Wicked Problems Lab  

Addressing Critical National Security Challenges 

The Vanderbilt Institute for National Security created the Wicked Problems Lab to tackle the most complex and urgent national security threats. The Lab unites academic expertise with operational experience to develop actionable solutions that bridge theory and policy. 

We focus on high-stakes challenges that demand immediate intervention. By combining insights from diverse disciplines, we ensure our solutions are both rigorous and practical. Collaboration among scholars, practitioners, and policymakers helps close the gap between research and application, leading to real-world impact. 

Our research agenda centers on critical infrastructure resilience, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and strategic intelligence—key areas essential to national security. We develop frameworks that enhance resilience, mitigate threats, and inform both tactical and strategic decision-making. 

These publications offer in-depth analyses and policy recommendations on pressing security challenges, equipping policymakers, industry leaders, and security professionals with the insights needed for informed, strategic decision-making.

Position Papers

See Something, Say Something in a Digital Age - proposes a new reporting framework to address blind spots in the current system.