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Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar welcomed General John M. Murray, Commanding General of U.S. Army Futures Command, to El Paso. The purpose of the visit was to explore potential partnerships between the U.S. Army Futures Command and the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).

During the visit, UTEP President Heather Wilson led a tour of the College of Engineering where college leaders and faculty discussed with Congresswoman Escobar and General Murray the advanced manufacturing capabilities of the W.M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation and UTEP’s innovative work on artificial intelligence, quantum computing, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), and cybersecurity.

“Technology and science paired with a talented and diverse workforce holds immense promise for the military and our national security and no one knows this better than UTEP’s College of Engineering,” said Congresswoman Escobar. “I am grateful to General Murray for accepting my invitation and to President Wilson for her leadership. UTEP’s success is El Paso’s success, and I look forward to continue working together for the success of our military and our region.”

“Army Futures Command is focused on modernizing our Army to ensure our Soldiers have what they need in the future and in the ‘future after that’. To get that right, and to stay ahead, we’re drawing on the very best cutting-edge science and technology,” said General Murray. “Our leading research universities around the nation are part of our overall effort. Today is a great opportunity to explore the great work UTEP is doing and how that research might be able to help the Army solve problems. We’re grateful to Representative Escobar, and President Wilson, for making this visit possible.”

“UTEP has done exceptional research work for the Army for many years,” said UTEP President Wilson. “Today we explored how we might increase the research we do for the Army on some of their toughest and most important problems.”

Congresswoman Escobar’s commitment and work for a strong, innovative military was reflected in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NDAA) – a bill that includes key priorities for El Paso and Fort Bliss, and supports and authorizes new funding for additive manufacturing programming and requires reporting to Congress on the contributions that technologies, like the ones researched and used daily at UTEP’s W.M. Keck Center, can make when employed directly in theatres of combat.