By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – The Kyl Institute for National Security at the University of Arizona connects federal agencies and defense companies with university scientists, engineers and researchers to develop solutions for national security problems.
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Federal agencies and defense companies, including Raytheon, bring problems to the institute, which connects them with University of Arizona scientists, engineers and researchers who can provide solutions.
The institute’s areas of research include space, hypersonics, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
Institute focuses on delivering solutions
Gen. Robin Rand, president and CEO of the Kyl Institute for National Security, spent nearly 50 years in the military. He now leads the institute’s work on what he described as solutions to specific problems.
“We don’t do research for research sake,” Rand said. “We actually are trying to provide acceleration solutions to vexing problems that are out there in those focus areas that I talked about.”
Rand said the institute produces tangible results, including hypersonic wind tunnels at the university that industry partners use to run tests.
“We’re delivering things,” Rand said. “We have hypersonic wind tunnels that are here in the university that industry partners use to actually run tests. They can use us. It’s cheaper for them. It’s more cost effective.”
Students work under faculty supervision on regulated contracts
Students take part in the institute’s work under the supervision of faculty members, according to Rand. The contracts are regulated and must meet defense industry and government standards.
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“Our students obviously are under the supervision of a very, very experienced, very sage faculty members and professors,” Rand said. “And so, there’s no, you know, hip shot. This is very professionally run. And it has to meet all defense industry standards and government standards.”
Rand’s office is rated to handle classified contracts and materials.
Rand said the institute’s work keeps Americans safe and is mostly unseen by the average person.
“Well, that’s what our men and women are doing,” Rand said. “They’re trying to prevent us as a country from having the worst day of our country’s life. And I have faith in those men and women, in our country at large and how we fund and how we try to always stay one step ahead of our potential adversaries.”
Rand said the work is more important given unrest around the world. He said the contracts bring high-level research jobs and money into Tucson.
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