt’s rich history of collaboration with the defense community, aerospace industry and cyber domain, building upon the success of its annual Summit on Modern Conflict and Emerging Threats. This high-profile event, which attracts top military officials and leaders in the U.S. intelligence community, has catalyzed cooperation across the national security landscape. By bridging academia and practice, the institute aims to address complex security challenges through innovative research and strategic partnerships.
The Institute of National Security was created to help the government and military combat evolving threats and develop the next generation of national security leaders. “Meeting today’s national security challenges will require a new spirit of radical collaboration,” Chancellor Daniel Diermeier said. “We need military officers that understand cyberspace and engineers that understand national security. We need interdisciplinary approaches that bring together diverse lenses of law, computer science and engineering. That’s precisely what we do at Vanderbilt.”
Initial funding was provided by Discovery Vanderbilt. “Including this institute in the Discovery Vanderbilt portfolio strengthens our ability to address one of the world’s most pressing issues—national security,” said C. Cybele Raver, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. “By leveraging our resources and expertise, we can contribute to cutting-edge solutions that enhance security and resilience on a global scale.”
The institute will be housed in Vanderbilt’s renowned School of Engineering, but it will emphasize involvement from faculty, staff and students across all schools and colleges, including engineering, medicine, education, business, law, humanities and, soon, connected computing. Douglas Adams, the Daniel F. Flowers Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, will serve as the first executive director.
The institute is the first in the national security industry to bring together so many disciplines to solve national security challenges. Founding director Nakasone and his team will align these efforts for a common purpose: a safe and secure United States.