May 21, 2026

U of A College of Engineering and Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance launch national security initiative 

TUCSON, Ariz. — The University of Arizona College of Engineering and the non-profit Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance will host a media availability announcing the launch of the Arizona AETOS Program.

Arizona AETOS is an eight month, seven-session collaborative training initiative designed for military and civilian leaders and will focus on technology threats, opportunities and policy challenges related to near-space and terrestrial operations.

Riki Ellison, founder and chairman of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, and David W. Hahn, Craig M. Berge Dean of the University of Arizona College of Engineering, will discuss the program’s goals, its alignment with evolving national security priorities and the university’s growing leadership in space, optics, sensing and defense-related research.

Media contact:
Alexandra Pere 
College of Engineering 
alexandrapere@arizona.edu

Established in 1885, the University of Arizona is the state's flagship, land-grant institution. The U of A ranks among America's top institutions, focusing on student access and success while driving a $1 billion research enterprise and engaging communities throughout the state, nation and world. As a leading Research 1 institution and member of the Association of American Universities, the U of A advances the frontiers of interdisciplinary scholarship and entrepreneurial partnerships. With two accredited medical schools, designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education, recognition as a premier university for service members, distinguished programs in management information systems, planetary sciences, dance, photography, and public and applied humanities, the U of A offers the world to its students while uplifting Arizona.