Purdue University
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Purdue Assists AFRL in Building National Security

March 16, 2022
The school will help develop a science and technology ecosystem expected to extend across 15 states, more than a dozen academies, and 50 industrial members in the pursuit of enhanced national security.

Purdue University has been selected by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) as a lead academic partner and headquarters for the AFRL Regional Research Hub—Midwest. Located in West Lafayette, IN, the school will help develop a science and technology ecosystem expected to extend across 15 states, more than a dozen academies, and 50 industrial members in the pursuit of enhanced national security. This Midwest hub joins Cornell University as the lead academic partner of the AFRL Regional Research Hub—Mid-Atlantic, with connectivity between the two hubs designed to encourage research efforts and the success of results. The pilot initiative between the two hubs is funded for at least three years.

The schools will lead the pursuit of technologies that can benefit both commercial and defense markets. By supporting innovative research and working closely with AFRL and industrial partners, it is hoped that collaborative efforts will lead to improved national defense as well as investment opportunities for industrial members.

Purdue’s unique laboratories (see the figure) and recent research efforts have the university an attractive academic base for the AFRL. As Theresa Mayer, executive vice-president for research and partnerships at Purdue explains: “Purdue is increasingly working hand-in-hand with government, academic, and industry leaders to develop technologies, materials, and solutions necessary to advance U. S. national security and competitiveness. We are eager to leverage those connections and our unique facilities and capabilities to drive technological innovation with AFRL.” Technology areas well established at Purdue include materials, microelectronics, and hypersonics and space systems technologies, all of interest to defense researchers.

About the Author

Jack Browne | Technical Contributor

Jack Browne, Technical Contributor, has worked in technical publishing for over 30 years. He managed the content and production of three technical journals while at the American Institute of Physics, including Medical Physics and the Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology. He has been a Publisher and Editor for Penton Media, started the firm’s Wireless Symposium & Exhibition trade show in 1993, and currently serves as Technical Contributor for that company's Microwaves & RF magazine. Browne, who holds a BS in Mathematics from City College of New York and BA degrees in English and Philosophy from Fordham University, is a member of the IEEE.

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