April 18, 2025
National Security Data and Policy Institute (NSDPI) Director Phil Potter addressed the University of Virginia's Parents Council last week. Made up of parents of current and former UVA students from across the country, the Council connects families to meaningful engagement and philanthropic opportunities that advance the mission of the University. Members act as University ambassadors to fellow parents, share valuable insight with University leadership on the student experience, and donate to a Parents Fund that allocates resources to key University programs.
Dr. Potter was one of several UVA leaders to share his efforts with the Council last Thursday, speaking to members at one of their yearly meetings. Head of both the NSDPI and the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy's National Security Policy Center (NSPC), Dr. Potter explained how these organizations collaborate to create a pathway into government for UVA students. For years, the NSPC has functioned as an on-ramp for students with an interest in national security, offering courses that range from undergraduate level classes on national security processes to a graduate level Innovating for Defense course where students work on projects sponsored by the Department of Defense. Together, NSPC cohorts grow important skills and build a familiarity with the complex inner workings of the US government's national security branches.
The NSDPI is a newer venture, founded in partnership with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in August 2024. The Institute is conducting novel research at the intersection of emerging technology and national security policy, and already creating opportunities for student researchers who have been involved in the NSPC's programs. "A lot of institutes will give students a taste of the work they're doing" Dr. Potter explained. "We have our students integrated into the process. They’re hired in positions where their skills will make it into our actual work products, and it creates a path where they can end up being briefers in the federal government."
Developing a fresh workforce capable of untangling new national security challenges is more important than ever. The Intelligence Community is being bombarded with data daily in volumes too massive to analyze comprehensively, and leaders are searching for new tools to grapple with the dilemma. "It's like standing in a flowing river and trying to pick which buckets of water are important to pull out and save" said Dr. Potter. Competition with foreign adversaries continues to grow as this problem persists, making this partnership between the federal government and UVA vital.