Securing the 21st Century with Ret. Gen. Paul Nakasone

Retired four-star general Paul M. Nakasone is challenging outdated ideas about what keeps a country safe.In this episode of Quantum Potential, Gen. Nakasone, former NSA director, founding director of the Vanderbilt Institute of National Security, Distinguished Research Professor of Engineering Science and Management, and special advisor to the chancellor, joins Provost C. Cybele Raver to discuss the challenges of national security in the 21st century and academia’s role in training the next generation of multifaceted national security professionals. After nearly 40 years in the U.S. military leading efforts to dismantle ISIS online, counter Iranian cyber threats, and protect allies like Ukraine from Russian malware, Nakasone brought his talent and expertise to Vanderbilt University to shape tomorrow’s national security leaders.During his chat with Provost Raver, Nakasone shares why he chose to come to Vanderbilt to lead the Institute of National Security and how he’s collaborating with Vanderbilt researchers to find pragmatic solutions to today’s national security challenges. The Quantum Potential podcast is produced by Vanderbilt University. The leadership team includes Metanoya Z. Webb, director of content and editorial strategy for this episode, and Sydney Jones-Wright, director of academic affairs communications. Patrick Sams is the senior social media specialist, and Maisie Wilson is the senior creative project manager. Mike Todd is the university visual media manager.Special thanks to Jad Abumrad, Vanderbilt University Distinguished Research Professor of Communication of Science and Technology and the executive producer of the Quantum Potential podcast and video series. We also want to thank Major Jackson, Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Professor of English, for lending his voice to the end credits for this episode.Copyright 2025, Vanderbilt University.The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or Vanderbilt University.Follow Vanderbilt on Social Media