National Security Higher Education Advisory Board Holds October Meeting

Today the National Security Higher Education Advisory Board (NSHEAB) convened at FBI Headquarters. The NSHEAB, comprised of 20 university presidents and chancellors, meets regularly to discuss national security matters that intersect with higher education. FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III created the NSHEAB in 2005 to provide a forum for open dialogue between the FBI, our government partners, and higher education institutions.

Dr. Vahid Majidi, Assistant Director of the FBI’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate, and Daniel Lee Cloyd, Assistant Director of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division, welcomed members from around the U.S. who represent universities with significant research and development programs. NSHEAB members were briefed by The Pennsylvania State University President Graham Spanier, NSHEAB Chairman; Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Deputy Assistant Director John Woods; and Federation of American Scientists Director of Biology Policy Michael Stebbins, Ph.D.

Director Mueller addressed those assembled about the importance of the NSHEAB in confronting potential national security threats to college laboratories and research facilities.

“We appreciate our partnership with the members of the NSHEAB and we are committed to the promotion of strategic national security partnerships with academia here in the United States. Together we will develop a clear view of the threats we face, and a clear understanding of what we must do to defeat them,” said Director Mueller.

NSHEAB members also received a briefing on protecting the United States’ critical national assets, which include valuable research and development technology developed by our nation’s colleges and universities, from Supervisory Special Agent Kreg Stonestreet, Chief of the Critical National Assets Unit, Counterintelligence Division and Michael Glass, Ph.D., Chief of Science and Technology Branch, Office of the National Counterintelligence Executive.

The NSHEAB is scheduled to meet again in February 2009.