Military Connections | Florida Tech

America's future depends on STEM. Florida Tech delivers.

For more than 65 years, Florida Institute of Technology has prepared the scientists, engineers, aviators, and innovators who help keep the United States technologically strong and nationally secure. Our graduates serve across the armed forces, aerospace and defense industries, and federal agencies where advanced technology and disciplined leadership are essential. Through rigorous STEM education, applied research and close collaboration with industry and government partners, Florida Tech continues to develop the talent and ideas that support America’s security, innovation, and economic strength.

Florida Tech believes that American leadership in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics is essential to the nation’s prosperity and security. We believe in supporting a strong national defense and the men and women who volunteer to serve. And we believe that universities have a responsibility to educate the engineers, scientists and leaders who help keep the country safe and technologically competitive.

Built for the Space Race and Beyond

Florida Tech was founded in 1958 during the race to space, when the United States was competing to secure technological leadership in a rapidly changing world. Established on Florida’s Space Coast to educate the engineers and scientists supporting America’s early space program, Florida Tech quickly became part of the region’s growing aerospace and defense ecosystem. The Space Race was about more than rockets—it was about national strength, technological superiority, and economic leadership. By helping educate the engineers behind those breakthroughs, Florida Tech contributed to the scientific foundation that helped secure America’s position as a global technological leader. Today, the university’s strengths in aerospace engineering, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, aviation, ocean engineering, and space systems continue that mission.

46

Military Generals
University alumni data (agg.)

17 Years

Military Friendly® Silver Recognition
militaryfriendly.com

12%

Military Affiliated Students
University enrollment data (2025)

Supporting Florida’s Defense Economy

Located on Florida’s Space Coast, Florida Institute of Technology operates at the center of one of the nation’s most important aerospace and defense corridors. Florida Tech helps supply the engineers, aviators, cybersecurity specialists, and technology leaders who power companies such as Northrop Grumman Corporation and L3Harris Technologies, as well as the many high-tech employers that support America’s defense and space missions across Florida. By aligning its academic programs with the workforce needs of the aerospace, defense, and advanced technology sectors, Florida Tech helps strengthen the state’s economy while supporting the mission-critical industries that keep the United States secure and globally competitive.

Educating Military Leaders of Today and Tomorrow

Florida Institute of Technology has a long tradition of educating the men and women who serve the United States in uniform. Through leadership development programs, flexible academic pathways, and a campus culture that respects service, Florida Tech helps prepare both current service members and future officers for the complex technological and strategic challenges facing today’s military.

Army ROTC

Florida Tech's Army ROTC program develops the next generation of commissioned officers while they complete rigorous STEM and professional degree programs. Cadets receive leadership training, physical preparation, and real-world problem-solving experience alongside their academic studies. This combination of technical education and leadership development prepares graduates to lead soldiers in increasingly technology-driven environments.

Coast Guard Auxiliary University Program

Students interested in maritime security and public service can participate in the Coast Guard Auxiliary University Program, which introduces students to Coast Guard missions such as maritime safety, environmental protection, and homeland security. The program allows students to gain leadership experience and practical training while contributing to the Coast Guard’s mission of protecting U.S. waterways and coastal communities.

Serving the Military Community

Florida Tech also supports active-duty personnel, veterans, and military families through dedicated academic programs and services. The university operates an education center at Patrick Space Force Base, making graduate education accessible to service members working in one of the nation’s most important defense and space installations. In addition, Florida Tech’s Military and Veteran Student Services office works closely with students who are currently serving or transitioning to civilian life, helping them navigate admissions, benefits, and academic planning.

Through flexible scheduling, highly-ranked online programs, and dedicated support staff, Florida Tech ensures that those who serve the nation have access to high-quality education that advances their careers and strengthens the country’s technological workforce.

Research That Strengthens National Defense

Researchers at Florida Institute of Technology are advancing technologies that help protect American service members and maintain the nation’s technological edge. Working with industry partners and agencies such as the United States Department of Defense, Florida Tech faculty and students conduct applied research in areas critical to modern defense, including space domain awareness, autonomous systems, artificial intelligence for mission-critical operations, cybersecurity and infrastructure resilience, human performance in extreme environments, and ocean engineering for maritime security.

Through competitive, collaborative research and development partnerships, such as those being championed by the Florida Tech Research Institute and the Vertex Applied Innovation Hub, Florida Tech contributes to the development of next-generation technologies that support national defense and strengthen America’s position as a global leader in science and engineering.

Federal Defense and Research Partnerships

Florida Tech researchers have conducted vital studies with and for:

Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC)
Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR)
Army Research Institute (ARI)
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)
Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)
Department of Defense – Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)
Department of Defense – Office of Naval Research (ONR)

Department of the Navy, Office of Force Resilience (formerly SAPRO)
Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)
Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD)
Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)
Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD)
Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC)
Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA)
Patrick Space Force Base

U.S. Air Force (AFWERX)
U.S. Air Force Academy
U.S. Army
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (USACE-ERDC)
U.S. Army Research Office (ARO)
U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCO

Alumni Serving the Nation

Graduates of Florida Tech serve across the United States military and throughout the nation’s aerospace and defense industries. Florida Tech alumni have held leadership roles in every branch of the U.S. armed forces, including the United States Army, United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, United States Space Force, and the United States Coast Guard. The university has a strong tradition of producing military leaders, including 46 alumni who have risen to the rank of general while leading critical missions around the world.

Beyond uniformed service, Florida Tech graduates contribute to national security through leadership and technical roles across the aerospace and defense sector. Alumni work at companies such as Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, RTX Corporation, and SpaceX, as well as in cybersecurity, intelligence, and advanced engineering roles supporting government agencies and defense missions. Together, these alumni reflect Florida Tech’s long-standing commitment to educating leaders whose work strengthens America’s security, technological leadership, and global influence.