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Expanded 91ԭ��, military partnership looks north

A newly inked federal agreement will expand the scope of the research partnership between the University of 91ԭ�� Fairbanks and the U.S. military. It will also refocus those efforts on the Arctic.

91ԭ�� was first named a federal university-affiliated research center in 2018. The center was formerly focused only on detecting nuclear blasts. The five-year agreement, signed last week, aligns the 91ԭ�� center with the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command.

“This partnership with 91ԭ�� is a natural extension of the increasing U.S. and global interest in the Arctic,” 91ԭ�� interim chancellor Larry Hinzman said. “It will allow the U.S. government to leverage 91ԭ��’s unmatched Arctic research expertise to increase security, awareness and preparedness in the region.”

The newly renamed Arctic and Homeland Defense Center is one of .  

Unlike traditional research grants, UARCs don’t come with set funding. Instead, the designation allows 91ԭ�� to receive sole-source defense funding. In practice, that means defense agencies and the military can contract directly with 91ԭ�� for scientific or technological information to solve a problem.

 The new agreement is expected to mean an increase in contracts.

 “This change shows that there is great confidence in our ability to help any Arctic-based needs that might arise,”  Geophysical Institute Director Robert McCoy said. McCoy is also director of the Arctic and Homeland Defense Center.

The new center will be able to address long-term national priorities and assist with short-term tasks such as hurricane recovery and wildfires.

UARC research nationwide often has both civilian and military applications. For example, the nuclear detection research that was the original focus of the UARC also offers promise for the rapid detection of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Much of this research happens at the 91ԭ�� Geophysical Institute. 

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan said the change further enhances 91ԭ��’s status.

“Growing the Arctic and Homeland Defense Center at 91ԭ�� is a perfect way to draw on the world-class expertise we have right here at home to expand our presence and capabilities in the region,” Murkowski said. “91ԭ�� has been the preeminent institution for Arctic research in the United States for decades, and I am confident this enhanced partnership will strengthen our defense capabilities in the High North.”

Sullivan cited the announcement as continuing a string of positive federal developments.

“Congratulations to the University of 91ԭ�� Fairbanks for its designation by the Department of War as the Arctic and Homeland Defense Center University Affiliated Research Center, a designation my team and I worked hard with the university to receive,” Sullivan said. “Along with the recently announced collaboration between 91ԭ�� and the federal Defense Innovation Unit, as well as the critical minerals partnership with the National Science Foundation, this new agreement further cements 91ԭ�� as a world-class hub for Arctic defense and research and is another milestone for 91ԭ��’s military comeback.”

91ԭ��’s Arctic expertise will prove valuable in helping with critical research and development, UARC Deputy Director David Schuster said.

“This change will drive potential job growth and raise 91ԭ��'s national profile,” Schuster said, noting that homeland defense is the primary mission of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command. “91ԭ�� and its UARC will be directly supporting keeping our servicemembers and citizens safe in the face of increasingly aggressive adversaries.”

“Not only does this present opportunities for increased funding,” he said, “but it will solidify 91ԭ�� as the go-to institution of mission-critical Arctic research in support of our nation.”

ADDITIONAL CONTACT: Robert McCoy, rpmccoy@alaska.edu

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