Investing in research and security
UAA receives $46M from the Department of Homeland Security to launch the ADAC-ARCTIC Center of Excellence for Homeland Security in the Arctic
On April 9, UAA unveiled the new Arctic Domain Awareness Center (ADAC)-ARCTIC Center of Excellence (COE) for Homeland Security in the Arctic. The center is a consortium of academic, industry, government, laboratory, and local and Indigenous community partners to help provide access to rigorous research and education resources for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and broader homeland security stakeholders.
“We stand at the threshold of a new era in Arctic exploration and stewardship,” said ADAC-ARCTIC COE principal investigator Jeff Libby. “Together, we will pioneer innovative research and education initiatives, nurturing the resilience of our Indigenous communities in Alaska. This is more than a milestone; it’s a testament to our commitment to safeguarding the Arctic’s future and honoring the rich heritage of those who call it home. This endeavor is not just about progress; it’s about honoring our heritage and fostering a future where tradition and innovation thrive hand in hand.”
One of only nine DHS centers of excellence nationwide, ADAC-ARCTIC COE is possible thanks to a commitment from the DHS Science and Technology Directorate, Office of University Programs to fund $46 million over the next 10 years to UAA to lead the center.
Helming the center’s operations are Libby, Applied Environmental Research Center director for UAA’s Business Enterprise Institute, alongside director of finance operations Heather Paulsen, research operations director for UAA’s Office of Research, and executive director Leanne Lusk, Capt., U.S. Coast Guard (Ret).
ADAC-ARCTIC COE will serve as a nationally recognized group of strategic managers, researchers, subject matter experts and educators conducting and guiding cutting-edge research benefiting national security forces living and working in the American and global Arctic.
“The ADAC-ARCTIC COE will affect major DHS mission priorities by focusing on critical research needed to prepare for and implement effective responses to challenges facing the Arctic,” said Dimitri Kusnezov, Ph.D., DHS under secretary for science and technology in a press release. “The Arctic’s dynamic ecosystem has proven to be an extraordinary challenge, and DHS is fortunate to leverage the expertise of academia to meet operational requirements.”
Initial projects proposed for ADAC-ARCTIC COE include detecting distress mariner calls, researching renewable and nuclear energy and other Arctic power solutions, and developing environmental models and decision tools.
Academically, UAA is excited to offer new and existing programs through an interdisciplinary Arctic security graduate degree and an ADAC-ARCTIC student fellowship program and continue to offer the highly competitive Arctic Summer Internship Program. ADAC-ARCTIC will also offer expanded community engagement and academic opportunities in STEM at federally recognized Minority Serving Institutions nationwide.
“Through the integration of partners and experts with the homeland security enterprise, UAA stands ready to serve our state, nation and the Arctic through the Center of Excellence for Arctic Homeland Security,” said Aaron Dotson, Ph.D., vice chancellor for research at UAA.