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        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      US Air Force selects Howard University for science research partnershipPublished Jan. 23, 2023
                    
                    
                    American Forces Press Service
            **WASHINGTON (AFNS) --**Howard University President Dr. Wayne Frederick, left, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall 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., Jan. 23, 2023.  (U.S. Air Force photo by Eric Dietrich)Howard University President Dr. Wayne Frederick, left, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall 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., Jan. 23, 2023.  (U.S. Air Force photo by Eric Dietrich)
            
            
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**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."

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall announces the partnership of Howard University as an Air Force university affiliated research center during a ceremony at the university in Washington, D.C., Jan. 23, 2023.  (U.S. Air Force photo by Eric Dietrich)Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall announces the partnership of Howard University as an Air Force university affiliated research center during a ceremony at the university in Washington, D.C., Jan. 23, 2023.  (U.S. Air Force photo by Eric Dietrich)
            
            
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"We need a team of decision-makers, researchers, scientists, engineers, and leaders who are committed to security and liberty and are excited to work on some of the world's most important problems," said Secretary of the Air Force **Frank Kendall**. "If those with the intent to preserve peace don’t solve these technical challenges first, those with malign intent will acquire a significant advantage."

Kendall added, "This is a momentous historical occasion for the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense and Howard University."

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall announces the partnership of Howard University as an Air Force university affiliated research center during a ceremony at the university in Washington, D.C., Jan. 23, 2023.  (U.S. Air Force photo by Eric Dietrich)Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall announces the partnership of Howard University as an Air Force university affiliated research center during a ceremony at the university in Washington, D.C., Jan. 23, 2023.  (U.S. Air Force photo by Eric Dietrich)
            
            
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Specific desired outcomes will be higher matriculation rates of graduates with autonomy and related education and skills and research products enabled by additional capacity built in the schools.

"We are excited to learn from the great minds at Howard University and see what they'll bring to the Department of the Air Force," said Chief Scientist of the Air Force **Dr. Victoria Coleman**. "Their motto is 'Excellence in Truth and Service' and I know we will see that excellence in their scientific research and development work."

The Department of the Air Force, along with the **Air Force Research Laboratory**, is partnering with Howard University in order to:

Establish and maintain essential research and development capabilities for the Department of the Air Force to deliver operationally relevant autonomy.
 Advance the field of autonomy by focusing on the **secretary of the Air Force's Operational Imperatives**.
 Generate robust research and development efforts with historically black colleges and universities that is expected to build institutional research capacity to a research classification of "very-high-research activity" in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
 Grow and diversify the available pool of scientists and engineers to support the Defense Department and establish a source of organic technical excellence.
 Seed a unique science, research, and development ecosystem of small and large businesses, academia and the Department of Defense.FS 



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