Florida Tech, Air Force Air Combat Command Sign Research Agreement

MELBOURNE, FLA. — Florida Tech and the Air Force Air Combat Command (ACC) recently entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement.

Leaders from ACC and Florida Tech held a ceremonial signing of the agreement, known as a CRADA, this month at the Melbourne university. A CRADA is a government contract allowing for research and development collaboration between federal laboratories and non-federal entities to provide quick exchanges of research that can be leveraged by both parties to yield powerful, scientific results.

The goal of the collaboration, led by Anthony Smith, director of the Information Characterization & Exploitation Lab at Florida Tech’s Department of Computer Engineering and Sciences, is to research scientific, technical and operational capabilities of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) under various configurations and information assurance scenarios applicable to the Air Force mission.

“There is a great opportunity here to do something different, to make a difference,” said

Josef Allen, a Florida Tech alumnus who serves as tech director for Air Combat Command Intel Data/Tech Futures Division.

Cristina Stone, division chief at the Intel Data/Tech Futures Division and one of three signatories on the CRADA, thanked Florida Tech for partnering “on this very important effort.”

Gisele Bennett, Florida Tech’s senior vice president for research, and John Matyjas, chief scientist at Air Combat Command, also signed the agreement.

Bennett said she is excited about the educational opportunities the CRADA will provide for Florida Tech students.

“This is a win-win for both organizations,” she said.

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