Academy named top-spending undergrad-only research institution

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U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  The Air Force Academy spent more on research than any other undergraduate-only institution in the United States, according to the National Science Foundation's Fiscal Year 2011 Higher Education Research and Development survey, released Nov. 28.

The survey reviewed more than 900 schools, ranking the Academy as No. 168 among schools with graduate and undergraduate research programs.

The Air Force Academy research program has grown considerably throughout the past dozen years, from about $10 million in federal and non-federal funding in FY 2001 to $58.2 million in FY 2012.

The Academy's research program model is unique to the Air Force and Defense Department, said Col. Robert Kraus, the Academy's chief scientist and research director.

The Academy has benefited from both external and internal support, cooperative research and development agreements with private industry and technology transfer successes such as royalties and patents, Kraus said.

"We provide efficient, less expensive, yet cutting-edge and scientifically reliable research results to our customers," Kraus said. "We have created a fiscally intelligent avenue for private industries and other Air Force organizations to obtain top-notch research results and solutions for real-world problems."

As part of this effort, the Academy sends nearly 200 cadets annually to Cadet Summer Research Program research projects. Examples of these projects include cooperative work with Intel Corporation on emerging technologies and innovations, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research programs and NASA projects. The partners pay for the cost of a temporary duty assignment for cadets for three to five weeks and many cadets continue to work for these organizations during their senior year as either capstone projects or independent studies.

"Our research program also allows our faculty to be involved in emerging research topics and help keep them developing as scientists, researchers, and educators," Kraus said.

Newer programs like the Center for K-12 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Outreach and Research have broad support both financially, from the National Defense Education Program, and from faculty and cadets who volunteer hundreds of hours annually to support the Academy's STEM outreach efforts. With more than $250,000 annually invested into STEM efforts, the Academy is leading the way to fostering and leveraging the varied STEM organizations, programs and opportunities in the Pikes Peak region, Kraus said.

As the research program matures, more people are hearing about the great quality of research being produced at the Academy, and more alumni are hearing about the great research programs, Kraus said. The Academy has conducted research since its founding and anticipates a strong research program for a long time to come.

The 2012 Air Force Academy Research Report is available online at: http://www.usafa.edu/df/dfe/dfer/docs/2012_InteractiveJournal/2012DFERReport.html.