Innovating for Defense (LPPS 3340 & LPPS 7184)

 

 

 

What Does UVA’s Innovating for Defense Course Offer Students?

Innovating for Defense (I4D) provides UVA students at the Batten School‘s National Security Policy Center with the rare opportunity to work directly with the U.S. Department of Defense to address real-world national security challenges. Through research, stakeholder interviews, and engagements with outside experts, student teams develop policy recommendations for their project sponsors’ organizations. Beyond an understanding of defense organizations and culture, students gain problem-solving and professional skills that transfer to any field. 

I4D is also part of a wider initiative at the National Security Policy Center to connect students with the policy and defense communities. NSPC courses and practitioner engagement prepare our students for follow-on internships and employment in national security organizations. 

Innovating for Defense (LPPS 3340) is taught during the fall semester and is open to undergraduates from across the University. 

Innovating for Defense (LPPS 7184) is taught during the spring semester and is open to graduate students from the Schools of Law, Engineering, and Public Policy.

For more information, please contact Dr. John Robinson at [email protected]

Registration for the Fall 2026 semester is full. Join the Waitlist.

 

Innovating for Defense Student Testimonials

“I wasn’t sure what specifically I wanted to do with my foreign affairs major, but I was intrigued by the unique structure of Innovating for Defense and the opportunity to work directly for the U.S. government as a student, so I immediately enrolled. I loved the hands-on nature and getting to learn what working for the Department of Defense was really like. After taking I4D in the fall, I was one of six students selected to extend my work and intern for the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN).”

Hannah Boehlert, 2018 Innovating for Defense student
Strategy Consultant at Accenture Federal Services

 

 

“On a bit of a long shot, I reached out to my I4D project sponsor to see if he knew of any summer opportunities. To my surprise, he called me just twenty minutes later and enthusiastically discussed several possibilities, including a research internship with his own consulting firm. I never expected that a connection formed through I4D would open the door to such an exciting and meaningful opportunity. The I4D experience is more than a class—it’s a long-term professional and academic network I’m excited to keep building throughout my time at Batten and UVA.”

Emma Hartman, 2024 Innovating for Defense student

 

 

 

Past Innovating for Defense Student Team Projects

National security organizations sponsor Innovating for Defense student teams to research real-world problems and develop policy recommendations. These projects sharpen students’ professional skills and help them make connections in the policy and defense communities that can launch their careers. Below is a list of recent Innovating for Defense projects spanning a wide range of national security issues.

 

Spring 2026

 

Optimizing Acquisition Practices for Technologically Advanced War Materiel

The Department of War is struggling to acquire technologically advanced war materiel at the speed of relevance. Acquisition reform is essential, but the way forward is unclear. What are the limitations of current acquisition practices? Where do the bottlenecks exist? The Department needs recommendations for innovative solutions to streamline procurement while ensuring compliance with constitutional and statutory constraints. 

Ensuring Human Judgment is Central in the Use of AI for Defense

How can best practices and lessons-learned from government, industry, and academia be incorporated to develop a proposed concept of operations to ensure the centrality of human judgment (agency) in the development, deployment, and use of AI in the Defense Intelligence Enterprise? A multi-disciplinary approach is required that includes, but is not limited to, technological solutions, legal and policy remedies, and normative approaches.  

Calibrating U.S. Government Partnerships with Both Established Defense Firms and Startup Disruptors

The Department of War needs large, established defense firms (incumbents) for integration and sustainment at scale, but also startup disruptors for speed, software, and emerging tech advantages. Under what conditions do prime-led models accelerate fielding versus suppress competition and create architecture lock-in? What partnership structures best preserve disruptor participation while keeping accountability clear? Most importantly, how can the U.S. Government ensure that industrial base policy creates opportunities for startups to reach scale, while recognizing and sustaining the important role of system integrators and defense primes? 

Identifying Challenges and Opportunities for the “Golden Dome for America”

The U.S. Space Force needs a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities the U.S. Government will face in fielding the new “Golden Dome for America” missile defense architecture. Will Golden Dome prompt an arms race with China and Russia and escalate tensions with both nations? Or is it an opportunity to pursue new approaches to deterrence, strategic stability, and potentially arms control negotiations?  

Predicting Conflicts Arising from Limited Natural Resources

The Intelligence Community is interested in ways to anticipate or predict future crises or conflicts dictated by limited natural resources. As natural resources become increasingly constrained, what indicators should the community monitor or routinely review for signs of stress? When should we expect conflicts to emerge, and what are the technical or diplomatic solutions that could be implemented to mitigate tension or prevent conflict from arising?  

 

Fall 2025

 

Implementing the U.S. Space Force’s Part-Time Service Option

How should the U.S. Space Force better understand the challenges and opportunities the Service will face in implementing a part-time service option for Guardians over the next 25 years? What lessons are there for the other Military Services to consider?  

Balancing the U.S. Navy’s Hybrid Fleet for Mission Readiness

What roles and missions should the US Navy’s hybrid fleet be prepared to conduct in the medium- to long-term time horizon? What is the right balance of crewed and uncrewed naval assets that can best support these operations? How should the Navy think about risk when planning for an uncertain future?  

Assessing PRC Insights Gained from the Russo-Ukrainian War

What are the lessons the PRC has learned from the Russo-Ukrainian War regarding acquisition and employment of emerging military technologies? How are these lessons reflected in Chinese academic literature and government research institute publications? What insights do they offer the PRC regarding key military technologies showcased in this war?  

Predicting Conflicts Arising from Limited Natural Resources

What techniques, systems, or assessments are available to the Intelligence Community to anticipate or predict future crises or conflicts dictated by limited natural resources? When should we expect these conflicts to arise and what are some possible courses of action or technical solutions that can be implemented to mitigate tension or prevent conflict from arising?  

Integrating AI Into the Naval Operational Environment

The U.S. Navy needs a comprehensive framework to evaluate the feasibility of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into the naval operational environment. What advantages for sea power can be achieved through the implementation of AI? What are the technological components and infrastructural requirements necessary to successfully deploy and leverage AI for naval applications?  

Utilizing Policy Levers to Strengthen Marine Corps Recruitment

How can policy help expand the pool of eligible Marine Corps applicants without compromising military effectiveness? What existing policies and programs contribute to the desired outcome? Are there changes that could increase their impact? What new policies or programs should be considered? 

 

Spring 2025

  

Reimagining U.S. Engagement with Latin America 

How should the Department of Defense support an all-of-government approach to engagement with states in Latin America? There may be an opportunity to reimagine these relationships based on emerging mutual interests. Furthermore, how might these engagements be used to counter Chinese and Russian activities and influence? 

Environmental Security Engagement in Latin American and Caribbean States   

How do the militaries of Latin American and the Caribbean approach environmental-security related issues? These states are vulnerable to a spectrum of threats, which has led to emerging strategies and plans with a variety of approaches, strengths, and weaknesses. Given this reality, what opportunities exist for the United States to engage with these states on environmental-security issues?  

Developing a Strategic Approach to U.S. Investment in Latin America 

How should the U.S. Government foster innovation and strengthen economic ties between the U.S. and Latin America? There is certainly regional variation to consider, as well as which industries and markets will need to be prioritized for maximum (strategic) impact and likelihood of success.  What are the incentives for U.S. and Latin American companies, and which strategies can the U.S Government employ to entice participation and investment?  

Cyber Sovereignty in Latin America 

The Department of Defense needs to understand how the overlapping influences of the United States and China, private corporations, and international organizations shape cyberspace governance. What are the implications for global cooperation and security in Latin America? 

 

Fall 2024 

 

Designing Better Wargaming Scenarios for Space 

The U.S. Space Force needs a framework to help guide unclassified wargaming scenarios that include all relevant space actors and advance space resilience in a contested, degraded, and operationally limited environment. There is a trade-off between fidelity and generalizability when creating an unclassified wargame. What are the best practices to achieve the right balance in a game that includes the U.S. Government, partner nations, academia, and industry, while still generating meaningful insights? 

AI Implementation in the Intelligence Community 

As generative AI models such as Large Language Models are introduced on classified networks, the Intelligence Community must decide what opportunities these models provide to speed up analyst productivity. Leaders must also decide what appropriate roles these models should fill. For example, should LLMs be used for rating or employment decisions? What policies and procedures might be necessary to support new teams comprised of humans and algorithms? 

Countering Russian Security Engagement in Africa 

How should the United States best counter Russian security engagement in Africa? The national security community needs to better understand the value of Russian engagement to African leaders and how U.S. security force assistance can be more effective in this competitive environment. 

The Future of Autonomous Technology in the Maritime Domain  

What lessons should the U.S. Navy take from the war in Ukraine to inform autonomous technology development and acquisition so that the U.S. can maintain its dominance in the maritime domain?  

A Framework for Effective DoD Investments 

What are some potential models for assessing the strategic impact of investments supported through the Department of Defense? How can we measure the effectiveness of investments against U.S. National Security Priorities?  

Protecting Critical Undersea Infrastructure 

Undersea infrastructure is at risk of accidental and purposeful destruction.  This infrastructure is critical to modern life in many parts of the world, yet it often exists in hard-to-reach places between national jurisdictions.  International coordination is likely necessary to deal with these emerging risks.  What steps could the United States take to reduce the risks of sabotage or accidental destruction of critical undersea infrastructure?