United States Air Force Academy

Go to home page

Research Centers

Curiosity, problem solving, and team work are integral to the United States Air Force Academy’s culture of learning as our future officers prepare to solve complex problems in the sky, space, and cyberspace. As such, we are all researchers here. Each year, over 450 students participate in the Cadet Summer Research Program across a multitude of states and countries in collaboration with government and private entities such as Google, Tesla, Amazon, the Air Force Research Lab, the Institute of Political Journalism and Communications, as well as the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force.

Across 24 research centers and institutes, our students have unparalleled opportunities and resources to conduct research that impacts national defense and society at large. Through the Air Force Technology, Transfer, and Transition program (T3), our cadets benefit from the sharing of knowledge, expertise, equipment and testing facilities through the Department of Defense and its research partners.

  • Air
    • Aeronautics Research Center (ARC)
    • Hypersonic Vehicle Simulation Institute (HVSI)
    • Center for Aircraft Structural Life Extension (CAStLE)
  • Warfighter Support
    • Center for Character & Leadership Development (CCLD)
    • Life Sciences Research Center (LSRC)
    • Chemistry Research Center (CRC)
    • Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Research (ACUASR)
    • Warfighter Effectiveness Research Center (WERC)
    • Warfighter’s Edge Advanced Development Lab (WEdge)
  • Space
    • Astronomical Research Group and Observatory (ARGO)
    • Center for Space Situational Awareness Research (CSSAR)
    • Laser and Optics Research Center (LORC)
    • Space Systems Research Center (SSRC)
    • Space Physics and Atmospheric Research Center (SPARC)
  • Cyber
    • Academy Center for Cyberspace Research (ACCR)
    • Air Force CyberWorx
    • High Performance Computing Research Center (HPCRC)
    • Institute for Information Technology Application (IITA)
  • Readiness
    • Center for Physics Education Research (CPER)
    • Human Performance Lab (HPL)
    • Office of Labor and Economic Analysis (OLEA)
    • Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)
  • Strategic Studies
    • Eisenhower Center for Space and Defense Studies
    • Institute for Future Conflict (IFC)
    • Institute for National Security Studies (INSS)
    • Nuclear Enterprise Research Center (NERC)
    • The Strategy and Warfare Center (SWC)
    • Law, Technology, & Warfare Research Cell