Tuskegee University, the only HBCU that provides on-campus ROTC for all military services, is set to receive $5.29 million in federal funding for its new Aviation and Aero Technology Program.
The endowment has largely been made possible through the continued efforts of U.S. Senator Katie Britt. A member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Britt (R-Montgomery) recently advanced the funding in the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.
“From the Tuskegee Airmen to Tuskegee University’s new, 21st-century flight school degree program, Tuskegee has cemented itself as the past, present, and future of aviation excellence and innovation,” said Britt. “Tuskegee’s degree program will empower generations of students to reach new heights while showing the world the cutting-edge ingenuity and exemplary capability of our state. To ensure this program can reach even more students, I was proud to secure an additional federal investment of $5.29 million in the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations legislation.”
“I’ll continue to work to get this important funding over the finish line.”
Proud to have advanced $5.29 million for @TuskegeeUniv's Aviation and Aero Technology Program. I’ll continue working to get this funding over the finish line—ensuring this program reaches more students and empowers future generations to reach new heights.https://t.co/LKUeQzQ8Da pic.twitter.com/g6GvPwAHY8
— Senator Katie Boyd Britt (@SenKatieBritt) August 27, 2024
The main goal of the program is to grow the pool of pilots throughout the country to offset a projected sharp decline in the coming years.
RELATED: Sen. Britt visits Tuskegee University after securing $6.7 million for flight school program
“Tuskegee University is grateful for Sen. Britt’s ongoing support for our aviation program,” Dr. Mark A. Brown, President and CEO, stated. “As North America faces a pilot shortage of about 130,000 in the next 20 years, our new degree program will prepare aviators to serve their country through the U.S. Air Force or the commercial aviation industry, which is in need of rebuilding pilot programs to meet the demand.”
“With our recent SACSCOC accreditation approval of the Aviation Science degree with flight training and Sen. Britt’s help, we will once again – as the Tuskegee Airmen did for World War II – help the nation solve its challenge.”
The FY25 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act now awaits consideration by the full Senate. Additionally, Britt previously secured federal funding in Fiscal Year 2024 to help Tuskegee launch the program.
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten
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