RESEARCH SECURITY PROGRAM

Completion April of 2024

PRESENTED TO THE US STATE DEPARTMENT

APRIL 2024

CAPSTONE PROJECT: Research Secuity Program

CLIENT & AUDIENCE: U.S. State Department

FACULTY SUPERVISOR: Dr. Kevin Gamache (Texas A&M University System, Chief Research Security Officer)

TEAM MEMBERS: D.K. Corrin, Maria Avila, John Gee, Scott Foster, Ben Kaminar and David Thacker

A capstone project is a comprehensive academic endeavor undertaken by students nearing their completion at the Bush School. It culminates their learning experience, requiring them to integrate and apply the knowledge and skills acquired throughout their studies to tackle a real-world problem or explore a significant topic within their field of study. Typically conducted independently or in small groups under faculty supervision, a capstone project involves thorough research, critical analysis, and the presentation of findings through various means such as reports, presentations, or practical demonstrations. The primary goals of a capstone project are to demonstrate the student's mastery of the subject matter, critical thinking abilities, problem-solving skills, and effective communication while making a meaningful contribution to their chosen field. Capstone teams at the Bush School are working professionals with families that assume many responsibilities outside of their academic studies. Our capstone team overcame remote learning difficulties to empower teamwork, critical thinking, and lifelong learning, for the production of a report that meets the needs of our client.

Capstone Project

During our second week of residency in Washington, DC, we were able to meet our client in person and receive our capstone assignment. Mrs. Hally Smith, PMP, is the Unit Chief for Technology for the U.S. Department of State. Mrs. Smith charged our team with the discovery and development of a research security program that supports academic research institutions across the United States. The theft of intellectual property from researchers and their institutions has become a growing concern in the technological race with competing nations such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Not only does this present a problem for the researchers and their institutions, it is also a major concern for the American economy and the security of our nation’s defense. Protecting the intellectual properties of American researchers while promoting global collaboration is a balance that our team found for our client.

Image: AI Generated with Microsoft Image Creator. Prompt: USA vs China in academic research justice. Credit: DK Corrin

Exercising Reflective Actions

Building a comprehensive project such as a research security plan for the academic community required me to exercise many of the reflective actions discussed in my ePortfolio. Lifelong learning, critical thinking, and teamwork are the best examples of achieving the goal of an acceptable presentation to the client.

Lifelong learning was an instrumental practice in achieving my goals of gaining factual knowledge about research security in the academic world. When we were presented with our capstone project for academic research security, I had no prior knowledge of the subject. This capstone pushed me to expand my knowledge base and continue my lifelong learning experiences. I started by researching the country of Australia and its practices with knowledge security (Australia’s version of research security). I then started to compare my findings with those of my team members who were each researching different countries and practices. In March of 2024, my team attended the Academic & Security Counter Exploitation conference at Texas A&M University. While there I was able to meet with research security advisors from universities around the world. I was able to gain a firsthand knowledge base from university representatives from Canada, the United Kingdom, Brazil, and the European Union. Lifelong learning will best serve my future by exercising my abilities to research issues that concern my fire department and draw solutions to the issue.

Image: Academic & Security Counter Exploitation Conference 2024, Texas A&M University

Image: Designed by DK Corrin using Microsoft Office

Following lifelong learning, critical thinking is the second most important practice when given a topic of unknown background. I was at first overwhelmed with my task at hand. However, I relied on my reflection of critical thinking to process the research I had gathered, sorted through the various interviews with academic research security personnel and developed a strategic plan to present to our client. Critical thinking has proven to be one of my strong points throughout my time at the Bush School. I will continue to develop better critical thinking processes in the future to be a better asset for those I serve in the fire department.

Presenting the Capstone

In April of 2024, my team traveled back to Washington, DC to present our project to the Department of State. Through the exercising of lifelong learning, critical thinking, and teamwork, we were able to deliver a project that met the goals and expectations of our client. Not only did our capstone project allow me to expand on my reflective actions, but I was able to once again feel like I was making a difference for my country. Our project will be a stepping stone for the academic research community and the security of our nation.

Capstone Team after our presentation to the Department of State in Washington D.C. 2024

A capstone project of this scale can never be accomplished without the effectiveness of teamwork. Due to our educational platform is a distance learning program, teamwork is experienced in a completely new approach. I assumed the role of team lead because my professional schedule permitted more commitment time to our project. That in no way is to say that our team was not equally committed. I scheduled our weekly meetings with the team, the capstone sponsor, and our client. At the conference, I took detailed notes and ensured they were placed in the shared drive for team access to be used for the benefit of the entire project, not just my portion. Teamwork is and always will be the most exercised reflection of my professional career as a firefighter. I will continue to learn and develop new methods for maximizing my roles within the teamwork atmosphere.

Footnote:

Image 1: US State Department seal.

Image 2: Image Creator from Microsoft Designer-Bing by DK Corrin. America vs China and the justice of research security. February 17, 2024

Image 3: Academic & Security Counter Exploitation Conference 2024, Texas A&M University

Image 4: Chart was designed and drafted by DK Corrin using Microsoft Office Powerpoint. March 7, 2024