Texas Tech University recently broke ground to establish a critical infrastructure security site, expanding on the institute it established in 2024. The institute was established in order to assess and develop clarification and mediation methods for vulnerabilities to United States critical infrastructure. The current expansion will broaden the institute’s support of innovation, research and collaboration in regards to national security and critical infrastructure defense. 

“This groundbreaking reflects Texas Tech’s growing role in securing the nation’s critical infrastructure,” remarked Stephen Bayne, Vice President for National Security and Executive Director of the university’s Critical Infrastructure Security Institute (CISI). “This research site strengthens our ability to protect the systems our nation, state and community depend on every day and delivers solutions that address evolving threats to infrastructure security.”

This expansion will enable CISI operate as a hub for innovation, testing cyber-physical protections, critical power infrastructure, and more. In addition, the institute will be able to offer certification and training for the next generation of engineers and scientists. 

The institute will continue to collaborate with educational, federal, and industry partners in order to: 

• Update networks for greater critical infrastructure security
• Develop new technologies, standards and best practices to decrease vulnerabilities

The new construction will be at the university’s Reese National Security Complex.