In the past two decades the Department of Homeland Security Centers for Excellence — coalitions led by U.S. colleges or universities in partnership with other institutions — have been addressing national challenges posed by terrorism, cybercrime, food insecurity and climate change, among other international threats. The centers have brought together some of the nation’s leading scholars and researchers to contribute to solutions. Among them has been Ross Maciejewski, the Ira A. Fulton Professor of Computer Science and director of the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, part of the Fulton Schools, as well as director of ASU’s Center for Accelerating Operational Efficiency. Maciejewski talks about his path toward leading a DHC Center of Excellence.