University of South Florida (USF) is partnering with Amazon Web Services (AWS) for launching the new Secure Research Environment. This makes the USF the first university in Florida that will have this cloud computing platform. The purpose of this new system is to enable USF to become a leader in national security innovation by providing it with the latest technologies in digital engineering, modeling, simulation, and high-performance computing which can be used to address mission-critical defense problems. This infrastructure will enhance USF’s competitiveness for U.S. Department of War-funded research and support its ongoing contracts with the U.S. Special Operations Command and the Army Research Lab. Beyond accelerating technical breakthroughs, the initiative serves as a vital driver for workforce development by providing students with essential, hands-on experience in cloud computing and digital engineering tools currently in high demand across the defense sector.
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Emphasizing the urgency of the initiative, Kim Majerus, vice president of Global Education and Local Government at AWS, stated, “The pace of global threats isn’t slowing down and neither can the pace of innovation. With its proximity to SOCOM, established Army Research Lab partnerships and a commitment to preparing the next generation of technical leaders, USF is building an enduring engine of defense innovation and AWS is proud to power the secure cloud infrastructure behind it.” Underscoring the broader impact, Taylor Johnston, CEO of the USF Institute of Applied Engineering, added, “America’s strategic advantage depends on how quickly we can transform research and ideas into operational capability. By working with AWS, USF has the opportunity to build one of the nation’s leading secure research ecosystems – accelerating defense innovation, preparing the next generation of technical leaders and strengthening both Florida’s economy and our national security. This partnership is about creating enduring capability for the country, not simply advancing technology.”
