Purdue helps put Indiana on the map in national security

Indiana has emerged as a champion of national security, bolstering defense with research and development in the private sector, government and academia, and it could not be happening at a more critical time. That was the message of U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) and of officials of Purdue University and the Purdue Applied Research Institute (PARI) at an Indianapolis event on Oct. 30.

All parties highlighted collaborations that support this effort, making Indiana a leader in national security. 

“This is the power of the heartland coming back,” said Purdue President Mung Chiang in introducing Young, the keynote speaker for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition’s event, “America’s Role in the World: What’s It Worth to Indiana?,” at the Hyatt Regency Indianapolis.

Young is an advocate for the U.S. microelectronics industry, championing the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, and is credited for Indiana’s landing last month one of eight new regional semiconductor production hubs across the country.

With such steadfast support, Chiang said, institutions like Purdue have made great advancements and continue to grow in areas such as hypersonics, semiconductors, microelectronics, energetics and cybersecurity. “Purdue is also proud to be a leading university partner in our state’s competition for national hubs,” Chiang said. “Indeed, central to northwest Indiana is the only region of the country that won 3 out of 3 hubs: microelectronics commons hub, hydrogen hub and regional tech hub.”

Young, who is a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, noted the current strife in Ukraine, the South China Sea and now Israel. “We scheduled this weeks ago,” he said of the USGLC event, “and I could not even imagine that this (subject) would be so timely.” He said it is important to continue supporting Ukraine and that “it’s essential we stand with Israel,” adding he has heard the Israel-Hamas war referred to as “their 9/11 on steroids.”

“There is a natural impulse to want to withdraw, to consolidate, to turn our attention inward,” Young said, “and that would be the most disadvantageous thing to us, to our way of life, to our future prosperity.”

During a separate discussion hosted by USGLC’s Veterans for Smart Power, officials from PARI and the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, said it is the future that fuels support for collaborations like that of PARI and NSWC Crane. Both announced in September a partnership that will focus intently on microelectronics and hypersonics to start, then include more emerging technologies.

NSWC Crane is the leader in microelectronics and hypersonics, said PARI president and CEO Mark Lewis. “Microelectronics is a top priority because it’s the underpinning of almost everything we do,” he said. “Other than a hammer at Home Depot, just about everything has microelectronics. It is a critical system of every weapon. … That is why this partnership is so important.”

The partnership with Purdue could not have come at a better time, said Jenna Dix, director of engagement at NSWC Crane, noting the two entities have a long and storied tradition of collaboration. 

“When you think of how we advance more quickly and overcome our adversaries’ advantage – we look externally as well as internally,” she said. “We have lots of smart people working for the Navy, but we know we cannot do it on our own and not on the timeframe needed. That is why our partnership with Purdue is beneficial for the nation.”

Dix emphasized that Indiana is a hub for defense.

“Your Hoosier neighbors are the national security experts that are growing technical leadership in our backyard,” said Dix. “Along with collaborations with universities and industry, NSWC Crane’s presence ensures Indiana is no flyover state when it comes to defense.”

Chiang told the audience that “as your land-grant institution,” Purdue will continue to serve Indiana and the nation by offering an affordable education that features the largest STEM enrollment among the top 50 U.S. universities.

PARI’s Lewis said: “We never want to be in a fair fight. We want such overwhelming capabilities that the fight doesn’t even happen, and that’s why we must stay ahead of our adversaries.” 

About Purdue University 

Purdue University is a public research institution with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities and with two colleges in the top 4 in the United States, Purdue discovers and disseminates knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 105,000 students study at Purdue across modalities and locations, with 50,000 in person on the West Lafayette campus. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 12 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap, including its first comprehensive urban campus in Indianapolis, the new Mitchell E. Daniels Jr. School of Business and Purdue Computes at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.