National Security

Vanderbilt University’s Institute of National Security welcomed more than 450 guests to a Washington D.C. launch event. The evening featured a discussion between Retired General Paul M. Nakasone and Retired General Mark A. Milley about global conflict and the presidential election. Read More

More than 3,200 alumni came together on Vanderbilt’s campus from Nov. 7 to Nov. 10 for Reunion and Homecoming. The weekend schedule featured more than 85 events designed to deepen connections among alumni, provide insights on current issues and celebrate the milestone class years ending in 4 and 9.   Read More

After the launch of the Institute of National Security, graduate students and postdoctoral scholars joined a special panel with Microsoft and institute leaders titled “Interdisciplinary Thought Leadership Across the Security Landscape.” The panel featured two experts from Microsoft—Vishal Amin, general manager of security solutions, and Lili Davoudian, director of technical sales—in conversation with institute Executive Director Douglas Adams Read More

Vanderbilt University announced today 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. Read More

Vanderbilt University, the University of Cambridge, King’s College Cambridge, the White House and the UK’s Government Communications Headquarters recently convened to showcase the power of academic collaboration on critical national security issues like the development of cryptographic algorithms that can hold up against quantum attacks. Read More

The founding director of Vanderbilt University’s Institute of National Defense, retired General Paul Nakasone, has been appointed to OpenAI’s Board of Directors as a member of its Safety and Security Committee. Read More

Vanderbilt computer science students got some real-world experience in cybersecurity when they joined Retired General Paul M. Nakasone at DEF CON 32, considered the world’s largest conference of hackers. The conference allows hackers to test the latest technology for flaws and give advice on how to avoid being hacked. Read More

See how students in a special Immersion Vanderbilt project are partnering with a new national security institute to prevent cybersecurity attacks. Read More

Vanderbilt University’s Office of Federal Relations hosted U.S. Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Jen Easterly on campus to talk about cybersecurity workforce shortages and the higher education cybersecurity ecosystem. Read More

Retired General Paul Nakasone, who was named as the founding director of the Vanderbilt Institute for National Security earlier this year, received the 2024 William Oliver Baker Award, given in honor of the former president of Bell Labs and a longtime Presidential science advisor. Read More

The May 21 event at King’s College brought together world-class researchers and academics as well as representatives from industry, and government officials, to explore the latest advancements in research, identify pathways for collaboration, and discuss challenges and solutions for post-quantum cryptography. Read More

The Pathfinder Program was established in 2021 to encourage academics to collaborate closely with soldiers to co-design solutions. Vanderbilt University, the U.S. Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory and the Civil-Military Innovation Institute joined forces to yield innovative projects focused on solving the real-world needs of soldiers. Read More

Vanderbilt University is proud to announce the launch of the Institute of National Security. 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. Read More

“As we look at the future of protecting our democracy, the exchange of ideas will fuel collaborative work among governments, academia and private business and accelerate innovation to help us be better prepared for emerging threats. Vanderbilt, and our new Institute of National Security, are proud to be at the… Read More

The May 21 event will bring together world-class researchers and academics from Cambridge and Vanderbilt, representatives from industry, and government officials to explore the latest advancements in research, identify pathways for collaboration, and discuss challenges and solutions for post-quantum cryptography. Read More

Douglas Schmidt, Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Computer Science, has been confirmed to become Director of Operational Test and Evaluation for the Department of Defense following a full vote by the U.S. Senate on Feb. 29, 2024. Read More

Nathaniel C. Fick, inaugural U.S. ambassador at large for cyberspace and digital policy, will visit campus on Wednesday, Feb. 28, to participate in a fireside conversation to discuss national security issues from the cyberspace and digital policy perspective. Faculty and staff are invited to register and attend the event. Read More

President Joe Biden’s nomination of Douglas Schmidt, Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Computer Science, to become Director of Operational Test and Evaluation for the Department of Defense was formally submitted to the Senate on Dec. 4, 2023. Read More

Christopher Wray, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, will deliver a featured keynote address at the third annual Vanderbilt University Summit on Modern Conflict and Emerging Threats, scheduled for April 17–18, 2024. The 2024 summit will bring together internationally recognized leaders in the military and intelligence communities. Read More

Vanderbilt University has appointed Niloofar Razi Howe, a technology entrepreneur and influential thought leader and strategist on national security and cyber threats, as a Distinguished Visiting Professor in the College of Arts and Science, effective July 1. Read More