![\"Two](\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2026\/06\/cybersecurity300x200-20260527_TCF_IMC_6497.jpg\")
Level 2 certification is more rigorous and expensive to achieve. It involves building secure lab spaces and creating a secure data enclave, an isolated portion of the university\u2019s computer network. Simply accessing calls for proposals for these federal projects requires a secure channel, Abedi said. He intends to apply for grants to fund the Level 2 upgrades.<\/p>\n
No other universities in Wisconsin currently have Level 2 certification, although UW-Madison and UWM are both working toward it. \u201cWe are trying to work together as much as possible,\u201d Abedi said, to find cost savings. For example, the two universities could share the consultants needed to achieve the certification.<\/p>\n
Bringing more defense-industry jobs to Wisconsin<\/h2>\n
UWM and WisPolitics recently co-hosted a panel discussion that considered ways universities and industry can cooperate to create more defense-related jobs in Wisconsin. The state currently has a modest 16,000 defense-industry positions.<\/p>\n
During the event, Rob Cuzner, professor of electrical engineering and director of UWM\u2019s Center for Sustainable Electrical Energy Systems, explained that achieving CMMC Level 2 certification will allow UWM researchers to pursue federal projects in collaboration with area firms.<\/p>\n
Cuzner\u2019s work includes applied research in power and electricity, and he has contributed to the U.S. Navy\u2019s quest for next-generation, all-electric ships. His projects have involved partnerships with Leonardo DRS and the Eaton Corporation, both in the Milwaukee area.<\/p>\n
The region has a high concentration of companies in the energy, power, controls and automation spaces, Cuzner said, \u201cand they need graduate students with specialized training, who’ve got hands-on experience in key emerging areas.\u201d Two recent PhD graduates from Cuzner\u2019s lab now work for Leonardo DRS. \u201cTo me that\u2019s a huge success,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Research with non-defense applications<\/h2>\n
Technologies initially intended for the military often develop important civilian uses. \u201cDepartment of Defense research is not all about weapons and missiles,\u201d Abedi said. Advances in areas such as early computing, the internet, health care and AI all began with military research.<\/p>\n
Cuzner\u2019s own applied research has focused on energy systems and fortifying electric grids within constrained environments such as military vessels, as well as integrating energy storage into these systems. He believes that electric microgrids could also help support power needs on land, in locations\u00a0including military bases, medical\u00a0campuses\u00a0and even\u00a0urban neighborhoods.<\/p>\n
Protecting intellectual property<\/h2>\n
One goal of CMMC is to protect intellectual property developed in the United States. \u201cWe need to make sure that whatever intellectual property is created here is in the right hands,\u201d Abedi said.<\/p>\n
Over recent decades, technologies developed in this country \u2014 such as microchips and advanced semiconductors \u2014 are manufactured elsewhere, leaving this proprietary information vulnerable to corporate espionage and theft.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s like everyone can now get the recipe for the secret sauce, that special skill or small, tiny detail,\u201d Abedi said. \u201cOnce those recipes go, it\u2019s hard to get them back. The whole reason for CMMC is to not let that happen again.\u201d<\/p>\n
The CMMC practices create new channels so that universities, companies and the federal government can all communicate and collaborate with lower risk of theft.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe university is a really important, untapped resource, but in order for it to work, you’ve got to be able to make it possible for stakeholders to work together,\u201d Cuzner added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
University striving to meet federal data security guidelines that will enable researchers to quality for more federal projects and partner with more companies. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3151,"featured_media":157249,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","uwm_wg_additional_authors":[]},"categories":[174,175],"tags":[],"section":[141,139],"display_categories":[115,116],"related-coverage":[338],"uwmnews-feed":[149,153],"class_list":["post-157247","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-research","section-engineering","section-science-technology","display_categories-top-story-secondary","display_categories-top-story-section","related-coverage-research","uwmnews-feed-engineering-applied-science","uwmnews-feed-graduate"],"yoast_head":"\n