WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Gen. Steven Nordhaus, chief of the National Guard Bureau and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with Purdue University leadership and toured key facilities Aug. 28 to see firsthand how Purdue is helping address the nation’s evolving defense and security challenges.
As Indiana’s sole land-grant university, Purdue maintains a strong connection to the military with a robust national security and defense ecosystem and resources for military members, veterans and their families.
Nordhaus’ visit led up to the National Guard Association of the United States’ 148th General Conference and Exhibition in Indianapolis on Aug. 28-31. Purdue University’s online programs, the Office of Industry Partnerships (OIP), the Office of Research (OOR), Purdue University in Indianapolis and the Purdue Research Foundation (PRF) supported the conference’s States Dinner, which was attended by around 2,700 guard members, their families and government leaders.
Nordhaus, accompanied by John Raines III, senior enlisted advisor to the chief of the National Guard Bureau, began the day at Purdue with a conversation with interim President Mitch Daniels and a roundtable discussion featuring leaders from OOR, OIP, Purdue’s online programs, Purdue Global, the Purdue Military Research Institute and PRF. The discussion showcased Purdue’s growing contributions to national defense through cutting-edge research, technology development and strategic partnerships.
The Office of Research supports work in defense-priority fields such as advanced manufacturing, aerospace, cybersecurity and semiconductors, while Purdue Research Foundation helps accelerate collaboration with government, aerospace and defense partners, and the Office of Industry Partnerships connects those organizations with Purdue’s expertise.
Purdue University and Purdue Global provide accessible pathways for military-affiliated learners seeking to advance their education and careers, such as Purdue’s online Master of Science in strategy in security and defense technologies and strategic defense technologies graduate certificate and Purdue Global’s benefits for military-affiliated students, including reduced tuition and the acceptance of military training and experience as academic credit.
Nordhaus and Raines were able to see these strengths firsthand with tours of the Military Family Research Institute (MFRI) and the Niswonger Aviation Technology Building, which houses the Center on AI for Digital, Autonomous and Augmented Aviation (AIDA3).
MFRI conducts research and outreach to inform policies and programs that support military-connected families, while helping service members and veterans access educational and employment opportunities. AIDA3 unites researchers and industry leaders to develop AI-enabled aviation technologies that enhance autonomous operations, strengthen drone security, and improve logistics for both civilian and defense applications.
Nordhaus and Raines also visited Purdue’s ROTC cadets. Housed under the Purdue Polytechnic Institute’s Division of Military Science and Technology, the ROTC program was founded to uphold Purdue’s commitment to the land-grant mission. The program combines rigorous academic education with military training to develop leaders who are equipped to serve their country.
By engaging with Purdue’s researchers, educators and military-affiliated programs, Nordhaus and Raines saw how the university is helping address the nation’s defense and security challenges.