A New Jersey community college this fall will begin training students and safety and security professionals to combat drone threats, building on its well-regarded unmanned systems program. And now Warren County Community College (WCCC) has received a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to support the effort.
The $288,318 grant award recognizes WCCC’s Counter-UAS (unmanned aircraft systems) program — part of the college’s acclaimed WarrenUAS drone training division — which will open to associate degree students at Warren’s training facilities this fall.
Warren President Will Austin said he believes community colleges have to continually look for new areas where gaps in training and education have developed, remaining nimble and flexible to meet new needs. He said the NSF Advanced Technological Education (ATE) funding award signals to him that this is an important initiative in a sector where training is badly needed.
WarrenUAS, now in its fifth year, has earned a reputation as one of the leading academic programs for unmanned systems training, having received rare approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to operate drones and train students in their safe use. It offers training in drone flight, development and maintenance.
Highlights from WCCC’s WarrenUAS programs
Students in the program are finding high-paying positions in a wide range of sectors that use drones, including law enforcement and other emergency services, search and rescue, utility and transportation asset management and protection, delivery services, and agriculture, which has become one of WarrenUAS’s specialties.
“The counter-UAS program is a logical extension of our work with WarrenUAS, where we explore new ways that drones can be used to benefit society – and train students to meet those needs,” Austin said. “Unfortunately, with new technology like this, we also need professionals who understand the potential threat it can pose and the ways to combat it.”
He said that unlike many state or federal grants that are distributed based on formula funding or regional needs, the NSF ATE is very competitive and rigorously peer-reviewed by top scientists, educators and industry leaders.
“To win it means the foundation believes your institution is capable of executing at the highest possible level of academic and technological excellence. It validates WCCC as a premier institution on the national stage,” Austin added.
He also noted that because WCCC is likely the first institution in the nation to secure an NSF grant specifically for a Counter-UAS, the program will serve as a national blueprint for that type of educational offering at other higher education institutions. The recognition also brings the potential to bring funding for other entities, national visibility and partnerships with leading technology firms.
