The University celebrated the launch of its National Security Data and Policy Institute — the product of a $20 million dollar contract between the University and the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence — with a ribbon-cutting event at the Rotunda Friday. The event featured multiple presenters, including University President Jim Ryan, Virginia Senator Mark Warner and Director of National Intelligence Dr. Avril Haines.
The institute will develop AI-driven tools to process large data sets and aid analysts in identifying advancements and potential national security threats. The institute is the University’s sixth university-level institute, a term referring to an organization that integrates the expertise of faculty from multiple areas across the University.
According to Dr. Phillip Potter, executive director of the NSDPI, the institute will provide opportunities for students, researchers and faculty to engage in work at the intersection of data science and national security. Potter is a professor of politics and founding director of the National Security Policy Center at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, which offers classes and other educational programming related to national defense.
Potter also said the institute will give students the chance to collaborate on research projects, build professional networks and gain experience through internships and experiential classes related to national security. These opportunities are designed to help students develop connections that will ultimately launch careers in the field of national security, Potter said.
Benjamin Prince, third-year College student and intern at the National Security Policy Center, said he has already heard students expressing interest in joining and conducting research at the institute even before its official launch.
The recently launched institute stands out against other University-level institutes due to its collaboration with the ODNI, a partnership that promises to advance research addressing national security challenges, according to University Spokesperson Bethanie Glover. This relationship will allow the institute to work closely with the federal government to address emerging threats, further solidifying the University’s reputation as a leading research institution, Glover said.
Glover added that the NSDPI will integrate expertise from across the University, including the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, the School of Data Science and the Biocomplexity Institute.
The institute plans to initially hire six full-time staff members but will also draw on the expertise of dozens of existing University faculty and researchers to support its initiatives. It has already hired a Finance Director, Research Director and Senior Researcher, with searches ongoing for additional researchers and a communication expert, Glover said. Potter said the institute will serve as a space where individuals can begin to learn and understand the complexities of national security, even if they are just starting to learn about the field.
"In many cases, getting the best research in front of the community involves brokering relationships and helping folks kind of bridge that gap, and so that's kind of what we're there for," Potter said.
Potter was one of multiple speakers at the event which was also attended by members of the Central Intelligence Agency, the State Department and the University’s Board of Visitors.
According to Potter, the University’s proximity to Washington, D.C. and its strong tradition in national security make it well-suited to lead this initiative. Haines noted that the University was selected for the ODNI contract because it is “a world-renowned institution that combines academic excellence and rigor, scientific research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and ethical leadership development with a strong public service ethos.” The University was one of several institutions competing for the contract, Glover said.
Ryan described the institute’s launch as “a historic moment not just for U.Va., but for this country,” noting that it aligns closely with the University’s long-standing tradition of public service.
According to Ryan, the University’s driving purpose is tackling important and challenging work for the greater good. He highlighted the University’s focus on applying technological advancements in fields like engineering, medicine and science to benefit society at a faster pace. Ryan said the institute will utilize the University’s expertise in data science, artificial intelligence, computing research and public policy to contribute to a more peaceful and prosperous world.
“[Thomas Jefferson] would be … thrilled to learn that the University he founded played a role in protecting the … safety of American citizens,” Ryan said.
Beyond the scope of the University, Warner said that the nature of national security at large has changed dramatically in recent years. While it still encompasses traditional elements like national defense, weapons and ships, he emphasized the growing importance of investing in defense research and the need for collaboration with academia and the private sector to address these evolving challenges.
“I was loud, vocal, and persistent that there was no better location than U.Va.,” Warner said, adding that, if executed effectively, the institute could become a long-term asset for the University.
Following Warner’s remarks, Haines took the floor, expressing confidence in the institute’s success, highlighting its urgency, strong leadership and expertise in key areas of national and global security. Haines also noted that the institute will equip the next generation of critical thinkers, preparing them to rise to future challenges.
“We certainly have our work cut out for us, but I’m confident that the National Security and Data Policy Institute will quickly become a testament to the extraordinary things that we can achieve when we bring the most advanced tools and resources together … and [have] partners who share [our vision].”
Third-year College student Keisha Thomas, co-leader of the Diplomacy and Security pathway in the University-wide Public Service Pathways program — a University program designed to connect students with opportunities for service work — said the institute will bolster interest in intelligence careers among college students.
“I think people will, not just at U.Va., but nationally, become more inspired in our age group and in the collegiate age group to maybe join that sector, or at least become more knowledgeable about it,” Thomas said.
As the institute looks ahead, Potter emphasized that its work will help further the University’s core value of public service.
“We talk a lot about being great and good. We talk a lot about public service. We talk about those ideas of who we are as a university,” Potter said. “I think this is a really clear investment in that mission.”
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