About
UC2- The University Consortium for Cybersecurity connects academic researchers with Department of War Research priorities through year-round programming designed to strengthen communication, collaboration, and access across both communities.
We believe scientific innovation and workforce development go hand in hand. By integrating research with education, we ensure our workforce is current with emerging advances and is well-positioned for the changes ahead, while our scientists and engineers have access to the hard problems of tomorrow.
Organization and History
In 2020, Congress authorized the formation of UC2, the University Consortium for Cybersecurity, to help the Department of War gain access to talented academic researchers with promising technological innovations. UC2 provides the Secretary of War a formal channel of communication with academic institutions regarding the DoW’s cybersecurity strategic plans, requirements, and priorities for research. UC2 facilitates access for academic institutions to respond with their ideas to DoW stakeholders, promoting collaboration, and research through partnership.
Located in the College of Information and Cyberspace at National Defense University, UC2 is at the center of senior military, government, and international leaders in Joint Professional Military Education. The students, faculty, and researchers shape future decisions about research, policy, and strategy which depend on staying at the cutting edge. UC2 is the access point for DoW stakeholders to communicate priorities and engage with academia.
How We Work
UC2 is overseen by an executive committee with the College of Information and Cyberspace as the Chair. Using our Research Through Partnership approach, UC2 creates opportunities for communication, collaboration, and access between members of academic institutions and the Department of War. These experiences build partnerships that improve research because they demonstrate that knowledge transfer matters to the success of innovation as much as the science. We view these partnerships through the lens of cyber workforce development, as they create a common language for the classroom and the workplace to communicate complex problems and new ideas. The UC2 approach explores how this dynamic works, why it works, and how we can strengthen it through funded research and active collaboration.