Purdue appoints first chief national security officer to expand defense research

Purdue University and the Purdue Research Foundation have appointed Mark Lewis as the institution’s first Chief National Security Officer, strengthening the university’s role in defense innovation and federally funded research.

Lewis assumed the newly created position on July 1 and will lead efforts to expand Purdue’s national security research portfolio through closer collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense, national laboratories, intelligence agencies, and private-sector aerospace and defense companies.

He will work across the Purdue Research Foundation, Purdue Applied Research Institute (PARI), and the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy to accelerate research partnerships and translate university research into national security applications.

Purdue Research Foundation President and CEO Chad Pittman said Lewis brings extensive leadership experience across government, academia, and industry.

“Mark brings strategic leadership and research experience from the public and private sectors that will be vital to our applied and translational research programs,” Pittman said.

Prior to the appointment, Lewis served as the inaugural President and CEO of the Purdue Applied Research Institute, a role he assumed in 2023. Purdue Executive Vice President for Research Dan DeLaurentis will now take on additional responsibilities leading PARI.

Lewis said the new position will focus on helping Purdue convert scientific research into technologies that address national security priorities.

“Purdue has a wide national security portfolio and deep research expertise,” he said. “I look forward to working with our research faculty, staff, students, and partners to translate science and technologies into solutions for critical national security missions.”

Purdue has become a major centre for defense-related research, with expertise spanning hypersonics, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum science, secure microelectronics, space systems, nuclear energy, and advanced materials—areas identified as strategic priorities by the U.S. government.

Lewis is internationally recognised for his work in hypersonic technologies and has held senior leadership roles across both government and academia. His previous appointments include Chief Scientist of the U.S. Air Force, Director of Defense Research and Engineering for Modernization at the Pentagon, Acting Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, and Director of the Science and Technology Policy Institute.

The appointment reflects a broader trend among U.S. research universities to strengthen partnerships with government and industry as demand grows for advanced technologies supporting national security, aerospace, and defense innovation.

By creating the new executive role, Purdue aims to further position itself as a leading research partner for federal agencies while expanding opportunities for faculty, students, and industry collaborators working on next-generation defense technologies.