Penn State To Launch New National Security Institute
Penn State is launching the National Security Institute, a new research institute aimed at enhancing contributions to defense and national security. An internal search for a director to lead the new institute is underway.
For decades, Penn State has been a trusted partner in defense research, and the National Security Institute will work closely with government agencies and industry partners to advance and facilitate research outside the scope of the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) that is needed to address the critical current and future security challenges facing the nation and the world. Established in 1945 at the request of the U.S. Navy, ARL is a Department of Defense-designated University Affiliated Research Center that supports all the U.S. Armed Forces and other government agencies. The new institute will substantially increase ARL-adjacent research, focusing on areas such as infrared-signal and radiation detection, energy storage, and robotics and aerospace technologies development and manufacturing.
“For more than a year, we’ve engaged with a small group of academic leaders in defense-related research to explore how best to unify and amplify our national security contributions,” said Andrew Read, senior vice president for research at Penn State. “The National Security Institute will aim to accelerate the development of technologies that help deliver cutting-edge and innovative solutions to our federal and industry partners. I look forward to working with the inaugural director, who will play a key part in Penn State’s research enterprise and help us make even more of an impact when it comes to tackling the most pressing national and international challenges.”
Penn State’s interdisciplinary research tradition dates to the establishment of ARL. The University’s current institute model evolved from efforts started around the same time, but then refined in the 1960s and again around the turn of the century. Institute directors work closely with deans in the University’s 18 colleges to attract top faculty, support research excellence and engage federal and industry partners, as evidenced by the more than 9,000 industry research projects initiated since 2013.
https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/penn-state-launch-new-national-security-institute