CNN
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The Pentagon has selected Howard University to lead its university-affiliated research center, the first partnership with a historically black college or university, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced this week.
“To sharpen America’s technological superiority and strengthen America’s superior military, the Department of Defense is committed to investing more in HBCUs and institutions that serve minorities,” said Austin, the first black secretary of defense. said on Monday.
Howard will receive $12 million annually over five years of funding, according to the company. news releaseThis is the first university partnership to be sponsored primarily by the Air Force, and the first time the ministry has accepted submissions from universities to become an affiliated research center, according to Wayne A.I. Frederick, president of Howard University.
The new consortium will focus on Tactical Autonomy, an Air Force program aimed at developing technology that requires minimal human supervision. branch websiteThe center seeks to leverage Howard’s programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Austin describes the technology as “at the heart of America’s security in a changing world,” and the military is committed to helping students in these programs to continuously improve the superiority of American soldiers on the battlefield. You said you need creativity and ideas.
“Autonomous systems used responsibly make our military faster, smarter and stronger,” he added. The most valuable assets are men and women in uniform.”
The university is also focused on diversifying the pool of scientists and engineers working with the Department of Defense and plans to lead eight other HBCUs, including Hampton University and Tuskegee University, in research efforts, according to a news release. am.
Frederick told CNN that this is a “great opportunity” for faculty and students to “do cutting-edge research in an ever-evolving field of technology.”
“This partnership will enable the university to expand into other research areas in the future,” Frederick added.
The program said, “For a country to remain successful, to compete, to remain competitive in areas such as research, it needs to diversify what its workforce looks like in the field of research. It really emphasizes that,” Frederick said.
The Pentagon is now 14 other universities They are spread across the country, including the Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Southern California, and the University of Maryland.