Presented to:

Presented by:

Date:

Federal Aviation FAA Air Transportation Administration

Center of Excellence 

(COEs)

FAA COE Overview

Government/Academic/Industry 

Strategic Partnerships 

REDAC Subcommittee

Patricia Watts, Program Director

FAA Centers of Excellence

March 27, 2018
Federal Aviation

Administration

Agenda

FAA Centers of Excellence (COE) – Overview

• COE Mission

• Funding Vehicle Options

• Grants Legislation

• Geographic Equity

• Evaluation/Selection Process

• Requirements

• FAA COE Benefits

Administrator, Michael Huerta honors University of Texas 

Medical Students, FAA Headquarters, Washington, DC 

COE Overview
Federal Aviation

Administration

COE Mission

• Capture qualities of academic research:

 Outreach

 Flexibility

 Innovation

 Education

 Tech Transfer

• Promote the growth of a scientifically and technologically trained US workforce 

(Commission on the Future of the US Aerospace Industry)

• Augment internal resources and research facilities through long-term 

public / private partnerships and matching contributions

• Enhance access to university research 

capabilities and products by awarding single 

and multiyear research grants and contracts 

to colleges, universities and affiliate 

organizations in multidisciplinary aviation/ 

aerospace related disciplines

Dennis Filler, FAA Technical Center Director, 

introduces Secretary’s RAISE Recipient, MIT Student, 

Kyle Smith, to FAA Hdq Senior Technical Staff

COE Overview
Federal Aviation

Administration

FAA Funding Vehicle Options

▪ Contracts and Other Agreements –

for Federal Purpose

▪ Individual Contracts

▪ Interagency Agreements 

▪ Other Agreements / OTAs

~~~

▪ Grants – for Public Purpose

▪ Airport Improvement Grants

▪ Aviation Research Grants 

▪ Centers of Excellence (COE)

Secretary of Transportation, Anthony Foxx

presents RAISE Award to MIT doctoral student, Kyle 

Smith

COE Overview
Federal Aviation

Administration

U.S. DOT ‘Grants’ Legislation

DOT: 90 - 100 Grants Programs 

University Centers -

1. OST-R – UTCs

University Transportation Centers

2. FAA COEs

Air Transportation Centers of Excellence

Enacted to award grants to enhance FAA’s access to resources 

and research facilities available at colleges, universities, and 

other non-profit research institutions, train and educate future 

professionals. 

COE Overview

Secretary Anthony Fox presents RAISE Award during 

meeting at DOT Hdq.
Federal Aviation

Administration

COE Legislative Authority – P.L. 101-508

“The Administrator may make grants to one or more colleges or universities to establish and operate 

several regional centers of air transportation excellence, whose locations shall be geographically 

equitable. The responsibilities of each regional center shall include, but not be limited to, the 

conduct of research concerning airspace and airport planning and design, the air transportation 

environment, aviation safety and security, the supply of trained air transportation personnel 

including pilots and mechanics, and other aviation issues pertinent to developing and maintaining a 

safe and efficient air transportation system....each center may make contracts with nonprofit 

research organizations and other appropriate persons....”

Omnibus Budget

Reconciliation Act of 1990

Public Law 101-508

Title IX – Aviation Safety

and Capacity Expansion Act

COE Overview
Federal Aviation

Administration

REDAC Authority – P.L. 101-508

COE Overview

•Follows COE Authority 
Federal Aviation

Administration

COE Evaluation/Selection Process

Center of Excellence

Program Office

Administrator with 

Secretary of 

Transportation

Technical Evaluation 

Team Lead

Management/

Fiscal Review

Team Lead

Rating byTechnical

Evaluation Team

Technical Evaluation

 Solicitation vs. Proposal

 Benefits/Costs

 Selection Criteria

Non-technical Review

 Costs

 Matching Plans

 Management Plan

 Self Sufficiency

COE Overview
Federal Aviation

Administration

COE Core Teams - Geographic Distribution

Alternative Jet Fuels

& Environment (ASCENT)

Washington State Un. (Lead)

MIT(Co-Lead)

Boston Un.

Georgia Institute of Technology

Missouri Un. of Science & Technology

Oregon State Un.

Pennsylvania State Un.

Purdue Un.

Stanford Un.

Un. of Dayton

Un. of Hawaii

Un. of Illinois – UC

Un. of North Carolina – CH

Un. of Pennsylvania

Un. of Tennessee

Un. of Washington

Commercial Space 

Transportation(CST)

Un. of Texas Medical Branch

(Admin Lead)

Baylor Un. School of Medicine

Florida State Un.

Florida Institute of Technology

NM Inst. of Mining & Technology

New Mexico State Un.

Stanford Un.

Un. of Florida

Un. of Central Florida

Un. of Colorado – Boulder

Advanced Materials

(JAMS)

Un. of Washington (Co-Lead)

Wichita State Un. (Co-Lead)

Edmonds Community College

Florida International Un.

Northwestern Un.

Purdue Un.

Oregon State Un.

Tuskegee Un.

Un. of California – LA

Un. of Delaware

Un. of Utah

Washington State Un.

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (ASSURE)

Mississippi State Un. (Lead)

Drexel Un.

Embry Riddle Aeronautical 

Un.

Kansas State Un.

Montana State Un.

New Mexico State Un.

North Carolina State 

Un.

Oregon State Un.

The Ohio State Un.

Wichita State Un.

Un. of Alabama in 

Huntsville

Un. of Alaska Fairbanks

Un. of California, Davis

Un. of Kansas

Un. of North Dakota

General Aviation (PEGASAS)

Iowa State Un.

Ohio State Un.

Texas A & M Un.

Purdue Un. (Lead)

Florida Institute of Technology

Georgia Institute of Technology

Technical Training & 

Human Performance 

(TTHP)

Un. of Oklahoma & ERAU Teams 

– Announced August 12, 2016 

Auburn Un.

Drexel Univ.

Inter American Un.

Oklahoma State Un.

Purdue un.

Tennessee State Un.

The Ohio State Un.

Tulsa Community College

Un. Of Akron

Un. Of Nebraska at Omaha

Un. Of North Dakota

Un. Of Wisconsin-Madison

Western Michigan Un.

Wichita State Un.

COE Overview
Federal Aviation

Administration

FAA COE Sponsors - Funding Levels

10

Year Center of Excellence (Topic Areas) Sponsor LOE

2016 - 2021 Technical Training and Human Performance – Aug 12, 2016 ATO $13 M

2015 - 2020 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) - May 8, 2015 AFS/ANG / HQ $24 M

2013 - 2023 Alternative Jet Fuels & Environment (AJF&E) – Phase I AEE / HQ $78 M

2012 - 2022 General Aviation Safety (PEGASAS) – Phase I ANG / TC $30 M

2010 - 2020 Commercial Space Transportation (CST) > Phase II AST / HQ $20 M

2004 - present Research in the Intermodal Transport Environment (ACERite) AAM / HQ $49 M

2004 - present Joint COE Advanced Materials (JAMS) ANG / TC $70 M

2003 - present Aircraft Noise and Emissions Mitigation * (PARTNER) AEE /HQ $112 M

2001 - 2014 General Aviation * (CGAR) ANG / TC $39 M

1997 - 2007 Airworthiness Assurance * (AACE) AAR/ANG / TC $124 M

1996 – (2007) Operations Research * (NEXTOR) ARA / HQ $45 M

1995 - (2013) Airport Technology (CEAT) AAR/AIP / TC $42 M

1992 - 1996 Computational Modeling of Aircraft Structures (CMAS) AAR / TC $10 M 

NOTE: Figures includes Grants & Matching Contributions; Interagency Agreements and * Contracts Total $647 M

COE Overview
Federal Aviation

Administration

FAA and COE Requirements

> The FAA: 

~ Administrator concurs with a Sponsor’s request to establish a COE 

and is the selecting official with the Secretary of Transportation 

~ COE Program Office conducts a 1-yr competitive process 

~ Sponsor makes a long-term commitment to provide annual base funding 

and to support the COE for a period of 5 – 10 years

> The COE UNIVERSITIES: 

~ Generate 1:1 matching contributions from non-federal sources while 

engaging industry and other affiliates

~ Make long-term commitments to provide: facilities, faculty & students 

~ Assure management & SME oversight, coordinate activities, avoid

duplication of effort

> FAA & COE TEAM: Assure Geographic equity re funding and 

partner locations; maximize synergies throughout COE members

COE Overview
Federal Aviation

Administration

What’s New at DOT – OST ?

• Secretary’s RAISE Award

– ST Advisory Committee Recommended and the 

Secretary Establish the Award to: Recognize 

Aviation and aerospace Innovative Scientific and 

Engineering concepts and achievements that could 

have a significant impact on the future

– Established in 2013 

– Moved Responsibility for the to the COE Program 

Office from OST in 2016

– 2018 Announcement to be published.......

COE Overview
Federal Aviation

Administration

OST Review – Effective 2016

• OST Review Not Required

– No Cost Extensions for projects previously funded

– Personnel changes

– Redirection of funds during closeout

• OST Review Required Prior to Execution

– ALL long-term cooperative agreements

– ALL COE grant awards

COE Overview
Federal Aviation

Administration

Center of Excellence Benefits

▪ Promote academic, government & industry scientific 

networks prepared to enhance the safety, security & 

efficiency of the national airspace system

▪ Augment government resources ($:$) and leverage 

funds through flexible and responsive public/private 

partnerships

▪ Expand the U.S. math & science pipeline, support 

STEM goals, and facilitate aerospace recruitment 

opportunities

▪ Provide a formal strategy & trusted structure to 

coordinate a national research agenda and related 

education, and training

▪ Advance U.S. technology and expertise while 

satisfying Congressional mandates

“The nation must immediately reverse the decline in and promote the growth of a 

scientifically and technologically trained U.S. aerospace workforce.”

Final Report of the Commission on the Future of the United States Aerospace Industry

Congressman Oberstar meets with COE Students & Faculty 

at TRB Council of University Transportation Centers Awards 

Ceremony celebrating the Outstanding Students of the Year

COE Overview
Federal Aviation

Administration

Q&A

COE Overview

Administrator, Jane Garvey, with 

Congressman john Mica,

COE GA Dedication, Washington DC
Federal Aviation

Administration

COE University Members Auburn University

Boise State University

Boston University

Drexel University

Edmonds Community College

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Florida Institute of Technology

Florida International University

Florida State University

Georgia Institute of Technology

Harvard University

Inter American University

Iowa State University

Kansas State University

Mississippi State University

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mississippi State University

Montana State University

New Mexico Inst. of Mining & Tech

New Mexico State University

North Carolina State University

Northwestern University

Oklahoma State University 

Oregon State University

Pennsylvania State University

Purdue University

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Stanford University

Tennessee State University 

Texas A&M University

The Ohio State University

John Porcari

Deputy Sec. of Transportation 

Chelsea He, MIT

COE for Noise & Emissions

COE Overview

Stanford Student Rachel Tompa, 

COE for Commercial Space 

Transportation

Sec. Mineta and Dorothy Reimold, AST 
Federal Aviation

Administration

COE University Members (continued)

Tulsa Community College

Tuskegee University

University of Akron

University of Alabama at Huntsville

University of Alaska at Anchorage

University of Alaska at Fairbanks

University of California at Los Angeles

University of California at Davis

University of Central Florida

University of Colorado at Boulder

University of Delaware

University of Florida

University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

Un. of Medicine & Dentistry of NJ

University of Missouri at Rolla

University of Nebraska-Omaha

University of North Dakota

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of Oklahoma

University of Pennsylvania

University of Texas Medical Branch

University of Utah

University of Washington

University of Wisconsin

Washington State University

Western Michigan

Wichita State University

Phillip Donovan, UIUC 

COE for Airport Technology

DOT / FAA COE

Outstanding Student of the Yr

Gregory D. Winfree

Deputy Administrator, RITA w/

Bradley Cheetham, Un. of Colorado at 

Boulder

COE for Commercial Space Transportation

COE Overview
Federal Aviation

Administration

COE Non-Federal Co-Sponsors (1 of 2)

COE Overview
Federal Aviation

Administration

COE Non-Federal Co-Sponsors (2 of 2)

COE Overview
Federal Aviation

Administration

FAA Air Transportation

Contact:

Patricia Watts, Ph.D.

National Program Director

FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center, ANG-A12

Atlantic City International Airport, NJ 08405

Phone: (609) 485-5043

Email: patricia.watts@faa.gov

Website: http://www.faa.gov/go/coe

Centers of Excellence

Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater 

and University of Illinois student Bill Vavrik, 

DOT COE Outstanding Student of the Year

Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta, 

Chris Seher and Patricia Watts (FAA).

Scott Pipkins, George Donohue, Bruce Singer,

Virginia Shamy, Satya Atluri, Patricia Watts, Chris Seher

COE Overview