Strauss Center

What Strauss Center does

The Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law ("Strauss Center") is a nonpartisan academic research center housed at The University of Texas at Austin, founded in 2007 by Ambassador Robert S. Strauss. It is organized around three program pillars — Security and Technology (Cybersecurity, Technology/Security/Global Affairs, Space Security Safety and Sustainability, and the ARL:UT Technology and National Security Research Partnership), Regional Challenges (Central America and Mexico Policy Initiative, Asia Policy Program, Post-Soviet States), and National Security Law and Institutions (Intelligence Studies Project, National Security Law). Its primary constituents are UT Austin graduate and undergraduate students who participate in funded fellowship programs (Brumley Graduate Fellows awarding $3,000/year, Brumley Undergraduate Scholars awarding $750/semester, Cyber Student Fellows, National Security Law Student Fellows) and the Texas Cybersecurity Clinic, which provides free cybersecurity services to Texas small businesses, public agencies, and nonprofits through 40+ student teams per cohort.

The center does not develop commercial technology products; instead, it produces policy-relevant research, datasets, and media. Notable research assets include CAMPI's multi-county migrant death datasets (Brooks County 2006-2025, Kenedy County 1990-2021, Maverick County 1994-2024) and cross-border Rio Grande drowning data (1,107 incidents, 2017-2023). Media properties include the National Security Law Podcast (weekly, hosted by Bobby Chesney and Steve Vladeck), the Horns of a Dilemma podcast, and the Texas National Security Review journal. Public engagement is driven through frequent lectures, book talks, workshops, and conferences such as the Space Traffic Conference and the Texas National Security Forum.

The Strauss Center's business model is non-commercial and donor-funded. Revenue streams include philanthropic donations (notably from Jon and Rebecca Brumley for the Brumley programs, the Hewlett Foundation for cybersecurity, and Aerospace Policy Solutions LLC for the space policy award) and institutional support from UT Austin. All programs, courses, events, and fellowships are provided free of charge to eligible students; the center instead monetizes impact through policy influence, talent pipeline development, and convening power rather than direct revenue capture.

Name

Strauss Center

Legal name

Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law

Website

https://strausscenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law is a nonpartisan academic research center at UT Austin, founded 2007 by Ambassador Robert S. Strauss, that delivers funded fellowships, policy research, and convening across cybersecurity, national security law, space security, and regional studies for graduate and undergraduate students, policymakers, and scholars.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research and Academic Programs

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Offices of Lawyers (54111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Law School Research Centers & Institutes (e.g., Law & Economics, Human Rights) (EDAHAIAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems (EDAHAAAI), Law & Legal Studies Scholarly Publishing (EDAGAFAG)

Keywords

• Policy research center
• International security studies
• National security law
• Cybersecurity education
• Academic fellowship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donor and Philanthropic Support: The Strauss Center relies on philanthropic donations from individuals and organizations. Notable donors include Ambassador Robert S. Strauss (founder), Jon and Rebecca Brumley (Brumley Fellows and Scholars programs), and the Hewlett Foundation (cybersecurity program support). Donations fund fellowships, scholarships, events, and operational activities.
2. University Institutional Funding: As part of The University of Texas at Austin, the center receives institutional support from the university for faculty positions, office space, and administrative infrastructure. UT Austin provides the organizational backbone enabling program operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Strauss Center is a nonpartisan academic research center that conducts policy-relevant scholarship on international security and law, offering interdisciplinary research programs (cybersecurity, space security, national security law, regional studies), graduate and undergraduate fellowship programs with stipends, the Texas Cybersecurity Clinic providing free cybersecurity services to Texas organizations, podcasts and an academic journal (Texas National Security Review), and convening events for scholars, students, and policymakers.

Product overview

The Strauss Center for International Security and Law is an academic research center at The University of Texas at Austin founded in 2007 by Ambassador Robert S. Strauss. Rather than a commercial product company, it operates as a multi-program research and educational institution offering academic programs, fellowships, research initiatives, and media/publication products. The portfolio includes Cybersecurity Program with the Texas Cybersecurity Clinic; Technology, Security, and Global Affairs Program; Space Security, Safety, and Sustainability Program; Central America and Mexico Policy Initiative; National Security Law Program; and multiple fellowship/scholarship programs (Brumley Graduate Fellowships, Brumley Undergraduate Scholars, Cyber Student Fellows, National Security Law Student Fellows). Media offerings include the National Security Law Podcast, Horns of a Dilemma Podcast, and Texas National Security Review publication.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cybersecurity Program An interdisciplinary academic program pioneering graduate-level study of cybersecurity issues, integrating perspectives from law, public policy, business administration, computer science, and engineering. Features the Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge competition, Cyber Fellows Program, and Texas Cybersecurity Clinic. Aimed at UT Austin students and the broader policy community.
• Texas Cybersecurity Clinic A two-semester experiential learning program in which student teams provide free cybersecurity services including risk assessments, policy creation, security configuration, incident response planning, and training to Texas small businesses, public agencies, and nonprofits. Students build technical and business skills in the first semester and serve real clients in the second.
• Technology, Security, and Global Affairs Program An academic program exploring U.S. and other governments' use of technology for intelligence collection, social media control, extremism prevention, and security objectives. Focuses on policy-relevant research and career pathways for students interested in technology and global affairs.
• Space Security, Safety, and Sustainability (SSSS) Program A transdisciplinary academic program exploring issues at the intersection of security, technology, and policy related to government and commercial space programs, addressing challenges of an increasingly-crowded orbital domain.
• Central America and Mexico Policy Initiative (CAMPI) An initiative addressing policy-relevant scholarship on migration and security challenges in Central America and Mexico. Creates educational opportunities, research activity, and community engagement on causes, dimensions, and consequences of violence and migration.
• National Security Law Program An academic program supporting the UT School of Law's national security law offerings, including National Security Law Lectures (in partnership with Columbia University), National Security Law Student Fellows, National Security Law Workshop, and the National Security Law Podcast.
• Brumley Graduate Fellowships A one-year fellowship providing a $3,000 award to graduate students, supporting original research under faculty mentorship, monthly colloquia, and participation in Strauss Center events. Issue areas include cybersecurity, AI, intelligence, and regional security.
• Brumley Undergraduate Scholars A program providing research and mentorship opportunities for UT undergraduates interested in international security and law careers. Includes a fall semester course (PA 325), spring research with mentor, and a $750 stipend in spring semester. Approximately 10-11 scholars per cohort.
• Cyber Student Fellows Program A program encouraging graduate students from all UT Austin departments to pursue interdisciplinary cybersecurity studies, requiring completion of four courses across technical and non-technical tracks with formal recognition and financial support for research and travel.
• National Security Law Student Fellows A UT Austin law student program requiring completion of at least four approved courses and regular attendance at Strauss Center events. Forms a network of students interested in national security law topics and careers, with 12+ student fellows per cohort.
• National Security Law Podcast A weekly podcast featuring Professors Bobby Chesney and Steve Vladeck reviewing legal controversies associated with U.S. government national security activities and institutions, reaching lawyers and non-lawyers interested in national security issues.
• Horns of a Dilemma Podcast A podcast featuring discussions on intelligence and national security topics, produced in partnership with the Intelligence Studies Project.
• Texas National Security Review An academic journal publication outlet for policy-relevant national security scholarship, reaching academic and practitioner audiences and accessible online.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hundreds of graduates have completed fellowship programs and gone on to careers in national security, law, and public service
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Atlantic Council Cyber Statecraft InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026The Strauss Center partners with the Atlantic Council's Cyber Statecraft Initiative to host the Austin Regional Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge, a renowned cybersecurity policy competition for graduate students. Student teams compete in a two-day competition tackling cybersecurity issues with large-scale geopolitical implications.
• Applied Research Laboratories at UT (ARL:UT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Strauss Center-ARL:UT Technology and National Security Research Partnership is a multidisciplinary program applying research in technology, national security law, political science, engineering, and natural sciences to problems in national security, defense, and public service. ARL:UT focuses on R&D of new technologies supporting defense applications including sonar, autonomous vehicles, remote sensing, AI/ML, and cybersecurity.
• Columbia Law School National Security Law ProgrammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National Security Law Lectures series is presented in partnership between the Strauss Center and Columbia Law School's National Security Law Program. Matthew Waxman of Columbia and Bobby Chesney of UT present on various national security law issues.
• International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICRC co-sponsors the National Security Law Workshop, which began in 2008. The workshop assembles civilian and military lawyers for paper presentations and roundtable discussions on national security law topics.
• U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of the National Security Law Workshop, providing military legal perspective alongside academic and civilian viewpoints on national security law issues.
• South Texas College of LawcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of the National Security Law Workshop alongside UT Law School, bringing together legal scholars and practitioners from multiple institutions.
• Clements Center for National SecuritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Clements Center co-hosts numerous events and programs with the Strauss Center, including the Intelligence Studies Project (Strauss-Clements Intelligence Studies Project), joint events on Asia policy, national security topics, and the Texas National Security Forum.
• LBJ School of Public AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe LBJ School collaborates with Strauss Center on events, student programs (Brumley Fellows), and academic initiatives. Space Traffic Conference is held at the LBJ School Bass Lecture Hall.
• Korean Economic Institute of AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKorean Economic Institute partners with Strauss Center's Asia Policy Program for panel events on US-Korea alliance and emerging technology cooperation.
• Texas Space Law & Policy SocietyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStudent organization providing additional information and engagement opportunities for students interested in space law and policy topics aligned with the SSSS program.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• RAND Corporation: Large nonprofit research institution producing policy analysis on national security, cybersecurity, and space. Comparable in research-and-public-interest mission and federal engagement, with much larger operating scale.
• Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): Major Washington-based think tank producing policy research on international security, cybersecurity, and space. A larger, broader incumbent with overlapping themes but a much wider portfolio and global operational footprint.
• Brookings Institution: Large, broad policy research institution with programs on foreign policy, cybersecurity, and governance. Comparable in producing policy scholarship and convening scholars and officials, but operating at significantly larger scale.

Direct peers

• LBJ School of Public Affairs: UT Austin graduate school that hosts Strauss's Brumley Fellows, Space Traffic Conference, and other programs. Directly comparable as a public-policy graduate institution with overlapping faculty, students, and policy research outputs.
• Wilson Center (Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars): Nonpartisan policy research center in Washington focused on international affairs, with scholar-in-residence programs and policy research outputs - highly analogous operating model and mission to Strauss.
• Atlantic Council: Partnership host for Strauss's Austin Regional Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge. Directly comparable through focus on international security, cybersecurity policy, and convening students and practitioners.
• Hoover Institution: Stanford-based public policy research center covering national security, foreign policy, and law. Highly comparable in combining fellowships, policy scholarship, and engagement with policymakers and media.
• Columbia Law School National Security Law Program: Co-presenter of Strauss's National Security Law Lectures series. Directly comparable in combining national security law scholarship, student training, and faculty-led events.
• Clements Center for National Security: Sister UT Austin research center co-hosting events and the Intelligence Studies Project with Strauss. Directly comparable in mission (national security research, policy engagement, student fellowships) and institutional setting.
• Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs: Harvard Kennedy School research center producing interdisciplinary work in international security, cybersecurity, and science-and-policy - directly comparable academic-model peer with similar fellowship and policy-briefing outputs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/StraussCenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles30 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Strauss Center