Vanderbilt Institute of National Security (INS) aims to create "a world-class AI-augmented gaming Center" that will establish the Institute "as a recognized leader in AI-enabled gaming and strategic decision-making."

That goal was inherent in Vanderbilt's recent announcement of its search for candidates eligible to become the first director of a planned INS center of excellence, with responsibilities including establishing "governance, operating models, methodologies, and standards for AI-enabled wargaming and simulation."

One core responsibility of the future Center director is that of overseeing "the design and execution of strategic, operational, and analytical wargames addressing critical public and private-sector challenges."

The person chosen for the new leadership role--full time, hybrid--is to report both INS's founding director, retired U.S. Army General Paul Nakasone, and to Executive Director Douglas Adams, who is also the Daniel F. Flowers Professor, and Distinguished Professor of Civil and Environmental and Mechanical Engineering.

In addition to having a strong professional network in defense and tech domains, important qualifications for the founding directorship include a minimum ten years of leadership experience in national security doctoral degree in national security studies, international relations, public policy, military studies, computer science, engineering, operations research or related field.

Strongly preferred traits include experience designing, leading or sponsoring wargames, applying artificial intelligence and other technologies, prior military, government and national security.

VU INS's Nakasone (L) and Adams

Prior to INS, Nakasone was, among decades of other duties, the dual-hat director of the National Security Agency and head of U.S. Cyber Command.

The Institute of National Security overall is described in the notice as "an academic proving ground for future national security leaders and a hub for innovation. The Institute offers the national security community access to top student talent and fresh thinking from a university rooted in open debate, radical collaboration, and real-world impact. The Institute also provides a trusted space to convene leaders, experts, and students for conversations about the pressing challenges facing our nation and the world."

VU also explains, "The Center's mission is to build a globally respected gaming capability that advances strategic thinking, simulation, and decision-making through innovative exercises, technology integration, and cross-sector collaboration. The Center will apply AI-augmented wargaming to complex national security challenges, support education and professional development through experiential learning, and advance research across defense, cyber, emerging technologies, and strategic competition."

VU adds, "The Director will serve as the principal architect of the Center's intellectual and operational framework. Working with senior leaders across government, defense, academia, and industry, the Director will develop innovative approaches to AI-enabled wargaming, establish strategic partnerships, secure external funding, and oversee a multidisciplinary team supporting the Center's mission."

The combined experience of those already associated with VU INS suggests their collective network reaches deep into the National Intelligence Community. That may have been helpful in an important 2025 hire.

War-, conflict- and disaster-training have evolved over many decades at a myriad of sites, globally, including, e.g., RAND Corporation, the U.S. Naval War College. The Wall Street Journal provided interesting context here.

Also, VNC notes that various Vanderbilt units have previously held scenario- and simulation-based "tabletop" exercises for both academic and administrative units.

VU also published qualifications for a new INS research assistant (RA). See INS Director Innovation Trish Puttmann's LinkedIn post.

The new INS Center directorship is currently posted on the campus websitesite (click "Staff positions", search "gaming"), as well as on other venues, including HigherEdJobs, Monster and Glassdoor, the latter of which estimates the range of compensation.

It's not too early to wonder whether wargaming will get airtime within VU INS's Asness Summit on Modern Conflict and Emerging Threats, April 15-16, 2027.

.last edited 1641 12 August 2026