HAFB Seeks Ideas from University Engineering Students at WSU Event
OGDEN, Utah – Hill Air Force Base is looking for help from students at top engineering schools in the west to get fresh ideas for difficult challenges. Weber State will host the launch of the capstone initiative at an informational event, with opening remarks from President Brad Mortensen, on March 31 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Advanced Research & Solutions Center (633 Falcon Hills Dr., Clearfield, Utah).
Hill Air Force Base will have representatives from each of its engineering organizations present potential projects, stemming from real Air Force needs, to advisers at Weber State, Utah State University, University of Utah, Brigham Young University, University of Nevada, Las Vegas and Arizona State University.
“Hill Air Force Base is excited to participate in the Capstone Ideation session in providing student-level challenges,” said Col. Michael Warner, Air Force Sustainment Center Engineering Directorate Hill Operating Location.“It’s a great opportunity for students to engage in meaningful challenges, to interact with Hill personnel on a professional level and to get a glimpse of how rewarding working for the government can be. WSU is a great teammate, and we’re glad to have had the chance to partner with them for this event.”
The goal is for the universities to have undergraduate and graduate students use the challenges as their capstone or senior projects. The students will get real-world experience and the Air Force will get top minds looking for new and innovative solutions. Seniors are required to complete capstone projects before graduation.
“I'm excited about hosting this event and the potential to help to facilitate both the Air Force projects that need addressing and student learning,” said David Ferro, dean of Weber State’s College of Engineering Applied Science & Technology. “Multiple students will address applied research opportunities that can contribute directly to our national defense. It will be great.”
Challenges will come from a wide array of areas, everything from ground transportation needs to what flies in space. Student teams will tackle engineering for avionics, software development, materials, and prototyping modern warfighting systems.
Hill Air Force Base has the capacity to hire every engineering graduate from schools in Utah in the next 10 years.
“University students and faculty working on problems generated from Hill Air Force Base is a win, win, win,” said President Mortensen. “It is a win for students because they will engage in meaningful problems and interact with HAFB personnel. It is a win for HAFB because they will have some brilliant students and faculty working on problems, which will allow them to interact with students who may be part of the future workforce at HAFB. It is a win for the community because it allows the opportunity for innovation to be generated that could be the start for future startup companies.”
Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
Allison Barlow Hess, Public Relations director
801-626-7948 • ahess@weber.edu- Contact:
Allison Barlow Hess, Public Relations director
801-626-7948 • ahess@weber.edu