RAPID CITY, SD (June 23, 2020) — South Dakota Mines will further develop collaboration
with the Department of Defense (DOD) thanks to the appointment of Jason Combs, the
university’s first National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) program director.
NSIN is an office within the DOD
that helps connect university researchers with the defense needs of the United
States. In his position Combs will build collaboration between industry
stakeholders, Mines researchers and DOD personnel to seek innovative solutions
to national security challenges.
South Dakota Mines has a long
history of research and partnerships that benefit the United States military.
In recent years, Mines helped pioneer
the use of cold spray technology that is now being used by the DOD to
significantly reduce repair and maintenance costs. The university is also
assisting the Air Force in environmental restoration projects. Last year a
team of Mines students developed a new solar
radiation shield for the B-1B Lancer at Ellsworth Air Force Base. Mines has
assisted in a number of projects that help reduce
DOD waste and energy costs. Mines researchers are also helping develop new
ways to combat
biological weapons and terrorism.
The appointment of Combs as
university program director with the NSIN will expand university partnerships with
the DOD even further. “This is good news for research opportunities at South Dakota Mines. Furthermore, this effort will bolster the creation of high-tech jobs here in the Black Hills area,” says South Dakota Mines President Jim Rankin. “We’re excited about the spin-off companies that will be developed in the coming years thanks to these new partnerships.”
Prior to his current position at
South Dakota Mines, Combs served as the NSIN Chief of Staff at NSIN
headquarters in the National Capital Region. He also has over 25 years of
service in the Department of Defense, including time in uniform as well as time
serving as a government civilian. His active duty time included operational
assignments in the B-1, including time at Ellsworth Air Force Base, and staff
assignments on both the headquarters Air Force staff and joint staff. Combs
served his final two years on active duty as the director of the
VCJCS Joint Staff Innovation Group applying entrepreneurial problem-solving
approaches to national security problems. In this role, he led senior
strategists, planners and analysts to develop novel warfighting concepts and
capabilities for the vice chairman of the chiefs of staff. He provided military
expertise to the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff seminars, wargames,
politico-military table-tops and workshops.
A decorated service member, Combs’
awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the
Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal and the Aerial
Achievement Medal. He holds a degree in biology from the United States Air
Force Academy, a master of military arts and sciences degree, a master of
airpower art and science degree, and is also a graduate of the Air Force
Weapons School, Army Command and General Staff College, the School of Advanced
Air and Space Studies and the Air Force National Defense Fellowship program. He
holds the rating of command pilot and has more than 2,000 flight hours with
more than 400 combat hours. He has flown the B-1, T-37, T-38, AT-38, and F-16
aircraft. Combs enjoys exploring the outdoors with his wife and is passionate
about problem solving, learning, teaching and cycling.
About the National Security
Innovation Network
The National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) mission is to
"build networks of innovators that generate new solutions to national
security problems." NSIN is headquartered in Arlington, Va., and has
regional offices in 11 commercial innovation hubs throughout the United States.
Through its headquarters, regional hubs and embedded university partnerships, NSIN
builds a national network of innovators and delivers programming that solves
real-world, Department of Defense problems through collaborative partnerships
with nontraditional problem solvers within the academic and early-stage venture
communities.