UNO’s Nebraska Deterrence Lab Joins NATO Space Deterrence Wargames to Address Future Security Challenges

Highlights

• UNO’s Nebraska Deterrence Lab (NDL) has joined a team of researchers from nine NATO nations to carry out a series of space wargames. The first wargame took place in the Netherlands on April 29-May 2, 2024.

• Faculty and students from multiple colleges prepare for wargame scenarios and analyze results, developing a computer application, profiles on acting nations, and research for the wargames.

• The NDL will continue to work on the wargames, which are planned to run through March 2026.

The Nebraska Deterrence Lab (NDL) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) has partnered with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to help run a series of space deterrence wargames. As part of the team of nine NATO nations, NDL has assisted in developing and testing a deterrence framework that would anticipate and address future security challenges. The first wargame took place in the Netherlands on April 29-May 2, 2024.

Michelle Black, Ph.D., professor of political science, and Deanna House, Ph.D., professor of information systems and quantitative analysis, co-lead NDL. Black’s experience working at the Department of Defense and House’s expertise in cybersecurity bring significant value to their own work as well as more comprehensive ideas in shared research.

“NATO has invited academics before as individual experts, but this is the first time that they’ve partnered with a whole lab,” Black said. “And I do think that we’re the right lab for the job. We’re really open to understanding and thinking about concepts differently and have a history with them. It made sense.”

Building a Framework for Space Security: NDL’s Role in NATO’s Deterrence Wargame Series

According to a NATO statement about the exercise, “Space underpins the Alliance’s deterrence and defense missions, including the ability to navigate and track forces, position and target assets, and gather intelligence for informed decision-making. As the space domain becomes more contested and congested, there is an increased need to ensure its responsible use, and to protect space assets from growing threats. The deterrence framework would include procedures to deter and respond to nefarious acts, strengthening the cohesion and cooperation among Allies and partners.”

Black and House agree that NDL is perfect for this new role on the wargames team, pointing to their respected portfolio and the fact that it is the only lab in the U.S. that does academic research on multi-actor deterrence.

When it comes to working on the wargames project, House has been thrilled to see students learning ways to apply their skills to real-world problems and broaden their thinking of what career paths are possible for them.

“In my discipline of cybersecurity, we focus a lot on what the private sector does. With private sector work, we don’t think about the impact on national security or the livelihoods of citizens,” House said. “Working on deterrence projects, especially on the wargames, has made students think about things differently and consider a broader application of what they may want to do. A lot of folks in younger generations aren’t motivated by making companies money. They want to make an impact, which might be as a civil servant or working in defense.”

Unique Academic Expertise from UNO Shapes NATO’s Space Deterrence Strategy

Black and House encourage interdisciplinary collaboration in the lab, drawing in students of various majors who use different approaches to solve problems.

“We have lab meetings where we discuss what we’re researching and our challenges. The Information Science & Technology (IS&T) students might see a challenge and say, ‘Oh, I have an app for that,’” Black said. “But they don’t know the end user or how it should be structured. So, the Arts & Sciences students have ideas for that. We have the developers and analysts next to each other, learning to speak each other’s language.”

Miranda Barna, a graduate student earning a master’s degree in criminology and criminal justice, works in NDL and agrees that the collaboration between students of different majors and backgrounds has really benefited her academic work.

“My favorite part about working at the Deterrence Lab is being able to learn from my peers,” Barna said. “As a social science student, I find it valuable to be able to discuss ideas with the technology students. Everyone is so excited to learn from each other and create new things. It’s given me a lot of new perspectives.”

This has proven quite effective. NDL is recognized for its strong deterrence research and networking in the field, garnering local and national partnerships and work with defense agencies, such as the FBI.

Preparing Tomorrow’s Leaders: NDL Students Gain Real-World Experience in Space Security

There are currently twenty student positions in NDL, fourteen of which are assigned to the wargames project. Students began this work in Fall 2023 to prepare for the wargame in April and May, then analyzed results from that wargame over the summer. They are now preparing for the next wargame in 2025.

Maria Miller, a graduate student earning a master’s degree in management information systems and information assurance, has gained new skills and experience while working on this research.

“I am on the development team, analyzing our profiles to ensure preparedness for the next wargame,” Miller said. “I was able to get hands-on experience with various programs, software, and techniques. When walking into the lab, you'll likely find people engaged in solving problems, drawing on whiteboards, and working collaboratively on research and development.”

Another NDL student who was part of the project is Keith Allen, a senior earning bachelor’s degrees in political science and international studies. While working on the wargames, he found his calling in the field.

“The NATO wargames project was such an amazing experience. I was an analyst, which led me to conduct research and analyze certain state actors,” Allen said. “After being involved with the wargame simulation and being able to learn more about the US intelligence and national security community, I now know that I aspire to work in this field.”

NDL will continue to work on the series of space deterrence wargames, which are planned to run through March 2026.