The ÁńÁ«ĘÓƵ18’s Center for National Security Initiatives (NSI) has launched a revamped website, designed to enhance accessibility and provide a comprehensive view of the center’s research, partnerships, and career opportunities. offers a streamlined interface and updated information on the center’s core competencies, which span fields like aerospace, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.

The redesign aims to support NSI’s mission to foster high-impact research that addresses the nation’s pressing defense and security needs. The site includes dedicated sections on NSI’s latest projects, team members, and collaborations with industry and government, highlighting NSI's role within Colorado’s robust aerospace and defense ecosystem. Additionally, prospective students and professionals interested in national security can find updated resources on job and internship opportunities, as well as events and workshops hosted by NSI.

This relaunch aligns with CU Boulder’s ongoing efforts to bolster public understanding and engagement with its research initiatives, making NSI’s work more visible and accessible to both the academic community and defense partners across the nation. With an easy-to-navigate design, the revamped NSI site provides a valuable resource for those looking to stay informed about advancements in national security research and technology.

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Since the last newsletter, the Center for National Security Initiatives (NSI) has strengthened its team with the addition of Mark Berg, Kyle Harlow, Ravi Starzl, and Chad Tossell. These hires reflect NSI’s commitment to bolstering national security research through expertise in technology, engineering, and defense strategies.

Mark Berg joins NSI with a robust background in aerospace engineering, bringing valuable insights from his work on satellite systems and space-based technology. His experience is expected to enhance NSI’s projects in space defense and advanced communications, areas that are increasingly critical in the realm of national security.

Kyle Harlow, another new addition, has a focus in cybersecurity and systems engineering, which aligns with NSI’s priorities in data security and resilience for defense technology. Harlow’s expertise will contribute to secure communications and threat mitigation projects at NSI.

Ravi Starzl, with a background in artificial intelligence and machine learning, brings a cutting-edge skill set to NSI’s research portfolio. His work will support the development of AI-driven solutions for situational awareness and decision-making systems critical to defense operations.

Chad Tossell, specializing in human-computer interaction, will focus on the interface between operators and complex defense systems, enhancing usability and operational efficiency. His insights will be instrumental in ensuring that NSI’s tools are user-friendly for defense personnel.

Together, these hires position NSI to advance its mission of leveraging CU Boulder’s research strengths in service of national security objectives.

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The U.S. Department of Defense, leveraging the CHIPS Act, has allocated $5.9 million to Arizona State University’s (ASU) Southwest Advanced Prototyping (SWAP) Hub for an innovative project on Spaceborne Low Energy AI Computing (SLEAC). This project aims to extend the capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) to satellites, enhancing space-based data processing while conserving energy.

Dr. Calvin Chan, a Senior Research Associate at the National Security Initiative (NSI), will lead the University of Colorado’s (CU) role as a partner institution in this effort. The SLEAC team, with CU’s support, will focus on developing secure and efficient AI systems specifically designed to function in the challenging environment of low Earth orbit. By embedding AI within satellites, SLEAC aims to enable real-time data analysis and decision-making, which will significantly reduce reliance on Earth-based computing and minimize transmission delays.

The CHIPS Act’s support for SLEAC underscores the government’s commitment to advancing space technology and the national security applications of AI. With this funding, CU and ASU are poised to make substantial strides in creating resilient, low-energy AI solutions for space, aligning academia with critical defense technology objectives and setting new standards in spaceborne computing capabilities.

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The Center for National Security Initiatives (NSI) recently hosted a campus visit from U.S. Space Force Major General Robert Claude and Colonel Raj Agrawal, who were recently appointed as the University of Colorado’s (CU) "champions" in the Space Force’s University Partnership Program. During the visit, General Claude, pictured with members of CU’s Air Force ROTC, engaged in productive discussions on collaborative opportunities between the Space Force and CU’s research community.

The focus of the visit centered on leveraging NSI’s classified research facility, which is set to become operational in 2025. The state-of-the-art facility is expected to play a critical role in supporting national defense research and innovation, providing a secure environment for highly sensitive work in space technology and defense systems.

General Claude and Colonel Agrawal emphasized the importance of building strong partnerships with academic institutions like CU to advance Space Force’s mission. These discussions underscored a shared commitment to developing solutions for space security challenges, with a specific focus on harnessing CU’s research capabilities and training the next generation of aerospace and defense professionals.

The collaboration marks a pivotal opportunity for CU’s research teams and students to directly contribute to national space initiatives, aligning academic innovation with critical defense objectives.

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Dr. Greg Furlich recently presented groundbreaking work at the Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance (AMOS) Conference in Maui, representing a collaborative team of experts. His presentation highlighted joint research with Dr. Angie Crews and contributions from several leading industry partners, including Intrack Radar Technologies, True Anomaly, Katalyst Space Technologies, and HEO Space. This collaboration underscores a significant step forward in space surveillance and tracking technologies.

The AMOS Conference, known for showcasing cutting-edge advancements in space situational awareness, also featured an important mention of the Space Development Agency's (SDA) Technology Advancement Partnerships (TAP) Lab during General Garrant’s keynote address. The TAP Lab plays a crucial role in fostering innovation and collaboration among government, academic, and industry stakeholders to address pressing challenges in space technology and security.

Through shared efforts, these teams are tackling the increasingly complex demands of space surveillance and defense, focusing on technologies that will improve the tracking, management, and safety of assets in orbit. Dr. Furlich’s presentation and the keynote mention of the TAP Lab highlight the ongoing commitment to secure and sustainable space operations, positioning these efforts as essential to future advancements in global space security.

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NSI welcomed a new Postdoctoral Research Associate. Dr. Tim Aiken recently graduated with his PhD from CU’s Aerospace Engineering Sciences program. Tim will support the extensive hypersonics efforts at NSI.

Tim received a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering Sciences in 2023 from the University of Colorado and a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering in 2019 from the University of Kansas. His dissertation research involved the development and application of quantum state-resolved chemical kinetic models for ionized hypersonic flows. His current research involves a continued exploration of the detailed kinetics underlying plasma formation behind strong shock waves via novel code development, the calculation and inference of key rate parameters, and the analysis of experimental data from impulse facilities. Another major piece of Tim's research is sensitivity analysis and uncertainty quantification, whereby the contribution of model parameter uncertainty to the uncertainty in each model prediction is systematically quantified. He has also investigated the performance of Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) models for the prediction of turbulent heat transfer and skin friction over flat plates immersed in hypersonic flow.

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The ÁńÁ«ĘÓƵ18 has been selected as a United States Space Command  member. The new national program is designed to expand collaboration and academic exchanges between universities and U.S. Space Command.

Space Command has four key goals for the program:

• Engage the future workforce
• Increase space applied research and innovation
• Expand space-focused analytic partnerships
• Enrich the strategic dialogue on space

The program will have particular impact in developing training for members of the still new Space Force military branch, which was established in 2019, but its impact will be felt across all branches of the military and into the civilian space realm..CU Boulder was invited by Space Command to apply to the program, which was created in 2022. The initiative has particular relevance to the aerospace department but the partnership applies university-wide.

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We are delighted to announce that Tim White has been appointed as the new Associate Director for Research at the Center for National Security Initiatives (NSI). Tim joined CU’s Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering in 2018, after a ten-year career as researcher at Air Force Research Lab.  His research focuses on the development and integration of stimuli-response in a wide variety of materials.  . As Associate Director of Research, Tim will engage CU campus faculty to foster new collaborations, develop new industry and government customers to grow DoD-related extramural funding opportunities, and work with NSI RAs to strategically develop research trajectories.   His extensive background in security studies, coupled with his dedication to advancing national security solutions, makes him a natural fit for NSI, as our campus moves towards campus research. The Center for National Security Initiatives welcomes Tim White to its team with high expectations for impactful contributions.

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CU Boulder hosted the Colorado Semiconductor Workforce and Innovation Forum at the SEEC Auditorium on January 25, 2024. The event attracted over 150 attendees from local universities and businesses, as well as state and federal government officials, to discuss leveraging Colorado's leadership in chip design and R&D to develop a local workforce that can address the challenges identified by the CHIPS and Science Act. The event featured presentations from VIPs, including Erwin Gianchandani (NSF's Director of Technology, Innovation and Partnerships), , Senator Michael Bennet, Representative Joe Neguse, Provost Russell Moore, and President Todd Saliman. NSI's own Dr. Chan addressed the audience during a plenary panel session on Sustaining U.S. Competitiveness in Chip Design and R&D, alongside Dr. Marla Dowell (NIST's Director of the CHIPS Metrology Program), Falan Yinug (Qualcomm's Director of Economic Strategy), and Moderator Erik Hadland (Director of Technology Policy at Semiconductor Industry Association).

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In early August 2023, NSI participated in offsite meetings with representatives from U.S. Space Force’s (USSF) University Partnership Program (UPP) at the Tools, Applications & Processing (TAP) Lab. In addition to the program management team from USSF’s UPP program office, personnel from the TAP lab, and CU Boulder's Air Force ROTC detachment were all in attendance. The UPP team, which is focused on building capacity for educating and training the USSF's next generation of service members, requested the meeting to discuss the overall status of the effort and initiate discussion on how to further develop the program. The CU system, selected for its broad array of related workforce development and research capabilities was the second university to join the UPP.

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