BOZEMAN -U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll visited Montana State University July 16 to meet with university officials and researchers about how MSU might expand the ways it helps with national security matters and the military's goal of being more responsive to the rapidly evolving needs of the modern American service member.

"How do we handle our biggest problems and empower you to go after them with our dollars?" Driscoll asked during the gathering's introductory remarks at MSU's MilTech offices.

Montana State President Brock Tessman said part of the university's founding mission includes working to improve the nation's security through military science.

"Defense-related work and national security-related work are hand in glove with our land-grant mission," Tessman said at the meeting.

MSU units that work closely on national security issues include the Institute for National Security Research and Education, or INSRE, MilTech, the Applied Quantum Core, the Optical Technology Center and the university's Applied Research Lab. The ARL enhances controlled research opportunities for MSU researchers, students and regional businesses that support national security priorities.

"A large percentage of MSU's research portfolio supports national security," said Al Deibert, executive director of MSU's INSRE. "We're an R1 institution and in the top 4% of all colleges and universities. It's not just a few people in a shop; it's the whole university."

For 22 years, the MilTech program has been dedicated to moving technology and information research to the U.S. military and Department of Homeland Security. It is housed within MSU's Research and Economic Development office.

At the event, Alison Harmon, MSU vice president for research and economic development, highlighted several additional university programs doing work related to national defense, including the Center for Biofilm Engineering, which has developed applications for water safety at the International Space Station, as well as for sanitation in hospitals and energy production.

"We want to be your partner," Harmon said. "We want you to think of us when you have some of these questions; we want to support the mission."

While at MSU, Driscoll viewed several successful projects that MilTech completed for the military and took a tour of MSU's Spectrum Lab, where director Krishna Rupavatharam demonstrated technologies including LIDAR and free-space optics.

"[Research universities] have all the talent," Driscoll said. "We just have to give you the resources."