Vanderbilt Institute of National Security launches fall lecture series
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Gen. Stanley McChrystal speaks at the Vanderbilt Institute of National Security. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images
Vanderbilt University is vying to become one of the top sources of national security research and expertise in the country.
Why it matters: Administrators want their fledgling Institute of National Security, which launched last year, to rival more established centers at Harvard, Georgetown and Stanford universities.
The latest: Gen. Stanley McChrystal is coming to campus to kick off the institute's fall lecture series with an event on Sept. 29.
- He is a retired four-star general and a heavyweight in national defense.
Driving the news: Federal agencies have struggled to recruit qualified candidates for national security jobs, especially in technical fields like cybersecurity.
- "Our nation desperately needs more cyber talent," a Biden administration official said last year, adding that "there are approximately half a million open cybersecurity positions across the country."
Zoom in: Vanderbilt cited those remarks while touting the launch of its institute last year along with the ambitious goal of becoming "the most trusted university ecosystem for national security solutions."
- The institute is led by Gen. Paul Nakasone, retired commander of U.S. Cyber Command and director of the National Security Agency.
- His stature is another factor lending credibility to the new effort.
- The institute offers a minor in national security, internships and research opportunities for students across the university.
Reality check: Top competitors have had a decades-long head start to build expertise, and Vanderbilt will need to work harder to establish and maintain crucial connections in Washington.
The intrigue: The institute has already made progress.
- This year, media outlets like the New York Times and CBS News cited its research exposing an information warfare campaign by Chinese AI firm GoLaxy.
- Vanderbilt also hosted a national security summit this year that attracted top U.S. elected officials, global policymakers and leading AI executives.
Between the lines: The institute is part of Vanderbilt's engineering school and combines the efforts of other programs including medicine, business, law and computing.
- Administrators said multidisciplinary collaboration between some of Vanderbilt's top programs could set them apart.
Zoom in: The lecture by McChrystal follows the release of his new book "On Character: Choices That Define a Life." He commanded U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan following 9/11 and led the Joint Special Operations Command.
- After the lecture, McChrystal will be joined by Nakasone for a fireside chat on leadership, modern conflict and national security issues.
If you go: The free event takes place Sept. 29 at Lanford Auditorium from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.
- Registration to attend must be done online by Sept. 24.