U.S. Air Force Selects Howard University for Science Research Partnership

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Howard University President Dr. Wayne Frederick (left), Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (middle), and Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall (right) hold a proclamation announcing the partnership of Howard University as an Air Force university-affiliated research center during a ceremony at the university in Washington, D.C., January 23, 2023  (U.S. Air Force photo by Eric Dietrich).
Howard University President Dr. Wayne Frederick (left), Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (middle), and Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall (right) hold a proclamation announcing the partnership of Howard University as an Air Force university-affiliated research center during a ceremony at the university in Washington, D.C., January 23, 2023 (U.S. Air Force photo by Eric Dietrich).

January 24, 2023 | Originally published by U.S. Air Force Research Lab on January 23, 2023

WASHINGTON (AFNS) — The U.S. Department of the Air Force has selected Howard University as the first historically black college or university to lead a university-affiliated research center.

The center will be focused on tactical autonomy technology for military systems, and Howard University will receive $12 million per year for five years to fund research, faculty, and students.

“Autonomous systems make our military faster, smarter and more combat-credible,” said Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. “They equip commanders with the best possible information to support life-and-death decisions. And I have no doubt that the advancements that will come out of Howard’s new research center will do even more to protect our most precious asset-our men and women in uniform.”