Global and National Security Institute (GNSI)

Today’s national security environment is increasingly complex and covers whole-of-society problems such as extremism, chem/bio threats, climate change, disinformation, transnational crime, and cybercrime. This environment is not only serviced by science and technology, but is driven by them. Advances in areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, extended reality, quantum computing, and biometrics will require national security policymakers to understand technological complexities never before considered. These complexities further demonstrate the need for broad and highly integrated solutions to properly inform policy. The University of South Florida recognizes this trend and has identified global and national security as a strategic area of focus. The intent is to combine research, community partnerships, academic programs, and federal funding opportunities to take full advantage of USF’s emergence as the nation’s fastest-rising university over the last decade. The Global and National Security Institute will lead this strategic effort at USF. Today’s policy landscape is becoming increasingly competitive and crowded, addressing challenges exacerbated by advancing technology and an increasingly globalized and networked society. These challenges require a clearly different alternative that offers practical, actionable solutions to policy makers to 21st-century security challenges for decision makers at the local, state, national, and global level, focused on the intersection of security policy and technology. It will also serve as the entry portal for USF’s broad cooperation with Department of Defense (DOD) and associated agencies. GNSI will connect regularly with leaders and experts from academia, government, and the private sector, and operate across three distinct Strategic Areas of Focus: 1) Science and Technology, 2) Human Dynamics and Social Behavior, and 3) Cybersecurity.