Global Security Initiative

Global Security Initiative

Global Security Initiative

Learn more about your impact

ASU’s Global Security Initiative is at the heart of the university’s response to national security challenges. GSI develops solutions that advance national security imperatives by coordinating the university’s many defense-related capabilities to advance research, technology development and programs in partnership with defense industry leaders.

The Global Security Initiative is seeking philanthropic support to build on its foundation for supporting national defense. Philanthropic funds will enable GSI to:

  1. Extend its work into critical technology R&D areas that are often unfunded or underfunded due to competing federal priorities.
  2. Increase GSI’s capacity to anticipate future security threats, including in emerging competitive domains such as low-earth orbit and potential future threats such as biowarfare and geoengineering.
  3. Advance security-oriented education and workforce development.
  4. Strengthen public discourse around technological areas that are vital to American global leadership.

Impact of donor support

Global Security Initiative’s unique strengths have helped attract major federal research investments, enabling ASU to double its Department of Defense research expenditures since 2018 and reach $55 million in sponsored DOD awards. GSI’s mentorship to promising young faculty is also widely recognized, helping ASU secure the most Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Young Faculty Awards in the nation since 2014, surpassing MIT and Stanford. The Global Security Initiative’s capability to deliver on its ambitious goals — and maximize the impact of philanthropic investment — is anchored by exceptional leadership and proven operational capacity. Executive Director Nadya Bliss, one of the most prominent leaders in security technology and policy, plays a central role in shaping national discussions around defense-related research and development.

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