{"id":22552,"date":"2024-02-02T20:28:02","date_gmt":"2024-02-02T20:28:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/?page_id=22552"},"modified":"2024-03-03T10:24:53","modified_gmt":"2024-03-03T10:24:53","slug":"niu-opens-innovative-unclassified-research-lab","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/niu-opens-innovative-unclassified-research-lab\/","title":{"rendered":"NIU Opens Innovative, Unclassified Research Lab"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"22552\" class=\"elementor elementor-22552\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e90210b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e90210b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{"background_background":"classic"}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-wide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3adaea4\" data-id=\"3adaea4\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bf8f22d elementor-widget-tablet__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bf8f22d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.14.0 - 26-06-2023 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">NIU Opens Innovative, Unclassified Research Lab in Washington, D.C. <\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0a281ba e-flex e-con-boxed e-con\" data-id=\"0a281ba\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{"content_width":"boxed"}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3934fa6 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3934fa6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">January 10, 2024<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c747f48 elementor-widget-mobile__width-inherit elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"c747f48\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.14.0 - 26-06-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-divider{--divider-border-style:none;--divider-border-width:1px;--divider-color:#0c0d0e;--divider-icon-size:20px;--divider-element-spacing:10px;--divider-pattern-height:24px;--divider-pattern-size:20px;--divider-pattern-url:none;--divider-pattern-repeat:repeat-x}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider{display:flex}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider__text{font-size:15px;line-height:1;max-width:95%}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider__element{margin:0 var(--divider-element-spacing);flex-shrink:0}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-icon{font-size:var(--divider-icon-size)}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider-separator{display:flex;margin:0;direction:ltr}.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon .elementor-divider-separator,.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text .elementor-divider-separator{align-items:center}.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon .elementor-divider-separator:after,.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon .elementor-divider-separator:before,.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text .elementor-divider-separator:after,.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text .elementor-divider-separator:before{display:block;content:\"\";border-bottom:0;flex-grow:1;border-top:var(--divider-border-width) var(--divider-border-style) var(--divider-color)}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-left .elementor-divider .elementor-divider-separator>.elementor-divider__svg:first-of-type{flex-grow:0;flex-shrink:100}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-left .elementor-divider-separator:before{content:none}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-left .elementor-divider__element{margin-left:0}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-right .elementor-divider .elementor-divider-separator>.elementor-divider__svg:last-of-type{flex-grow:0;flex-shrink:100}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-right .elementor-divider-separator:after{content:none}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-right .elementor-divider__element{margin-right:0}.elementor-widget-divider:not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text):not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon) .elementor-divider-separator{border-top:var(--divider-border-width) var(--divider-border-style) var(--divider-color)}.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern{--divider-border-style:none}.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern.elementor-widget-divider--view-line .elementor-divider-separator,.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern:not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line) .elementor-divider-separator:after,.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern:not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line) .elementor-divider-separator:before,.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern:not([class*=elementor-widget-divider--view]) .elementor-divider-separator{width:100%;min-height:var(--divider-pattern-height);-webkit-mask-size:var(--divider-pattern-size) 100%;mask-size:var(--divider-pattern-size) 100%;-webkit-mask-repeat:var(--divider-pattern-repeat);mask-repeat:var(--divider-pattern-repeat);background-color:var(--divider-color);-webkit-mask-image:var(--divider-pattern-url);mask-image:var(--divider-pattern-url)}.elementor-widget-divider--no-spacing{--divider-pattern-size:auto}.elementor-widget-divider--bg-round{--divider-pattern-repeat:round}.rtl .elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider__text{direction:rtl}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-divider,.e-con>.elementor-widget-divider{width:var(--container-widget-width,100%);--flex-grow:var(--container-widget-flex-grow)}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-70041be elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"70041be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.14.0 - 26-06-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<figure style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IresA-1024x504.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"320\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">National Intelligence University\u2019s Intelligence, Research, Education, and Solutions (iRES) Laboratory Ribbon cutting ceremony<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>In a research lab above a Chevy Chase Cheesecake Factory and a T-Mobile, students, government employees, and experts from industry and academia are attempting to address some of the nation\u2019s most pressing technological challenges.<\/p><p>While the collaboration is inspired by a goal to strengthen partnerships in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.odni.gov\/index.php\/newsroom\/reports-publications\/reports-publications-2023\/3713-2023-national-intelligence-strategy\">National Intelligence Strategy<\/a> released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the guards, gates, and tall fences often associated with the Intelligence Community (IC) are missing at Chevy Chase Pavilion in Washington D.C.\u2019s Friendship Heights.<\/p><figure id=\"attachment_22860\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22860\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-22860\" src=\"http:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IresImage24-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IresImage24-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IresImage24-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IresImage24-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IresImage24-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IresImage24-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-22860\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">National Intelligence University\u2019s Intelligence, Research, Education, and Solutions (iRES) Laboratory<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>And that\u2019s precisely the point, said Director of Operations for the National Intelligence University\u2019s Intelligence, Research, Education, and Solutions (iRES) Laboratory Jake Sotiriadis. \u00a0<\/p><p>\u201cWe are in the generative AI era, (our university and our IC) can\u2019t afford to be overly inward looking,\u201d said Sotiriadis, referring to strictly solving problems through government channels. \u201cWe\u2019ve we\u2019ve got to be outward looking, and that means forging solutions both inside and outside of the government and the IC.\u201d<\/p><p>During a ribbon cutting ceremony on Jan. 10, National Intelligence University (NIU), in partnership with ODNI and the Department of Energy\u2019s Pacific Northwest National Laboratories (PNNL), opened an unclassified lab that will be used to test cutting-edge technology, conduct research, and host symposia. The space features a conference center with seating for up to 70 people, two classrooms, a meeting room, a podcast-recording studio, a 3D printing lab and more.<\/p><p>NIU President John Ballard pointed to the need to better understand emerging technologies and shifts in education as reasons for opening the new facility less than three miles from NIU\u2019s home at Intelligence Community Campus-Bethesda \u2013 a classified facility. \u00a0<\/p><p>\u201cWe must adapt. We must seek new, bold ways of developing the creativity and confidence that will be required among all of our most senior intelligence professionals so that they can overcome and ideally gain advantage from these transformative effects in the coming decades,\u201d said Ballard.<\/p><figure id=\"attachment_22854\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22854\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-22854\" src=\"http:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IresB-300x148.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"295\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IresB-300x148.png 300w, https:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IresB-1024x504.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IresB-768x378.png 768w, https:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IresB-1536x756.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IresB.png 1704w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-22854\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">NIU President John Ballard talks about the need for better understand emerging technologies and shifts in education.<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Posters around iRES touted the possibilities: additive manufacturing, cyber intelligence and data science, to name a few.<\/p><p>\u201cWe need to embrace and integrate emerging technologies so that our graduates are able to maximize their benefits while also managing the risks that they pose,\u201d added Ballard.<\/p><p>iRES will also test students outside of the classroom. Ballard called it coursework that rewards creativity and critical thinking and it isn\u2019t solely based on banking knowledge. In a research setting, as new information is presented, how do students adjust and conceptualize new ideas?<\/p><p>While NIU and PNNL will maintain the space, Sotiriadis said it is open to the IC, which isn\u2019t swimming in unclassified collaboration spaces. iRES’s building includes a parking garage, Embassy Suites by Hilton hotel, and is walking distance from the Friendship Heights Metro stop.<\/p><p>Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines discussed the importance of leveraging open source data expertise, knowledge, and experience to enrich the IC\u2019s work. She said she hoped it would have the same effect on the private sector.<\/p><p>\u201cSo much of what I hope happens here will actually give us the energy and the capacity to address the great challenges that we put in our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dni.gov\/index.php\/newsroom\/congressional-testimonies\/congressional-testimonies-2023\/3685-dni-haines-opening-statement-on-the-2023-annual-threat-assessment-of-the-u-s-intelligence-community\">Annual Threat Assessment<\/a>,\u201d said DNI Haines, referring to the report and briefing she delivers each March to Congress and the public. It covers everything from adversarial threats to technological challenges that could affect national security.<\/p><figure id=\"attachment_22855\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22855\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-22855\" src=\"http:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IresC-300x148.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"295\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IresC-300x148.png 300w, https:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IresC-1024x504.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IresC-768x378.png 768w, https:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IresC-1536x756.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IresC.png 1704w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-22855\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">National Intelligence Strategy DNI Haines calls on IC elements to \u201cdiversify, expand and strengthen partnerships\u201d as one of its six priorities.<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>The National Intelligence Strategy DNI Haines released in August calls on IC elements to \u201cdiversify, expand and strengthen partnerships\u201d as one of its six priorities. In particular, the strategy states that \u201cthe IC must build new and restructure existing collaborative mechanisms with non-state actors and find ways to enhance the flow of information to and from these actors in ways that safeguard our national security and prosperity.\u201d<\/p><p>Ballard discussed how iRES will deliver on that goal by providing space to explore innovative technologies and by bringing partners into the unclassified space that previously had a difficult time collaborating with NIU students and IC experts.<\/p><p>\u201cIt allows us to work more in the open to develop things and build on research and best practices from other individuals, other developers without running into firewalls,\u201d said Lisa Marie Harrison Meyers, an NIU student who works at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.<\/p><figure id=\"attachment_22856\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22856\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-22856\" src=\"http:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IresD-300x148.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"295\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IresD-300x148.png 300w, https:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IresD-1024x504.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IresD-768x378.png 768w, https:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IresD-1536x756.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IresD.png 1704w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-22856\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">NIU student Chip Thorn, pointes out some of his projects on technological challenges in industry.<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Harrison Meyers called being in an environment with less restrictions \u201cempowering.\u201d Fellow NIU student Chip Thorn, an Air Force officer, pointed out that while some of his projects may be classified, the technological challenges associated with them, such as writing code, usually are not.<\/p><p>\u201cSo this place provides a space that is really a force multiplier,\u201d he said. \u201cI now get to meet with this whole new avenue of people that I could never meet with at ICC-B.\u201d<\/p><p>In June, NIU held a pilot symposium in the space that brought together government and private sector experts to discuss artificial intelligence safety. The day after the ribbon cutting, iRES held the first event in NIU\u2019s series on the future of technology in the IC. Academic, industry and government experts gathered to discuss quantum.<\/p><p>\u201cPublic-private sector partnerships are the key,\u201d said Sotiriadis. \u201cThat really is the future of intelligence.\u201d<\/p><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/site5.meridian.soar.qvine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/NIU-Star-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" \/><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6b8a6ca elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"6b8a6ca\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\n    \n    .wp-caption-text { font-size: 15px !important;\n}\n    \n<\/style>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NIU Opens Innovative, Unclassified Research Lab in Washington, D.C. January 10, 2024 In a research lab above a Chevy Chase Cheesecake Factory and a T-Mobile, students, government employees, and experts …<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/niu-opens-innovative-unclassified-research-lab\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">NIU Opens Innovative, Unclassified Research Lab<\/span> Read More »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"page-builder","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22552"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22552"}],"version-history":[{"count":64,"href":"https:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22552\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24073,"href":"https:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22552\/revisions\/24073"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ni-u.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22552"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}