SIOUX FALLS, S.D.(KELO)- South Dakota has an important role to fill on the world stage.

That’s the position of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, which launched its South Dakota Advisory Council in Sioux Falls Wednesday.

Dakota State University Applied Research Corporation CEO Andrea Thompson is part of that council.

She was one of the featured panelists at the group’s kickoff event.

Thompson says the state can make huge contributions in the area of cyber security.

Thompson grew up in the Pierre area and was an intelligence officer in the Army before becoming national security adviser to Vice President Mike Pence.