Admiral Christopher Grady, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the nationβs second highest-ranking military officer, visited the ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ Tuesday to learn more about its innovative research and alignment with U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) priorities.
The tour included visits with key ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ research centers, such as (IST), , and the Center of Excellence in Hypersonic and Space Propulsion (HyperSpace Center).
While Grady toured ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½βs defense-related research, his wife, Christine Grady, visited ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½βs Office of Military and Veteran Student Success; , a clinic dedicated to treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and met with ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ Army and Air Force ROTC cadets.
βThe visit from Admiral and Mrs. Grady underscores the vital role ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ plays in advancing national security and defense research, supporting critical DOD needs, and preparing the next generation of military leaders,β says Winston V. Schoenfeld, ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½βs vice president for research and innovation. βOver 30% of ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½βs federal funding has come from the DOD for more than a decade, positioning ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ as a national leader in delivering key innovations to the DOD.β
The Tour
Grady began his visit with a meeting alongside ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ President Alexander N. Cartwright, where they discussed ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½βs longstanding commitment to supporting the nationβs defense through cutting-edge research and workforce development.
While with CREOL, Admiral Grady received a briefing on directed energy research and its applications for DOD missions, particularly the capabilities of the Townes Institute for Science and Technology Experimentation Facility. The institute, located at Kennedy Space Center, supports multidisciplinary research with a focus on space science, optics and other advanced technologies.
At IST, ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ showcased the latest advancements in digital twin technology, such as real-time 3D digital twins of structures and areas, and artificial intelligence for DOD-decision making tools.
Gradyβs visit to the HyperSpace Center focused on the integration of students into the research process and the timeline for the hypersonic technology, which would allow air travel at speeds of up to 13,000 miles per hour (Mach 17).
Commitment to National Defense and Military Success
ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ is a national leader in supporting military and defense initiatives through education, research and industry partnerships.
ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½βs Office of Military and Veteran Student Success supports more than 3,200 military-connected students, including veterans, active-duty and dependents, by providing academic advising, transition assistance and tailored guidance.
ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ RESTORES offers innovative, no-cost PTSD treatment for veterans and first responders, with clinical trials achieving a 100% success rate in just 14 days for participants completing VR-assisted exposure therapy. The program has treated more than 500 veterans and 950 first responders, with the majority no longer meeting PTSD criteria.
ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ also boasts top-ranked ROTC programs, with the Army ROTC Fighting Knights Battalion and Air Force Detachment 159 preparing leaders for military and civilian careers. ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½βs AFROTC program, which has been developing officers for the Air Force and Space Force for more than 50 years, has earned the DODβs ROTC and Educational Institutional Partnership Excellence Award for multiple areas of excellence.
In research, ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½βs close ties to the defense industry are amplified through Central Florida Research Park, a $7 billion hub for modeling and simulation adjacent to ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½βs main campus, which is also home to six DOD headquarters. ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ also ranks No. 1 in Florida for VA certifications, is leading the nation in the number of cybersecurity championships, and is the top supplier of graduates to the aerospace and defense industries.
