National security innovation

The National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) is an unrivaled problem-solving network in the DOD that adapts to the emerging needs of those who serve in the defense of our national security.

NSIN partners with ASU and more than 30 other top research universities to bring together defense and the venture community to build solutions for the military. NSIN delivers over 10 programs through three portfolios:

National service. Creates new models and pathways to service for those wishing to serve without having to put on a uniform, ensuring that generational and cultural differences are not barriers.

Collaboration. Facilitates collision events that connect service members with academic and venture partners to develop and prototype new service member–driven solutions.

Acceleration. Offers programs that promote the development and growth of dual-use ventures that respond to service members’ needs.

Applying the Lean Startup methodology to defense problems

Hacking for Defense (H4D) is a project-driven course that teaches problem-solving, creative thinking and solution development. ASU student teams from engineering, business, design and other disciplines apply innovative approaches to national security problems sourced from the DOD. Trained in Lean Startup principles, student teams conduct at least 100 stakeholder interviews to develop and test potential solutions. For sponsors, the end result is a viable product that addresses problems while providing new, creative analysis and thinking on the topic.

Bringing novel approaches to the military’s toughest challenges

Students from the nation’s most innovative university bring unconventional thinking and novel approaches to build solutions as embedded fellows or interns in military commands as part of the summer X-Force Fellowship program. When the Army Research Laboratory was developing training for quickly identifying armored vehicles, an ASU student team developed an app that fit the bill using an individualized, gamified approach. The fellowship has two pathways to service: a full-time paid opportunity and a part-time unpaid opportunity.

Creating a national security innovation ecosystem

NSIN is helping to create a national security innovation ecosystem in Arizona with ASU as the catalyst. ASU continues to build partnerships with local installations such as Luke Air Force Base and Fort Huachuca as a result of NSIN programming. In addition, NSIN:

• Directly connects students to job opportunities with sought after DOD organizations (Hirethon).

• Supports capstone projects.

• Hosts hackathons nationwide (Hacks).

• Offers Washington, D.C., fellowships on Capitol Hill and in the Pentagon (TNSF).

• Connects entrepreneurs with DOD lab technologies to potentially commercialize (DIA).

• Accelerates early stage startups to compete for follow-on contracts (Vector).

Samantha Hiller

NSIN university program director for ASU

Samantha Hiller joined NSIN, a DOD program office, as the university program director for ASU in 2019. She joined NSIN after serving as press secretary for the late Sen. John McCain in his Washington, D.C. office. She is placed at ASU to build out Arizona’s defense ecosystem while elevating ASU’s footprint by running NSIN programs.

One of the ASU teams participating in Maker built an AR/VR software, Next Gen Debrief, for Luke Air Force Base and came in second in the national Air Force Spark Tank competition in 2020.

Leveraging student and faculty design expertise

NSIN’s Maker program offers prototyping solutions that tap into ASU student and faculty design expertise and university prototyping labs, transforming military partners’ concepts and ideas into reality. Maker provides required funding or the technical expertise necessary to construct prototypes. Maker prototypes must originate from previous NSIN programs. The purpose of Maker is to increase the technology readiness levels of an already existing NSIN solution so that a customer can decide on solution adoption.

Accelerating technology and solutions for national security

The National Security Academic Accelerator (NSA2) pilot program at ASU ran for the first time in fall 2020 through spring 2021. In partnership with NSIN, NSA2 was created as a means for working with top research institutions to support and advance development of dual-use ventures capable of serving both commercial and defense markets. The program provides unprecedented levels of access to defense industry customers and end users, as well as training and funding support, with the recognition that universitygenerated dual-use startups have the potential to address critical national security challenges with innovative solutions. Over 27 ASU teams or individuals applied for NSA2, and 10 participated in the final showcase. They also were connected to numerous DOD end users and received funding for their work.