Howard University Receives $90 Million to Create Research Center
In January 2023, the Pentagon announced that HBCU Howard University would be awarded a $90 million contract to develop a research center. Howard University is the first-ever HBCU to sign this type of military contract.
“To sharpen America’s technological edge and to strengthen America’s outstanding military, the department is committed to investing even more in HBCUs and minority-serving institutions,” said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, the first Black secretary of defense (The Dig).
With the partnership, Howard University will receive funding in increments of $18 million over five years.
“The funds will primarily go to establishing and maintaining engineering, research, or development capability in the field of tactical autonomy in support of critical Department of the Air Force and Department of Defense missions” (BlackNews.com).
In addition, the partnership will support Howard’s STEM programs, which aim to help diversify scientists and engineers working in the Defense Department. Howard University will also create STEM programs for K-12 in which they’ll host in-school demonstrations to inspire them to pursue career industries like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cybersecurity.
Howard University will serve as the 15th University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) to receive funding from the Air Force.
“Being awarded this contract is a historic and tremendous accomplishment for Howard University. No other UARCs are providing this type of research to the Department of Defense at present, and Howard researchers are uniquely positioned to serve as a leader in the nation’s innovation and application of automated systems,” said Howard University President Wayne A.I. Frederick, M.D., MBA, according to The Dig.
“This UARC will be critical in our efforts to continue to recruit, mentor and graduate students who are prepared for high-paying jobs in the future. For decades Howard has produced highly skilled, highly credentialed STEM professionals and the support of the Department of Defense and the Air Force will allow us to do at a higher level than ever before,” Danda Rawat, PhD, professor of computer science and director of Howard’s Data Science and Cybersecurity Center told The Dig. Rawat will be the executive director of UARC and principal investigator of Howard’s contract.