By Tina Meketa, University Communications and Marketing
The ±«Óătv has signed two of its largest defense contracts with U.S. Special Operations Command and U.S. Central Command – both headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base.
The ±«Óătv Institute of Applied Engineering is leading a $3.8 million project that brings together interdisciplinary faculty experts from across the university – assisting the U.S. Department of Defense in developing a roadmap to enhance its combat capabilities over the next 5-10 years.
Peter Jorgensen, IAE director of engineering
Director of Engineering Peter Jorgensen is working closely with colleagues in the
College of Engineering, Muma College of Business, Global and National Security Institute
and others, focusing on the many facets of warfare, including its relation to supply
chain management, national security and policy.
“The Institute of Applied Engineering is able to leverage intellectual capital from
academia, government and industry in order to provide the most well-rounded, independent
analysis and range of solutions for our governmental partners,” Jorgensen said. “We
take pride in being that independent voice to bring the best solution to the warfighter.”
Photo courtesy: Sam Tromly, IAE
This contract is one of nearly 70 projects produced for SOCOM since its $85 million
contract was signed in 2020. Now entering its final year, the roadmap project is the
largest to be fully led by ±«Óătv researchers. Other high-profile projects have included
faculty from other universities and agencies, such as a study on brain injuries in Special Operations Forces and the creation of the .
±«Óătv has also launched its most significant partnership with the 6th Air Refueling
Wing and CENTCOM’s J-8 Directorate, which develops strategies for the combatant command.
This is part of a series of four similar projects worth more than $1 million that
look to leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to develop
indexes that are based on political, economic and environmental factors in the Middle
East. In addition to the Global and National Security Institute and Muma College of
Business, this project will also utilize multidisciplinary resources from the College
of Arts and Sciences and the ±«Óătv Libraries, which will conduct literature reviews
to help build the indexes using data, structure and formulas.
Photo courtesy: MacDill Air Force Base
IAE engineers and ±«Óătv students at a NASA testing facility in California
“The CENTCOM partnership in the area of human dynamics and strategic influence offers an exciting opportunity to engage in cross-disciplinary research and scholarship that educates future leaders and develops the next generation of security professionals to help build a safer world,” said Randy Larsen, associate dean in the ±«Óătv College of Arts and Science’s Office of Research and Scholarship.
The SOCOM contract has been so successful, the IAE has increased its engineering staff
by 25%, growing from 21 researchers to 27 over the last three years – helping Tampa
Bay retain its technical expertise. ±«Óătv students are actively involved in many of
its cutting-edge research projects, obtaining internships with security clearance,
many of which have turned into full-time jobs.
±«Óătv also recently joined the NATO Communications and Information Agency – which oversees
NATO’s technology and cyber expertise. As the international agency continues to enhance
its technological capabilities and services, it will leverage ±«Óătv’s talent and leadership
in solving global challenges. The university will also participate in the NCIA annual
conference, which is scheduled to be hosted in Tampa this December.