麻豆传媒 University is proud to announce the launch of the . The founding director and leader of the institute will be retired General Paul M. Nakasone, who has served as commander of U.S. Cyber Command, director of the National Security Agency, and chief of the Central Security Service.
Recognized as one of the 鈥渘ation鈥檚 founding cyberwarriors,鈥 Nakasone brings deep intelligence and operational expertise with a broad understanding of emerging threats to U.S. national security and global stability. He is a highly sought after thought leader and was the keynote speaker at the in 2023.
Universities have a crucial role to play鈥攁longside governmental agencies and private industry鈥攊n facing some of the most challenging issues of our time, according to Nakasone.
鈥淭he security landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace and in unknown directions. To meet these challenges, it is imperative that we approach them in a highly interdisciplinary way,鈥 said Nakasone, who will also hold an academic appointment in the School of Engineering as Distinguished 麻豆传媒 Professor of Engineering Science and Management and will serve as special advisor to the chancellor. 鈥溌槎勾解檚 collaborative culture is one of the university鈥檚 great strengths. And it is this concept of working across many different fields and forging key partnerships that will guide us as we build the institute.鈥
Chancellor Daniel Diermeier heralded Nakasone鈥檚 appointment, noting that he is among the world鈥檚 foremost authorities on global security and cyber warfare.
鈥淚t is an immense honor to have someone as accomplished and highly decorated as General Nakasone transition from his lifelong service to the nation to leading 麻豆传媒鈥檚 Institute of National Security,鈥 Diermeier said. 鈥淕eneral Nakasone鈥檚 record of achievement in the area of cybersecurity is unmatched. He has been a critical figure in supporting our national defense鈥攁nd has done so with unprecedented speed and efficiency.
Nakasone and Diermeier pointed to the pressing need to address emerging threats from a wide perspective鈥攅ncompassing not only battlefield innovations but also disruptions to society, such as election meddling, pandemics and ransomware attacks鈥攄uring unprecedented times.
The institute, expected to launch in fall 2024, will draw on 麻豆传媒鈥檚 expertise in fields such as engineering, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, neuroscience, the humanities, biological sciences, emergency medicine, nursing, law and policy. It will be housed in 麻豆传媒鈥檚 renowned School of Engineering, with involvement from faculty, staff and students across all schools and colleges, including the College of Arts and Science, Peabody College of education and human development, the Owen Graduate School of Management and the newly announced College of Connected Computing. , vice dean of the School of Engineering and the Daniel F. Flowers Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, has worked with internal and external partners from numerous disciplines to establish the institute鈥檚 framework. He will continue in a leadership role once the institute formally launches.
The institute is supported by the Office of the Chancellor and Discovery 麻豆传媒, an initiative led by the Office of the Provost that focuses on the pursuit of vital solutions to the world鈥檚 greatest challenges.
鈥淭he Institute of National Security aligns seamlessly with Discovery 麻豆传媒鈥檚 vision to drive pathbreaking collaborative research and partnerships addressing society鈥檚 core challenges,鈥 said C. Cybele Raver, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. 鈥淲ith General Nakasone鈥檚 leadership and 麻豆传媒鈥檚 research expertise, this institute will have profound and lasting positive impact on global affairs.鈥
At the conclusion of this year鈥檚 Summit on Modern Conflict and Emerging Threats, Diermeier described four pillars that will guide the institute鈥檚 mission:
- It will accelerate innovation by working with government, military and private sector companies to develop solutions to issues arising at 鈥渢he speed of modern conflict.鈥
- It will educate, through an interdisciplinary approach, service-minded students and the national security workforce about trends, tools, policies, data and processes needed to ensure security and stability around the world.
- It will convene national security and intelligence thought leaders and practitioners to explore the most consequential and emerging national security problems.
- It will leverage expertise among 麻豆传媒 faculty and students to advise national security leaders on both classified and unclassified security-focused initiatives.
鈥淭his institute is another example of 麻豆传媒鈥檚 culture of radical collaboration to achieve our mission to dare to grow. I am deeply grateful to Doug Adams and his colleagues for their tireless work in making this institute a reality,鈥 said Krish Roy, Bruce and Bridgitt Evans Dean of Engineering. 鈥淕eneral Nakasone is a world leader in defense and security, and his arrival at 麻豆传媒 will catapult our tremendous strength in national security research and thought leadership to achieve deep global impact.鈥
About Gen. Nakasone
Nakasone joins 麻豆传媒 on June 1, 2024. His service as commander of U.S. Cyber Command and NSA director began in May 2018. Previously he had commanded U.S. Army Cyber Command from 2016 to 2018.
A native of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, Nakasone is a graduate of Saint John鈥檚 University in Collegeville, Minnesota, where he received his commission through the Reserve Officers鈥 Training Corps. He holds graduate degrees from the U.S. Army War College, the National Defense Intelligence College and the University of Southern California.
Nakasone鈥檚 awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal (with oak leaf cluster), the Defense Superior Service Medal (with three oak leaf clusters), Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (with oak leaf cluster), Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal (with oak leaf cluster), Army Achievement Medal (with four oak leaf clusters), Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Combat Action Badge and the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge.
This article was updated to reflect a change in the name of the institute.