Pentagon Teams With Howard University to Steer AI Center of Excellence

The U.S. Army has unveiled a new $7.5M center of excellence focused on artificial intelligence and machine learning research with Howard University to explore civilian applications and multidomain military operations.

According to the military branch, the center will focus on key AI applications for the Department of Defense, the technological foundation for trustworthy AI, and the infrastructure for AI research and development, Nextgov reported.

The Howard University Center of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning "is a big win for the Army and DOD on many fronts,” said Brian Sadler, senior scientist for intelligent systems at the Army Research Laboratory.

“The research is directly aligned with Army priorities and will address pressing problems in both developing and applying AI tools and techniques in several key applications.”

The collaborators plan to offer fellowships and scholarships for science, technology, engineering and math graduate students and research faculty.

The CoE will be led by computer science professor Danda Rawat, who also serves as director of Howard University's Data Science & Cybersecurity Center.

Rawat said the partnership includes collaboration with ARL on research and publications, mentoring, internships, research workshops and seminars, training and research exchange.

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a historically black private research university made up of 13 schools and colleges. It offers undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs in more than 120 areas.

“Diversity of science and diversity of the future of S&T talent base go hand in hand in this new and exciting partnership,” Sadler said.