UCF Hosts Military Appreciation Game and NASA Chief Next Week

Orlando, Florida. Central Florida residents will see a large gathering of military families and university students on Saturday, Nov. 14, when the UCF Knights play Arizona State at Acrisure Bounce House. This event is designated as the UCF Salutes Military Appreciation football game, a tradition that brings the Knight Nation community together to honor members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

The military connection extends beyond the stadium for the following week. On Friday, Nov. 13, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman will visit the campus for a conversation with students. Isaacman is a co-founder of Draken International, a company known for training U.S. military pilots, and is recognized as a leader in innovation and exploration.

The partnership between UCF and the military involves research, education, and support services across the university. Engineers at UCF are currently testing new methods for training military personnel. Researchers at the Institute for Simulation and Training work with partners on Team Orlando, including the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. They use digital twins, or virtual models, to explore how people and equipment interact. These tools allow military partners to test training concepts and plan future missions.

Recent initiatives aim to speed up the transfer of research into practical capabilities. In September, UCF and SpaceWERX, the innovation enterprise of the U.S. Space Force, launched the East Coast Innovation Gateway. This project connects researchers, entrepreneurs, government agencies, and industry partners. In a separate effort, UCF professor Kareem Ahmed is developing a dual-mode propulsion engine. Ahmed leads the university’s Center of Excellence in Hypersonic and Space Propulsion. The project is backed by the U.S. Department of Defense’s Joint Hypersonics Transition Office. The engine aims to make hypersonic and space travel more efficient, potentially reducing travel times between cities like New York and London to under 15 minutes.

UCF provides specific support for veterans and military-connected students who return to the classroom. The Office of Military and Veteran Student Success has assisted students since 2011. Staff help students understand GI Bill benefits and plan academic and career paths. The university also participates in the Service to Service partnership, which aids veterans in pursuing graduate degrees in public service fields. UCF Online offers flexible degree options for students balancing work and personal responsibilities.

These support programs have received national recognition. UCF received its first Gold designation on the 2026-27 Military Friendly Schools list. The university had previously held a Silver designation for many years. UCF was also recognized as a Military Friendly Spouse School.

Students at UCF have access to financial support and career opportunities in national defense. Many secure the DOD’s SMART Scholarship program, which provides funding along with summer internships and mentorship. Scholars gain hands-on experience at defense facilities in areas such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and space. The university also prepares future commissioned officers through its Army and Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps programs.

The campus includes a clinical research center called UCF RESTORES. This nonprofit clinic treats veterans, active-duty military personnel, and others affected by traumatic events. Clinicians use exposure therapy combined with individual and group sessions. They also utilize virtual reality technology to recreate sensory details associated with traumatic memories. The goal is to help patients recover from trauma and manage symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. The clinic reports treatment success rates that are higher than the national average.

UCF also works to preserve the histories of veterans. Through the Veterans Legacy Program, students use historical records and family interviews to piece together veterans’ lives. The university partners with the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration to create digital biographies for veterans buried or memorialized at national cemeteries. These stories are also used in K-12 classrooms to connect students with American history. The history department has been documenting these stories for the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project since 2010.