Agreement with Robins Air Force Base opens opportunities for collaboration

Auburn University and Robins Air Force Base (RAFB), located in Warner Robins, Georgia, have officially entered into an educational partnership agreement, commemorated with a signing ceremony Tuesday in the Brown-Kopel Center. The agreement strengthens the university’s relationship with the base, opening opportunities for collaborations across common strategic research areas with faculty and students in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering.

The partnership brings benefits to both RAFB and Auburn Engineering. It will help RAFB to cultivate, recruit and diversify the Air Force workforce, help to develop new technology by engaging with faculty and students, and increase the potential for transfer and commercialization of Air Force technology. In return, Auburn Engineering will gain access to valuable scientific equipment and qualified Air Force scientists and engineers as mentors to students, for collaboration on research and projects and open doors for future career opportunities for students. 

“At a very high level, Auburn’s strategic research areas for engineering are well-aligned with Robins Air Force Base key initiatives in areas that include advanced manufacturing and materials, infrastructure and transportation, cybersecurity and intelligent systems, energy and environment, aerospace engineering and biomedical and health systems engineering,” said James Weyhenmeyer, Auburn’s vice president for research and economic development. “Auburn is truly honored to be joining in this agreement with Robins Air Force Base. This educational partnership agreement is something we believe will be a great benefit to the institution and we hope it will be a great benefit to Robins Air Force Base, as well.”

As Georgia’s largest single-site industrial complex, RAFB is home to 54 mission partners, covering five major commands and three wings, with a workforce of more than 23,000 to support the nation’s defense. Of that workforce, a significant portion are civilian scientists and engineers.

“The Air Force hires every type of engineer that Auburn produces today. This educational partnership agreement opens the door for those opportunities across the Air Force, not just at Robins Air Force Base,” said Wayne Ayer, ’88 aerospace engineering, associate director of engineering and technical management at RAFB. “For the Air Force, collaborating with students and faculty on projects often brings a new perspective to solving the problems that we’re trying to address and we look forward to those kinds of engagements.”