The Air Force will spend the next year reevaluating its massive science and technology budget to determine whether the advances they’re making are relevant to their successors down the road, according to an article from Federal News Radio. The Air Force Research Laboratory reportedly spends about $2 billion annually conducting research with its own funds and another $3 billion carrying out projects for other agencies. The National Academy of Science and the National Academy of Engineering will weigh in on the project. The review was reportedly motivated by concern that the Air Force was losing technological ground to potentially hostile nations.
According to the article, new Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson wants the study to examine the potential for more university-based research. Ellen Pawlikowski, the commander of Air Force Materiel Command, adds that research conducted with universities will involve the next generation of scientists and engineers and gives the country “more talented STEM graduates.” The ultimate objective of the study, according to Federal News Radio, is to ensure that the Air Force is the “sponsor of choice” for research, regardless of the professional affiliation.
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