People | Wisconsin Security Research Consortium

The WSRC Board of Directors and Advisors is comprised of representatives of research and academic institutions in Wisconsin. The Board can choose to add members from time to time, per its articles of incorporation and by-laws. WSRC welcomes affiliates and partners. Find out how you can become involved!

Directors

Steve Ackerman, PhD, President
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education
Professor, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

Aaron Olver, Director, Facilities
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Managing Director, University Research Park

Dave Schroeder, Director, Research
University of Wisconsin–Madison
National Security Research Strategist, School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences (CDIS)
Cyber Warfare Officer, Wisconsin National Guard
Mission Liaison, Intelligence and Security University Research Enterprise (INSURE)

Advisors

Curt Bronkhorst, PhD
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Professor of Applied Mechanics and Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies
Engineering Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering
Guest Scientist, Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Honorary Commander, 115th Fighter Wing, Wisconsin National Guard

Gerald “Jerry” Clusen
Rear Admiral (Ret)
United States Navy
US Fleet Cyber Command/US TENTH Fleet

Nicholas Davis
Director of Information Security, UW Health
Lecturer, Wisconsin School of Business

Paul DeLuca, PhD
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Provost Emeritus
Professor Emeritus and Board of Visitors Chair, Medical Physics

Tom Erickson
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Founding Director, School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences (CDIS)
Executive Associate Dean – Strategy and Innovation, College of Letters & Science

Kristin Eschenfelder, PhD
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Associate Director and Academic Associate Dean, School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences (CDIS)
Professor, The Information School
Research Liaison, Intelligence and Security University Research Enterprise (INSURE)

Molly Jahn, PhD
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Principal Investigator, Jahn Research Group; Professor, Agronomy
Dean Emeritus, College of Agricultural & Life Sciences (CALS)
Program Manager, Defense Sciences Office (DSO), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
Under Secretary of Research, Education and Economics, U.S. Department of Agriculture (2009–2010)

Bruce Maas
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Emeritus Chief Information Officer
Emeritus Vice Provost for Information Technology
Innovation Fellow, Internet2

Bart Miller, PhD
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor
Amar & Belinder Sohi Professor in Computer Sciences
Co-Principal Investigator, Trusted CI: NSF Cybersecurity Center of Excellence
Chief Scientist, DHS Software Assurance Marketplace (SWAMP) (2014–2020)

Jeff Savoy
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Chief Information Security Officer
Director, Office of Cybersecurity

Andy Thliveris, MD, PhD
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Professor, School of Medicine and Public Health
Vice Chair, Resident Education, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Service Chief, William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans’ Hospital

News

UW-Madison cultivates new cyber academic cooperation, partnerships with government
Nov 23, 2022
Students in a UW-Madison software security course took part in a cyber tabletop exercise facilitated by the US Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) — the first such exercise run by CISA at an academic institution, focused on students.

Nov 18: Innovate with the Department of Homeland Security
Nov 15, 2022
Join University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Discovery to Product (D2P) for a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science & Technology Directorate (S&T) webinar about innovation and entrepreneurial opportunities on Friday, November 18, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm CT. Register now!

Wisconsin Guard unit part of first DHS/CISA cyber tabletop exercise at university
Nov 14, 2022
This was the first cyber tabletop exercise DHS and CISA have conducted at an academic institution. The students were enrolled in the computer science software security course of Professor Bart Miller and Senior Research Scientist Dr. Elisa Heymann, and included participants from the Madison Water Utility, Milwaukee FBI, and the Wisconsin National Guard's Cyber Protection Team.

Oct 18: CDIS Research webinar on Funded Research Opportunities with Department of Homeland Security
Oct 5, 2022
Want to learn how to access research-oriented and grant funding from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)? Register for an upcoming webinar with DHS’s Science & Technology Directorate on October 18 at 11 a.m. CT.

When should U.S. research be stamped ‘top secret’? NSF asks for a new look at the issue
June 30, 2022
The U.S. academic community is gearing up for a new effort to convince national policymakers that the benefits of keeping government-funded basic research out in the open—and not stamping it classified—far outweigh any threat to national security from sharing scientific findings.

UW School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences adds three degree programs
May 5, 2022
The University of Wisconsin–Madison’s School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences is adding three new degree programs — in data engineering, data science, and information science — to its growing portfolio to meet mounting interest from employers and students and increase access to technology curriculum at the university.

Partnering with Defense and Intelligence Agencies: Campus perspectives
April 18, 2022
UW-Madison contributes to advances in intelligence, security, and national defense through research, education, and technology commercialization. Opportunities are available for faculty, staff and students in areas as diverse as biomedicine, computer science, information technology, social sciences, languages/cultures, engineering, and more.

Nakasone emphasizes growing partnerships between CYBERCOM and academia
February 10, 2022
On February 10, 2022, U.S. Army Gen. Paul M. Nakasone, commander of U.S. Cyber Command, director of the National Security Agency, and chief of the Central Security Service hosted a virtual welcome session for students, faculty, and staff partners selected to participate in the inaugural CYBERCOM Academic Engagement Network.

UW-Madison Joins U.S. Cyber Command Academic Engagement Network
January 24, 2022
The University of Wisconsin-Madison has been selected by U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM) to join a new initiative to increase the nation’s capabilities in cybersecurity education, research, and workforce development.

UW–Madison increases research expenditures by $67 million, retains top 10 national research ranking
December 27, 2021
The National Science Foundation has released its 2020 fiscal year Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) data and the University of Wisconsin–Madison has again ranked 8th in the national research rankings for public and private universities. UW–Madison ranked 8th in the last survey covering the 2019 fiscal year.

New report outlines Madison's potential as artificial intelligence hub
September 19, 2021
Madison has boosted its potential to become an artificial intelligence powerhouse over the last decade because of research activity, according to a new report from Washington D.C.-based think tank Brookings Institution.

$175 million commitment helps launch UW–Madison School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences, support transformative mission
September 17, 2021
The University of Wisconsin–Madison’s School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences — a unique, forward-thinking collaboration focused at the intersection of technology and humanity — is announcing a new beacon for high tech in Wisconsin housed in a state-of-the-art facility in the center of campus.

UW–Madison ranked first among public universities by Washington Monthly
August 30, 2021
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is the highest ranking national public university and fourth overall in Washington Monthly’s 2021 College Guide and Rankings.

UW researchers join three national artificial intelligence institutes
July 29, 2021
University of Wisconsin–Madison researchers across campus will harness artificial intelligence to promote sustainable food systems and advanced wireless networks as part of three national AI institutes that were announced July 29.

Tom Still: Wisconsin must step up to compete for federal R&D dollars
July 18, 2021
The federal government is poised to make its biggest investment in research and development since the end of World War II, the dawn of the space age and the Cold War defense buildup, with hundreds of billions of dollars to improve U.S. competitiveness in a changing world.

Spy Agencies Turn to Scientists as They Wrestle With Mysteries
July 8, 2021
American intelligence agencies are tapping outside expertise as they wrestle with mysteries like the coronavirus and U.F.O.s that are as much about science as they are about espionage.

Rethinking Research Security
July 8, 2021
The January 2021 arrest of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor Dr. Gang Chen reignited a heated debate about research security: How can or should the United States protect the gains of innovation without damaging the very research base it wants to protect?

WARF/UW-Madison among top 10 universities granted U.S. utility patents in 2020
July 8, 2021
The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), which manages intellectual property for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has just been ranked seventh for U.S. utility patents granted in 2020, according to the annual Top 100 Worldwide Universities report.

Ackerman to lead UW–Madison’s research and graduate education
March 2, 2020
Steve Ackerman will serve as the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s next vice chancellor for research and graduate education. He was named today by Chancellor Rebecca Blank. “I am extremely happy,” Ackerman says. “Serving as the vice chancellor for research and graduate education is a great opportunity to help support research across campus, nurture graduate students, and contribute to the pursuit of the Wisconsin Idea. One of our primary objectives is to build relationships with industry and the Wisconsin Idea is part of that.”

2019 "Targeting U.S. Technologies" report now available
February 25, 2020
The DCSA Counterintelligence annual report, "Targeting U.S. Technologies: A Report of Foreign Targeting of Cleared Industry," is now available. This product details and enumerates cleared industry's reporting of suspicious contact reports that represent potential foreign intelligence entities attempts to illicitly acquire U.S. technologies resident in cleared industry. Read the report here.

Pentagon focuses on research, cyber in 2021 budget request
February 12, 2020
The Defense Department wants to put more than $106 billion into research and development efforts, according to its 2021 budget request. "Last year's budget was the largest [research, development test and evaluation] request in 70 years. And this year's research request is even larger," Deputy Secretary of Defense David L. Norquist said.

American universities are a soft target for China's spies, say U.S. intelligence officials
February 2, 2020
America's world class university system has become a soft target in the global espionage war with China, intelligence officials say — and they are pressing universities to do something about it.

Defense firms cash in on an ‘unprecedented’ wave of classified spending
January 31, 2020
Some of the Washington area’s biggest defense contractors are making more money than ever from classified military and intelligence programs, top executives told investors this week, as competition with China and Russia drives a wave of secret spending one analyst called “unprecedented in recent history.”

Locking the lab: Globalization raises concerns about research data security on campus
May 30, 2018
Universities need to beef up security and lock their laboratories to prevent losses of what is often publicly funded research, said members of subcommittees of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee.

Science: Shh! Wisconsin seeking to get in on secret cybersecurity research
January 8, 2015
The Wisconsin Information Security Center in Madison brings UW into a select club of U.S. universities affiliated with labs specifically.