UT Austin Military and Veteran Connections
UT Austin is a world class partner and destination for our military, veterans and their families
The university’s official motto is “disciplina praesidium civitatis,” which translates to “the cultivated mind is the guardian of democracy.” From research initiatives and innovative partnerships to growing the economy and encouraging robust debates about hard topics — this is how The University of Texas at Austin cultivates minds and guards democracy.
At UT Austin, we like to say, 'What Starts Here Changes the World.' My experiences as a Longhorn AFROTC cadet set me on a unique path and opened a world of opportunities to me. It is my honor to serve our country and help defend democracy and freedom.
— Maj. Gen. Jeannie Leavitt, UT ROTC Class of 1990, U.S. Air Force's first female fighter pilot
Pictured above from left to right: Jen Lee (2 time gold medalist goalie for the US Paralympic Hockey team, US Army, UT Class of 2018), Sabin Jacob (UT Student Veteran Association President 2018-19), Meghan Bennet (lead for our women veteran program), Sam (A serviced member daughter), Taylor Lujan (UT Student Veteran Association President 2017-18), Rebecca Larson (UT Student Veteran Association President 2019-20)
Military and Veteran Connection Stories
ROTC at UT Austin
Naval ROTC Programs at UT Austin
UT Austin’s Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) program aims to develop future naval officers morally, mentally and physically. This mission is executed via national scholarship opportunities and courses. Additionally, the program works to prepare individuals for life as a commissioned officer in the Navy or USMC through the Seaman to Admiral 21 (STA-21) program and the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Program (MECEP). The program also welcomes and supports active-duty personnel who relocate to Austin for fellowships, tours with industry programs, and advanced graduate degrees.
Army ROTC Programs at UT Austin
The Longhorn Battalion Army ROTC is one of the most demanding and successful leadership programs in the country. With the support of the local veteran community and alumni, and the partnerships with local military installations and organizations, UT Austin Army ROTC has been creating leaders who go on to rewarding careers in the military and continue their service to the community.
Air & Space Force ROTC Programs at UT Austin
The mission of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) Detachment 825 is to develop high-impact officers ready and motivated to lead and serve in our nation’s Air Force and Space Force. Cadets in AFROTC work toward a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force or the U.S. Space Force by perfecting their leadership skills while earning their college degrees. The journey is not easy, but it leads to one of the most rewarding careers in the world.
Veteran and Military Affiliated Services
VMAS provides support to all students using federal and state veterans education benefits at The University of Texas at Austin. We teach veterans how to apply for their veteran benefits, share tips on enrollment, provide health care resources, fast-track their professional development, and guide them through the admissions process, scholarships programs, and important campus resources.
The Institute for Military & Veteran Family Wellness
The institute seeks to understand the needs of military and veteran spouses, couples and families to design effective supports that address military to civilian transition, improve community connections, support mental health, and promote overall wellness. The institute conducts research, evaluation and delivers programming to community, military and veteran service partners.
Learn more about The Institute for Military & Veteran Family Wellness
Applied Research Laboratories
Applied Research Laboratories, The University of Texas at Austin (ARL:UT) advances the mission of our parent university of education, research, and public service. Through innovative science and applied engineering, ARL:UT makes significant contributions in support of national security and is home to advanced research teams in the areas of acoustics, electromagnetics, and information sciences. ARL:UT actively recruits retired military personnel for student and full-time positions.
Military/Veterans Faculty and Staff Association
The Military/Veterans Faculty and Staff Association at The University of Texas at Austin facilitates the inclusion of veterans, military members, and their families into the University community in order to enhance recruitment, retention, networking, camaraderie, and professional development in collaboration with other organizations.
Learn more about Military/Veterans Faculty and Staff Association
Defense Research Advancement
UT Austin's Defense Research Advancement (DRA) is a team dedicated to assisting Department of Defense (DoD) research within the Office of the Vice President for Research, Scholarship and Creative Endeavors. Acting as a liaison and steward, we engage with campus researchers and the defense innovation ecosystem to advance scientific discovery for the unique requirements of the DoD.
Clements Center for National Security
"Let us never send the President of the United States to the conference table as the head of the second strongest nation in the world." – Deputy Secretary of Defense Bill Clements, 1973
The William P. Clements, Jr. Center for National Security at The University of Texas at Austin draws on the best insights of diplomatic and military history to train the next generation of national security leaders. Understanding history is essential for wise and effective national security strategy and statecraft. History enables leaders to glean the wisdom of the past without incurring its costs and can provide American leaders with a deeper sense of perspective, an appreciation for patterns of the past, and the wisdom to determine the most effective policies for the future.
Hacking For Defense (H4D)
H4D is an undergraduate course sponsored by the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN), a problem-solving network under the Department of Defense Office of Research and Engineering. In H4D, teams of students apply lean startup principles to validated and curated problems presented by organizations within the US military and intelligence communities. Students work collaboratively with national security professionals to rapidly address the nation’s emerging threats and security challenges. H4D at The University of Texas at Austin leverages relationships with the Defense Innovation Community anchored in downtown Austin, exposing students to the innovation models at Army Futures Command, the Army Applications Laboratory, AFWERX, and Defense Innovation Unit.
Military & Veteran Career Engagement
Texas Career Engagement (TCE) proudly connects our military partners with students and alumni for skill acquisition and talent pipeline development. TCE is reimagining the way students, alumni, employers, faculty and staff prepare for the future of work together—by engaging around career in a way that is equitable and inclusive. We do this by connecting employers with the diverse talent at UT Austin, and by collaborating with campus partners to ensure that every undergraduate and graduate student – including each veteran student – has equitable access to career education, experiences, and opportunities.
Strauss Center for International Security and Law
The Strauss Center for International Security and Law integrates expertise from across the University of Texas at Austin, as well as from the private and public sectors, in pursuit of practical solutions to emerging international challenges. Towards that end, the Center sponsors a wide array of research programs and educational initiatives which vary from security and technology pursuits, to national security and regional challenges programs, and our broader outreach for students and the public.
US Army War College Fellowship
Since 1992, the US Army has partnered with UT in a one-year fellowship for Army officers. Selected senior field-grade officers attend UT in lieu of the Army War College resident program at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, and receive the award of Military Education Level One—the highest level of formal military education. The program prepares fellows to meet the demands of strategic-level thinking and senior leadership as they guide the Army into the future.
Explore the World of Entrepreneurship at JBTVL
Jon Brumley Texas Venture Labs is a campus-wide initiative that transforms graduate students into entrepreneurs and business leaders while helping accelerate market entry and growth for Texas startups. Through experiential learning programs like our TVL Practicum, TVL Accelerator, TVL Startup Fellows and TVL Investment Competition (TVLIC), we have helped hundreds of veterans and active-duty personnel explore entrepreneurship. TVLIC features the James D. Pippin Veteran Award given to the most promising startup pitch from a veteran founder.
Learning Agents Research Group
The Learning Agents Research Group pursues AI research to understand how to best create complete intelligent agents. The group's research focuses mainly on machine learning, multiagent systems and robotics. The group believes the most exciting research topics are inspired by challenging real-world problems and that successful research includes precise, novel algorithms and fully implemented and rigorously evaluated applications. The group's application domains include robot soccer, autonomous bidding agents, autonomous vehicles and human-interactive agents. Over the years, much of their research has been supported by the Department of Defense, and they are actively engaged with the Army Futures Command.
Veteran Integration to Academic Leadership - VITAL Program
The VITAL program is a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs program that strives to enhance academic retention and success through on-campus counseling and care coordination. They also help improve understanding of veterans' strengths and challenges through education and training delivered to the campus community along with the local medical center, Veterans Benefits Administration, campus faculty and staff members, and community resources.
Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
The Military History Institute is an educational outreach and archival program within the Center for American History (CAH) at The University of Texas at Austin. It was spearheaded by WWII historian and scholar Thomas M. Hatfield who was recently welcomed to the Ranger Hall of Fame. The institute collects, preserve and make available documents and material culture evidence of key themes in U.S. history. Researchers, students, and the public use the institute’s collections for a wide range of academic, professional, and personal uses.
White House Fellowship
Founded in 1964, the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships is the nation’s premiere program for leadership and public service. The White House Fellowship offers exceptional Americans first-hand experience working at the highest levels of the federal government.
ATI incubates deep tech companies for the US military
The Austin Technology Incubator (ATI) is the deep technology incubator of The University of Texas at Austin. For over 30 years, ATI has used a customized approach to support university and community entrepreneurs addressing the world’s most pressing problems by connecting startups with the expertise and resources they need to successfully commercialize their breakthrough innovations.
Continuing and Professional Education
Since 1909, the Extended Campus at UT Austin has empowered personal and professional growth through accessible, open-enrollment educational programs for non-traditional students. Today, the Extended Campus serves as the gateway to the wide variety of continuing and professional education programs taught by top faculty and drawn from colleges and schools across the university. Our programs accept a variety of education benefits funding, including Tuition Assistance (TA), VA education benefits and Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA).