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Center for National Security Initiatives

National Security Initiative

Center for National Security Initiatives
  


The Center for National Security Initiatives (NSI) at the University of Colorado Boulder is dedicated to providing high-impact national security research and workforce development enabled by world-class research scientists and essential infrastructure. 


 

NSI has established core capability research areas across the CU Boulder campus, engaging with 60+ research faculty that align to Research and Development priorities of the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Intelligence Community (IC).

As the sole Tier-1 research institution in Colorado, CU Boulder creates a prime opportunity for on-demand research collaboration among technical experts in the aerospace and defense enterprise. Over the past five years, CU Boulder has placed a strategic focus on national security research and received on average $45M in funding from Department of Defense projects. 

Through student participation in national security research, NSI addresses the ever-increasing demand for qualified and experienced aerospace and defense professionals in Colorado and across the nation.

 

           

CU Boulder has the unique advantage of a strong Colorado aerospace and defense ecosystem:

  • $15.4B aerospace and defense economy
  • Second most highly-educated workforce in the nation
  • Department of Defense and Intelligence Community Partners: Close proximity to SPACECOM, Space Force, Air Force, NGA, NSA, and NRO (Peterson, Buckley, Shriever)
  • Largest aerospace industry per capita in the nation including the prime contractors (e.g. Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Boeing, ULA, L3-Harris, Ball, Maxar, Sierra-Nevada) and a vibrant space entrepreneurial community. NSI works closely with the commercial sector to address the need for agile and rapid transition of capabilities for national security.
  • 33 federally funded research laboratories that foster and support a broad range of related technical research capabilities.
Intellectual capital

Intellectual Capital
World-class research faculty, topical studies and advising, pilot studies

Fundamental and applied research

Fundamental and Applied Research in technologies critical to national security

Workforce development

Workforce Development 
Focused programs, ROTC, veterans, internships, clearances

Core Competencies

 Hypersonics
 Space Domain Awareness
 Positioning, Navigation and Timing
 Autonomous Systems
 Geospatial Data Analytics
 RF Engineering

 Remote Sensing
 Quantum Technologies
 Space Weather
 SmallSat Technologies
 Materials Science
 Human Performance

Contact Us

Leadership

Iain Boyd

Iain Boyd

Director, Center for National Security Initiatives
Research & Innovation Office
iain.boyd@colorado.edu     303-735-2494
Emily CoBabe-Ammann

Emily CoBabe-Ammann

Acting Executive Associate Director, Center for National Security Initiatives
Research & Innovation Office
emily.cobabeammann@colorado.edu     303-735-7935

Team

Daniil Andrienko

Daniil Andrienko

Senior Research Associate, Center for National Security Initiatives
Research & Innovation Office
daniil.andrienko@colorado.edu     303-735-0563
Alan Brannon

Alan Brannon

Senior Research Associate, Center for National Security Initiatives
Research & Innovation Office
alan.brannon@colorado.edu
Calvin Chan

Calvin Chan

Senior Research Associate, Center for National Security Initiatives
Research & Innovation Office
calvin.chan@colorado.edu
Kyle Crump Photo

Kyle Crump

Program Manager, Center for National Security Initiatives
Research & Innovation Office
kyle.crump@colorado.edu     303-492-0021
KaYong Wolff

KaYong Wolff

Operations Manager, Center for National Security Initiatives
Research & Innovation Office
kayong.wolff@colorado.edu     303-735-6645

Download Digital Glossies

CU System: NSI Overview (for Partners)

CU System: NSI Overview (for Partners)

CU Boulder: NSI Overview (for Partners)

CU Boulder: NSI Overview (for Partners)

CU Boulder: NSI Overview (for Faculty)

CU Boulder: NSI Overview (for Faculty)

Latest News

Space Force partnership powers up with VIP visit

Space Force partnership powers up with VIP visit

CU Boulder’s prowess in space exploration took center stage during a visit from the newly named “champions” of the USSF University Partnership Program for the CU system: Brig. Gen. John Olson and Col. Marc Brock. The campus tour kicked off the second phase of an ambitious research and education partnership.

Read more about Space Force partnership powers up with VIP visit

CU Boulder awarded major Department of Defense research grant for hypersonics
CU Boulder awarded major Department of Defense research grant for hypersonics
Federal omnibus bill boosts quantum research, national security space tech, and more at CU Boulder
Federal omnibus bill boosts quantum research, national security space tech, and more at CU Boulder
Air Force Magazine: Hypersonics defense
Air Force Magazine: Hypersonics defense
Space Station
Does a Russian missile test signal a new era of military activity in space?
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Careers

CNSI Research Associate / Senior Research Associate

The Research & Innovation Office at CU Boulder is encouraging applications for Research Associates and Senior Research Associates, in multiple domains, who will support efforts to grow the campus's national security-related research enterprise.


Lecturer

The Center for National Security Initiatives (CNSI) invites applicants for a Designing for Defense (D4D) lecturer/course developer.

Appointment at this rank will require a demonstration of the applicant’s current or planned involvement with the instructional activities of the university and the center, which includes classroom teaching, course development and course promotion. This appointment is for two semesters and is renewable upon the recommendation of the unit and contingent on favorable review and recommendation by the Faculty Director for CNSI. Lecturers are employees at will and are hired on a temporary basis to teach one or more courses per term. Lecturer is the title given to individuals hired to teach on a course-by-course basis. Lecturers are qualified to teach the particular course or courses for which they have been hired. They may have graduate degrees and/or advanced experience in their profession or field of expertise. Lecturers are employees-at-will. Applicants are encouraged to visit the NSI website to understand the mission of the center.

Applicants should submit their application electronically to the Acting Executive Associate Director, Center for National Security Initiatives, cobabee@colorado.edu, including a CV. Cover letters should be addressed to:

Acting Executive Associate Director, Center for National Security Initiatives 
Research and Innovation Office
University of Colorado-Boulder
Boulder, Co 80309-0026

Please apply by May 31, 2022.

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