CMU joins national security consortium

Central Michigan University is partnering with several Michigan institutions of higher education to establish the Consortium, an initiative designed to strengthen U.S. national security through strategic research, technology development and workforce training.

Led by the Central Michigan University Research Corporation, which serves as the designated Managing Organization, the Consortium will operate under an agreement with federal and state partners to deliver trusted, mission-essential research in critical areas such as autonomy, energy resilience, advanced manufacturing, cyber-secure operations, and more. In addition to research, the Consortium will serve as a pipeline of technical talent for the federal workforce, equipping the next generation of engineers and scientists to tackle the nation’s most pressing defense challenges.

“The Consortium represents a major opportunity for Michigan students and faculty to contribute directly to real-world solutions,” said CMU President Neil MacKinnon. “It builds the kind of applied learning environment that prepares graduates for critical roles in defense, engineering and technology industries.”

Launching a statewide effort

Seven Michigan public universities are expected to join the Consortium, said CMURC President and CEO Erin Strang. 

“By harnessing the expertise of Michigan’s universities and partners across sectors, we are building a resilient ecosystem for long-term national security,” Strang said. “This ratification takes us one step closer to a University Affiliated Research Center (UARC), which would place Michigan among an elite network of institutions formally recognized by the Department of Defense as trusted, go-to partners for sensitive and high-priority research.”

Strang said the path toward UARC designation is significant, as only a select number of universities nationwide hold the status. The designation brings long-term, stable federal investment, direct alignment with national priorities, and national recognition as a leader in defense research and innovation, she said.

“This Consortium provides the collaborative foundation required to pursue the UARC and demonstrates Michigan’s readiness to compete on a national stage,” Strang said.

The Consortium will pursue Department of Defense funding opportunities, transition research from lab to field, and expand pathways for students and faculty at partner institutions to contribute to defense-related projects.

John T. Gutierrez, a retired Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps and Executive Director of the Office of Defense and Aerospace Innovation at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation said the Consortium demonstrates how Michigan can align higher education to compete for federal investment and establish the state as a hub for mission-critical defense research.

“Achieving UARC status would elevate Michigan into an elite tier of universities nationally recognized by the Department of Defense,” Gutierrez said. “That means stable, long-term federal investment, stronger economic development, and a pipeline of high-paying technical jobs here at home.”

In late August, CMU administrators and leaders from several academic programs attended a Consortium meeting, hosted by CMURC at its Mount Pleasant facility, to discuss next steps for the initiative.