DSU leaders highlight national security mission during government visits
September 16, 2026
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Dakota State University recently welcomed congressional and government leaders for a series of discussions highlighting how the university is applying its expertise to serve South Dakota, the region, and the nation.
The visits showcased a vision that connects DSU’s educational mission, applied research, workforce development, and economic development with the nation’s growing cybersecurity and national security needs.
The Applied Research Lab (ARL) in Sioux Falls.
On Tuesday, Sept. 1, U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune and members of his staff visited DSU’s Applied Research Lab (ARL) in Sioux Falls for a presentation and tour of the new facility.
On Thursday, Sept. 3, DSU representatives traveled to Box Elder, S.D., for a presentation with U.S. Sen. John Thune, U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, Under Secretary of the Army Michael A. Obdahl, and Maj. Gen. Mark Morrell, Adjutant General of the South Dakota National Guard. The presentation, held at VRC Systems, highlighted how DSU’s role in national security begins with education, advances through applied research, and continues through the highly skilled professionals the university prepares for the workforce.
DSU leaders speak with U.S. Sen. John Thune at the Applied Research Lab.
On Friday, Sept. 4, Sen. Rounds’ defense staff visited the ARL for a discussion and tour.
Together, the events showed how DSU is activating its expertise to serve at multiple levels — strengthening South Dakota’s cyber capabilities and workforce while contributing to the broader national security ecosystem.
Dr. Ashley Podhradsky (left) presents to U.S. Sen. John Thune (middle).
“These visits reinforce the important role Dakota State can play in our nation’s security,” said Dr. Ashley Podhradsky, vice president for Research & Economic Development. “By connecting education, applied research, workforce development, and economic opportunity, we are building capability that strengthens South Dakota and contributes to the nation’s long-term security and competitiveness.”
The visits come as DSU continues to expand its applied research presence through the new ARL in Sioux Falls. The approximately 100,000-square-foot facility is designed to support applied research, training, collaboration, digital forensics, and partnerships with government and industry.
The ARL is intended to help bridge the gap between academic research and real-world challenges. Its flexible research and office spaces create opportunities for DSU researchers to work alongside government and industry partners. At the same time, the facility’s training capabilities can support workforce development, cyber training, artificial intelligence training, and collaboration with law enforcement.
Dr. Joel Wohnoutka (left) and U.S. Sen. John Thune (right) at the ARL.
“One of the things we’re trying to build here is a clear path from education, to applied research, to careers solving real national security problems,” said Executive Director of the Applied Research Lab Dr. Joel Wohnoutka. “The ARL gives our researchers, students, government partners, and industry a place to work together on those challenges in a very practical way. Just as importantly, it creates opportunities for highly skilled people to build their careers here in South Dakota while contributing to work that has national impact.”
That work also creates an economic development opportunity for South Dakota. DSU graduates who want to remain in the state can pursue careers connected to the university’s growing research enterprise, while organizations from outside South Dakota can work alongside DSU, establish a presence in the state, and access a stream of highly skilled graduates.
The ARL builds upon DSU’s broader effort to create a pipeline connecting education, research, and careers. Investments in recruiting and retaining students and faculty and expanding cyber education are intended to produce more graduates prepared to contribute to South Dakota’s workforce and help attract additional cyber-related industry to the state. Working alongside DSU, the Dakota State University Applied Research Corporation (DARC) helps extend that pipeline by connecting highly skilled technical talent and applied research capabilities with national security and industry partners.
“DARC provides a flexible, scalable way to bring Dakota State’s cyber and AI expertise to national security challenges — connecting highly skilled technical talent, secure research facilities, and an expanding workforce pipeline here in South Dakota,” said DARC Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel Stacy Kooistra.
U.S. Sen. John Thune (send from right) visits the Applied Research Lab.
Following Thune’s visit Tuesday, DSU President John Ballard emphasized the connection between the facility, the state, and national security.
“The work within this building will serve South Dakota for years to come and will ensure our state and Dakota State University are well integrated into the national security ecosystem,” Ballard said. “Our talented DSU and DARC teams continue their work to align our capabilities and agile approach with an environment where our students learn here, our workforce thrives here, and their families stay here — well protected from emerging threats.”
The week’s visits underscored that DSU’s growing research enterprise is about more than research alone. By connecting education with applied research and translating that expertise into solutions for real-world challenges, DSU is working to strengthen national security, build South Dakota’s resilience, develop and retain a highly skilled workforce, and generate new economic opportunities.