The scope of national security research

Our nation’s security has always depended on our military’s and decision-makers’ highly attuned responsiveness to the global context. But not to this extent. 

Hyper-connected and hyper-complicated

In our hyperconnected world, the urgent and pressing troubles of our global community—climate crises, food insecurity, terrorism, pandemics, concerns in the broke-open space domain, and the list goes on—threaten our ability to secure and defend our nation. As emphasized in the 2022 National Security Strategy quoted above, global challenges are not peripheral but central to security and stability, requiring immediate and collective effort to address them. 

A drying climate
This is where a research faculty with expertise as broad and deep as ours at the U of A comes in. We are well-positioned to address today’s complex and multifaceted threats. For instance, our researchers are already studying the effects of climate change on ecosystems and communities in the Southwest. These insights not only equip us to understand our local environment but also to inform broader policies on climate resilience and conflict prevention. 

All things border-related
Our proximity to the border between the U.S. and Mexico provides unparalleled opportunities to study national security at the nation’s margins. U of A faculty have unique access to real-time data from border activity and opportunities for hands-on, frontline research. From studying patterns of human migration and drug trafficking to examining the efficacy of border technologies, this geopolitical location represents opportunities to contribute to national security. 

Space domain awareness
Another way U of A is positioned to contribute significantly to national security is in space domain awareness. Whether safeguarding satellites from potential threats, monitoring space debris or developing technologies that enhance space situational awareness, U of A space research is relevant to national security. 

Cybersecurity
When we appreciate our nation’s vulnerability to cyber threats, we begin to understand the importance of what we—an institution at the forefront of this field—pursue and achieve in cybersecurity. As our faculty develops tools to protect critical infrastructure, we wade into a vast digital realm where U of A expertise is urgently needed to keep our nation safe. 

Critical relationships established
We already have the collective expertise we need to make a difference, and much of the research we already do at the U of A is highly pertinent to national security. We also have the relationships we need. The university’s longtime and ongoing partnerships with federal agencies such as the Department of Defense (DoD), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other national security entities have already laid a strong foundation for new interdisciplinary collaboration and funding. 

Needed for national security: your research
When we begin to think and plan as broadly and deeply as the reach of our global threats, when we pound the pavement for the sake of strategic relationships and collaboration, we begin to see just how much potential the U of A represents when it comes to ensuring our nation’s security.

If you would like to explore how your research intersects with national security priorities — whether through environmental science, public health, data analysis, technological innovation or other area — please do not hesitate to communicate with us. We would love to work with you to connect the dots.