On Wednesday, Dec. 1, North Carolina A&T University will join the Space Force university partnership program (UPP). According to A&T, the nation’s largest historically Black university is set to become the first North Carolina university in the 11-member UPP cohort.

The UPP is a consortium that helps meet the responsibilities of the U.S. Space Force, which monitors the 26,000 objects circling the globe.

During the virtual signing event, N.C. A&T Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr. and Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. David D. Thompson will sign a Memorandum of Understanding.  Joel B. Mozer, Ph.D., chief scientist of the Space Force Space Operations Command, will lead a virtual session with A&T researchers after the signing. Virtual ceremony via Zoom: https://ncat.zoom.us/j/96227206798

In the fall of 2020, Gen. Thompson and Maj. Romeo White, a 2008 A&T graduate, and other Space Force personnel, visited A&T’s campus to meet Chancellor Martin, college deans, faculty, staff, and ROTC cadets. According to A&T Research And Economic Development News, the chancellor provided an overview of the accomplishments of the land-grant institution.

In 2020 alone, A&T received $61 million in research funding, secured six patents, established four research centers of excellence, as well as partnerships with Verizon, IBM, Cree, and the National Security Agency. The results of recent analysis show A&T has a nearly $1.5 billion economic impact across the state of North Carolina.

As a member of the consortium, A&T will be able to provide expanded research opportunities for students and faculty in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, and create a pipeline for students to pursue aerospace careers, said Stephanie Luster-Teasley, Ph.D., interim vice provost for undergraduate education. A&T is a land-grant, doctoral university, classified as “high research” by the Carnegie Foundation and a constituent member of the University of North Carolina System.