Caleb Blair, an Honors electrical engineering major in the College of Engineering at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), has received a Department of Defense (DOD) Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship-for-Service.
The SMART program is an educational and workforce development opportunity for students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). “Scholarship recipients receive full tuition, annual stipends, internships, and guaranteed employment with the Department of Defense after graduation,” according to the program website. Annual stipends vary based on degree level; Blair will receive $30,000 as an undergraduate student.
Now in his junior year, Blair spent this summer as a research assistant at Autonomous Aerospace Research at UAH, a part of the University of Alabama System. The center specializes in hardware and software systems engineering and integration to solve the problems presented by today’s advanced technology and mission requirements for rotorcraft ground and airborne systems, unmanned aerial systems, and space and airborne payloads.
“All throughout high school, I worked with robotics,” says Blair, who came to UAH from Granite City, Ill. “This summer my work has been focused on the use of unmanned systems for public safety. You can use AI with drones in search and rescue operations. It can all work together.”
Blair also has commercial drone experience. He founded a company, Skyview Media, that specializes in professional aerial photography and videography using drones.
As part of his DOD SMART Scholarship, Blair is scheduled to begin working on radar technology and missile guidance at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Aviation and Missile Center on Redstone Arsenal in summer 2024.
He knew that Huntsville was heavily involved in the defense industry before he arrived at UAH, but he was surprised by the scale.
“UAH is well connected to all of that. There’s no shortage of opportunities.”
