The National Defense Business Institute at UT is a new addition to campus, offering students the opportunity to work with the U.S. Department of Defense and other government agencies to better improve national security and business management programs.

NDBI is the first university-based program designed to complete such tasks using academic and research expertise. It gives students problem-solving methods to create and enhance defense business acquisition needs.

"The creation of NDBI testifies to UT's strong and compelling commitment to work with the Department of Defense and the defense industry to serve urgent and crucial defense acquisition business needs," Dave Patterson, NDBI's executive director, said in a UT press release.

"We want to inspire business innovation and effective program management," he said in the release. "Helping both the military and the defense industry achieve the most out of taxpayers' dollars is the goal."

Patterson has done extensive work with the U.S. Department of Defense, bringing considerable credentials to the program. He was the principal deputy undersecretary of defense and comptroller for the U.S. Department of Defense. He also helped organize and manage annual defense budgets exceeding $515 billion.