COLLEGE PARK, Md. — September 23, 2026 — The Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS) at the University of Maryland is advancing Maryland’s Capital of Quantum initiative through a new workforce development program, Maryland Quantum Network for Experiential Learning, Workforce Upskilling, and Skills Development (NEXUS). The program prepares talent for careers across Maryland’s growing quantum community and builds a mission-ready workforce that strengthens state, national, and global security.
For ARLIS, developing that workforce is also a national security imperative. As quantum technologies move from research toward real-world applications, government and national security organizations will need professionals who can work across emerging technology, applied research, and secure mission environments.
Launched by Governor Wes Moore in 2025, the Capital of Quantum initiative is a public-private effort to catalyze more than $1 billion in investment over five years and establish Maryland as a global leader in quantum information science and technology. A central part of that strategy is building the workforce needed to translate Maryland’s strengths in quantum research, industry, and federal partnerships into long-term economic and national security impact.
Maryland Quantum NEXUS supports that goal by creating an employer-driven quantum workforce pipeline that provides the technical training and specialized skills sought by quantum employers in industry, government, and the national security community.
Maryland’s Capital of Quantum strategy includes investments in research, infrastructure, workforce development, and partnerships with industry and the federal government. Those efforts include the State’s partnership with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to establish the Capital Quantum Benchmarking Hub based at ARLIS, creating a state-federal partnership focused on testing and evaluating emerging quantum technologies.
NEXUS complements those investments by concentrating on the people who will develop, operate, evaluate, and deploy quantum technologies. Participants gain experience through laboratory training, applied projects, mentorship, industry rotations, and sequenced training pathways leading to employer-recognized digital credentials.
Participants selected for the program become ARLIS employees, providing them with hands-on experience with quantum systems and exposure to work in secure environments. The program also supports pathways into careers serving government and national security missions.
“Governor Moore’s Capital of Quantum initiative is positioning Maryland to lead the world in quantum innovation, and that leadership depends on people as much as technology," said University of Maryland President Darryll J. Pines. "Maryland Quantum NEXUS will create a mission-ready talent pipeline by giving participants hands-on experience, employer-informed training, and exposure to secure, real-world environments so they can help advance Maryland’s quantum economy while strengthening our state and national security.”
Through Maryland Quantum NEXUS, ARLIS and its partners are helping turn the Capital of Quantum investment into a durable talent pipeline, strengthening Maryland’s ability to grow its quantum economy while supporting the nation’s technological and national security priorities.
For more information about Maryland Quantum NEXUS, visit https://www.arlis.umd.edu/research-impact/maryland-quantum-nexus.
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ABOUT MIQA@ARLIS
The Maryland Institute for Quantum Applications (MIQA) @ ARLIS advances quantum information science and related quantum technologies with a focus on their national security and intelligence applications. MIQA@ARLIS brings together expertise from academia, industry, and government to accelerate the transition of quantum research into deployable capabilities.
Launched in April 2025 and located in the University of Maryland’s Discovery District, MIQA supports ARLIS’s mission as a DoW-designated University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) and contributes to the university’s broader leadership in quantum science and engineering.
ABOUT THE APPLIED RESEARCH LABORATORY FOR INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY
The Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence & Security (ARLIS) at the University of Maryland is a University-Affiliated Research Center (UARC) dedicated to advancing research, innovation, and technology transition to improve decision making for U.S. national security. ARLIS advances high‐value research and state-of-the-art infrastructure to provide engagement advantage. ARLIS combines deep scientific expertise with operational insight to address challenges in intelligence analysis, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence / machine learning, quantum science, and human-machine teaming. Researchers, scientists, engineers, and analysts at ARLIS collaborate with government agencies, industry partners, and academic institutions to deliver actionable insights and transformative solutions through research and development. ARLIS develops and connects world-class STEM talent and national security researchers, expanding the pipeline of skilled talent essential to drive technological innovation and strengthen national capabilities. Employees at ARLIS work on projects of critical importance, contribute directly to the nation’s security, and are supported by a culture that values integrity, collaboration, and professional growth.