The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) recently collaborated with a team of Michigan Technological University (MTU) students to develop an artificial intelligence-powered solution aimed at identifying potential indicators of foreign influence within publicly available corporate documents.
The project, guided by Corey Sampson, chief of Engineering Sustainment, National Industrial Security System Portfolio in Industrial Security Systems and Services (IS3) section of the Program Executive Office, brings together innovative technology and learning while supporting the agency’s national security mission. The collaboration resulted in an AI-powered automation tool capable of scanning and analyzing corporate documentation, extracting details about key personnel, and generating comprehensive reports highlighting connections or patterns that may warrant further investigation.
Using advanced optical character recognition (OCR), natural language processing (NLP), and machine learning (ML), the tool exceeded initial success metrics—achieving 98.9% accuracy in document scanning and OCR conversion, 98.3% accuracy in data extraction and classification, and an ability to generate dynamic reports within two seconds.
“This project exemplifies how DCSA partners with academic institutions to drive innovation in support of national security,” said Sampson. “The MTU student team demonstrated exceptional technical and professional capabilities, and their work directly aligns with our mission of safeguarding the nation’s trusted workforce, workspaces, classified information and critical assets through personnel security, industrial security, counterintelligence and insider threat and security training.”
The AI solution was developed over two semesters as part of MTU’s Enterprise Program, which offers students a unique and impactful experiential learning opportunity and engages them in solving open-ended, industry-driven problems. Under the guidance of Professors Victoria Walters and Nagash Hatti, students worked closely with DCSA stakeholders to understand both the technical requirements and the broader mission objectives.
“This project has been an absolute joy to mentor. I was consistently impressed with the student interest in the project, their growth in project management, and how their understanding of key words determining possible influence evolved through the course of the project,” said Walters, Professor of Practice at MTU. “The students embraced the challenge of turning a concept into a real-world solution, demonstrating growth not just in their technical skillsets, but in their understanding of why national security work matters.”
Student participants included graduating seniors Andrew Caswell, Isabella Gatti, Wyatt Helzer, and team members Alex Krawza and Ryan White. For most of these students, this project was a first: a chance to work with a federal agency on a task with national security implications.
“As team lead, I learned how to communicate with stakeholders and translate technical work into strategic outcomes,” said Caswell. “DCSA gave us room to lead the project while providing valuable mentorship along the way. Working with DCSA has been a great experience and will undoubtedly help my future career.”
For DCSA, the project demonstrated how partnering with academia can help develop a pipeline of mission-ready talent. The student-designed system not only met performance benchmarks but incorporated features that allow users to dynamically define and update areas of concern, such as specific foreign affiliations or sensitive corporate roles.
“The ability to define and track indicators of concern through automation gives us a new layer of efficiency and precision,” said Sampson. “It’s an excellent example of how AI can be responsibly used to enhance our capabilities.”
Ryan White, another project participant, described the opportunity as “fun, engaging and incredibly meaningful and looks forward to seeing how this project evolves in the future,” while teammate Isabella Gatti shared that it helped her build resilience in real-world problem-solving that will no doubt help her future career. “DCSA supported us not just as students, but as future professionals. It was an experience I’ll carry with me,” she said.
“DCSA is at the forefront of securing the Nation’s defense industrial base and protecting its critical technologies, and the partnership with MTU was an important opportunity to gain insights into the latest advancements and potential of AI,” said Wallace Coggins, DCSA Chief Data and AI Officer. “This project demonstrated the immense value of AI capabilities to process a tremendous amount of information and rapidly aggregate the relevant findings. Great work by the students, faculty, and DCSA personnel that participated!”
MTU’s Enterprise Program continues to demonstrate the value of experiential education in preparing students for complex challenges beyond the classroom.
“Our students are gaining more than technical know-how. This hands-on, client-driven approach provides critical preparation for the workforce. Students apply technical knowledge in real-world contexts while developing essential professional skills such as project management, communication, teamwork and adaptability,” said Hatti, Director of the Enterprise Program at MTU. “These are critical workforce skills, and DCSA’s involvement helped elevate this project to something truly impactful.”
DCSA’s relationship with MTU stems from a long-standing appreciation for the university's strong engineering program. David Drys, program manager for IS3, has a personal connection to MTU, having attended the university before joining the Navy in 1997. His ties remain strong, with both of his children currently enrolled as students. Recognizing MTU's potential as a talent pipeline, Drys' program office hosted interns from MTU during the summer of 2023 and is actively seeking to expand the internship program. Drys' advocacy for MTU extends back to his time with Naval Air Systems Command, where he recognized the university's untapped potential despite its geographically isolated location. A chance encounter with MTU's SSO at the NCMS conference last year reignited Drys’ efforts to forge a stronger partnership, particularly given his current role and perspective within DCSA, ultimately leading to discussions about this project and other potential collaborations.
The university recently received the DCSA Jack Donnelly Award for Excellence in Counterintelligence, which recognized their outstanding contributions to counterintelligence through its educational programs, research and collaboration with the agency. The university's innovative approach to addressing emerging threats and its commitment to developing a skilled counterintelligence workforce were key factors in receiving the honor.
As many of the students on this MTU team graduate and begin their careers, they leave behind a legacy of innovation and teamwork. Their work represents the best of what can be achieved when multiple different organizations come together and work towards one common goal.