National Security Higher Education Advisory Board
Encyclopedia
The National Security Higher Education Advisory Board (NSHEAB) was created by American Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) Director Robert S. Mueller III
on 15 December, 2005. Operated by the FBI and paneled by approximately 20 American university presidents and chancellors
, the expressed purpose of the board is "to foster outreach and to promote understanding between higher education
and the Federal Bureau of Investigation
." The board also facilitates communication between universities and federal authorities on "national priorities pertaining to terrorism, counterintelligence, and homeland security." NSHEAB meets approximately three times yearly and includes representatives from the Central Intelligence Agency
and other security agencies.
A stated goal of NSHEAB is to prevent the theft of sensitive research conducted at American universities.
Since its creation NSHEAB has brought university and FBI officials together to discuss weapons of mass destruction, bioterrorism
, threats to university research facilities, and "the promotion of strategic national security partnerships with academia [in] the United States." NSHEAB has also been a forum within which Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity
(IARPA) has encouraged universities to engage in "high-risk/high-payoff" research intended to "provide the United States with an overwhelming intelligence advantage over future adversaries." Some academics have expressed concern over the collaboration between FBI and university officials due to the agency's past espionage directed against individuals in the academic community. NSHEAB's work and the increased cooperation between federal authorities and academia is facilitated by the political framework brought about by the war on terror
.
NSHEAB is currently chaired by Graham Spanier
, former president of Pennsylvania State University
. Notable members of NSHEAB include or have included former United States Secretary of Defense
Robert Gates
, MIT
president Susan Hockfield
, and U.C. Davis
chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi
.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
(FBI) Director Robert S. Mueller III
Robert Mueller
Robert Swan Mueller III is the 6th and current Director of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation .-Early life:...
on 15 December, 2005. Operated by the FBI and paneled by approximately 20 American university presidents and chancellors
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
, the expressed purpose of the board is "to foster outreach and to promote understanding between higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
and the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
." The board also facilitates communication between universities and federal authorities on "national priorities pertaining to terrorism, counterintelligence, and homeland security." NSHEAB meets approximately three times yearly and includes representatives from the Central Intelligence Agency
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
and other security agencies.
A stated goal of NSHEAB is to prevent the theft of sensitive research conducted at American universities.
Since its creation NSHEAB has brought university and FBI officials together to discuss weapons of mass destruction, bioterrorism
Bioterrorism
Bioterrorism is terrorism involving the intentional release or dissemination of biological agents. These agents are bacteria, viruses, or toxins, and may be in a naturally occurring or a human-modified form. For the use of this method in warfare, see biological warfare.-Definition:According to the...
, threats to university research facilities, and "the promotion of strategic national security partnerships with academia [in] the United States." NSHEAB has also been a forum within which Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity
Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity
The Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity is a United States research agency under the Director of National Intelligence's responsibility...
(IARPA) has encouraged universities to engage in "high-risk/high-payoff" research intended to "provide the United States with an overwhelming intelligence advantage over future adversaries." Some academics have expressed concern over the collaboration between FBI and university officials due to the agency's past espionage directed against individuals in the academic community. NSHEAB's work and the increased cooperation between federal authorities and academia is facilitated by the political framework brought about by the war on terror
War on Terror
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
.
NSHEAB is currently chaired by Graham Spanier
Graham Spanier
Graham B. Spanier is an American academic, who served as the 16th president of the Pennsylvania State University from September 1, 1995, until he was forced to resign on November 9, 2011, in the aftermath of the Penn State child sex abuse scandal...
, former president of Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
. Notable members of NSHEAB include or have included former United States Secretary of Defense
United States Secretary of Defense
The Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...
Robert Gates
Robert Gates
Dr. Robert Michael Gates is a retired civil servant and university president who served as the 22nd United States Secretary of Defense from 2006 to 2011. Prior to this, Gates served for 26 years in the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Council, and under President George H. W....
, MIT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
president Susan Hockfield
Susan Hockfield
Susan Hockfield is the sixteenth and current president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Hockfield's appointment was publicly announced on August 26, 2004, and she formally took office December 6, 2004, succeeding Charles M. Vest. Hockfield's official inauguration celebrations took...
, and U.C. Davis
University of California, Davis
The University of California, Davis is a public teaching and research university established in 1905 and located in Davis, California, USA. Spanning over , the campus is the largest within the University of California system and third largest by enrollment...
chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi
Linda P.B. Katehi
Pisti Basile "Linda" Katehi-Tseregounis is a Greek-American engineer and university administrator. Since 2009, she has served as the sixth chancellor of the University of California, Davis.-Early life and education:...
.